The SdKfz 139 Marder III was a tank destroyer based on the Panzer 38(t) chassis and used by Germany during World War II.
Description[]
The Marder III had a Praga EPA engine that propelled it at speeds of 42 km/h, and it had a maximum range of 190 kilometers. The Marder III measured 4.65 meters long and weighed 11,000 kilograms. It's armament consisted of one 76.2 mm PaK 36(r) or one 75 mm PaK 40 main gun mounted in the built up turret structure, and was fixed in a forward firing position, able to be elevated and depressed, but was unable to be traversed. Secondary armament consisted of two 7.92 mm MG 34 or MG 42 medium machine guns, one of which was mounted in a forward firing position in the hull, and the other on top of the turret structure for anti-aircraft defense. The crew of the Marder III varied from three to four.[1]
History[]
The Marder III came into existence shortly after the older Marder I and Marder II models proved to be insufficient against the heavier Soviet armor during Operation Barbarossa. Even though the tank (like the Mardar I and II had to have the entire tank turn to fire at something it was still a great tank. It first saw combat service in 1942 and mostly remained in service until the end of the war.
References[]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||