Marder II
Marder II | |
---|---|
Pak 40 gun 37 rounds | |
Engine | Maybach HL 62 TRM 6-cylinder gasoline engine 138 hp (140 PS, 103 kW) |
Power/weight | 12.8 hp/tonne |
Suspension | Leaf spring |
Operational range | 190 km (118 mi) |
Maximum speed | 40 km/h (25 mph) |
The Marder II ("marten" in English) was a German tank destroyer of World War II based on the Panzer II chassis.[1] There were two versions, the first mounted a modified Soviet 7.62 cm gun firing German ammunition, while the other mounted the German 7.5 cm Pak 40 gun.[2] Its high profile and thin open-topped armor provided minimal protection to the crew. Nevertheless, the Marder II (and similar Marder III) provided a great increase in firepower over contemporary German tanks during 1942 and into 1943.[1] Only four Marder IIs remain today.[1]
History
During the first days of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, the Germans came unprepared to encounter Soviet T-34 medium tanks and KV heavy tanks.[1] Although the Wehrmacht succeeded in most operations due to superior tactics, air support and supply, the lack of anti-tank weapons capable of successfully engaging these vehicles at range was becoming evident.[1] An urgent need arose for a mobile and powerful enough anti-tank weapon than the existing towed anti-tank guns or tank destroyers like the Panzerjäger I.[1]
Among a series of solutions, it was decided to use surplus light tanks, like the Panzer II, and captured vehicles, like the
In 1942, at least 5 Marder IIs were supplied by the Germans to their ally, Hungary. The Hungarians used these successfully against Soviet tanks on the Eastern Front. In 1943, a surviving Marder II was taken back to Hungary to be studied. Soon, the Hungarians designed and built a similar vehicle using the Hungarian Toldi light tank's chassis with a three-sided armoured superstructure housing a powerful 75 mm anti-tank gun mounted on top. This would be referred to as the 'Toldi páncélvadász' ('Toldi tank destroyer').[3]
Production
The Marder II came in two major versions. The first version (Sd.Kfz. 132) was based on the light Panzer II Ausf. D/E and Flammpanzer II chassis with a new torsion bar suspension featuring four large road wheels and a "slack track" with no track return rollers.[1] It was armed with captured Soviet 7.62 cm guns that were rebuilt to accept the larger German 7.5 cm Pak 40 propellant cartridge.[1] This improved its penetrative capabilities and eliminated the need for captured ammunition.[1] These early Marder IIs had a high silhouette (2.60 m (8 ft 6 in) high) and relatively thin armor compared to other armored vehicles; only 30 mm (1.2 in) (front) and 10 to 15 mm (0.39 to 0.59 in) (sides).[1] There was no armour on the top or rear, leaving the crew with very little protection. Alkett built 150 Marder II (Sd. Kfz. 132) in April/May 1942 and Wegmann converted further 52 from mid 1942 to 1943.
The second version (Sd.Kfz. 131) was based on new-built Panzer II Ausf. F hulls. This Marder II had a redesigned (widened) fighting compartment and used the German 75 mm Pak 40 anti-tank gun.
Combat history
The various Marder IIs produced fought on all European fronts of the war, however, there was a large concentration of these on the
See also
Comparable vehicles
- German Marder I
- German Marder III
- German Panzerjäger I
- Japanese Ho-Ni I
- Soviet SU-76
- Romanian TACAM R-2 and TACAM T-60
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p MarkoPantelic (2020-04-25). "Pz.Kpfw.II als Sfl. mit 7.5 cm PaK 40 'Marder II' (Sd.KFz.131)". Tank Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
- ^ Staff Writer (April 6, 2017). "SdKfz 131/132 Marder II (Marten II)". Militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
- ^ Pantelic, Marko (2020-08-12). "Panzerkampfwagen II als Sfl. mit 7.5 cm PaK 40 'Marder II' (Sd.Kfz.131) in Hungarian Service". Tank Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
- ^ "7.5cm Pak40/2 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II (Sf)/ Marder II". www.historyofwar.org. Retrieved 2022-01-09.