World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe German Marder III tank destroyers were built by marrying the chassis of Czechoslovakian-built Panzer 38(t) tanks and Soviet-built PaK 36(r) or German-built PaK 40 anti-tank guns; the captured Soviet guns were rechambered to use the 7.5-centimeter PaK 40 ammunition for ease of logistics. 363 of this first variant, SdKfz. 139, were built between Apr 1942 and 1943. In Nov 1942, the second variant, Marder III Ausf. H SdKfz. 138, began production, of which 243 were built between Nov 1942 and Apr 1943; Marder III Ausf. H SdKfz. 138 vehicles were built using the same Czechoslovakian-built chassis, but the main weapons were the German-built PaK 40 guns. The final variant was the Marder III Ausf. M SdKfz. 138, which featured a mid-motor design (rather than the rear-motor design of Ausf. H), which allowed the vehicles' fighting compartments to be lowered to provide better protection for the crews. Ausf. H vehicles were also the only ones in the entire Marder-series of tank destroyers to have some rear protection. 975 Marder III Ausf. M SdKfz. 138 tank destroyers were built between 1943 and early-1944.

ww2dbaseIn all, 1,581 Marder III tank destroyers of all variants were built. Most of them served on the Eastern Front, and they were employed until the final chapters of the war.

ww2dbaseIn parallel, the Germans also developed Marder I tank destroyers using French armored tractors and Marder II tank destroyers using Panzer II tanks.

SPECIFICATIONS

SdKfz 139

Machinery	One Praga Typ TNHPS/II water-cooled 6-cyl gasoline engine rated at 123hp
Suspension	Leaf spring
Armament	1x7.62cm PaK 36(r) gun (30 rounds), 1x7.92mm ZB vz. 37 (BESA) machine gun
Armor	10-50mm front, bottom, and sides; top and rear not armored
Crew	4
Length	4.65 m
Width	2.35 m
Height	2.48 m
Weight	10.7 t

SdKfz 138 Ausf H

Machinery	One Praga Typ TNHPS/II water-cooled 6-cyl gasoline engine rated at 123hp
Suspension	Leaf spring
Armament	1x7.5cm PaK 40 gun (38 rounds), 1x7.92mm ZB vz. 37 (BESA) machine gun
Armor	10-50mm front, bottom, and sides; top and rear not armored
Crew	4
Length	4.65 m
Width	2.35 m
Height	2.48 m
Weight	10.7 t

SdKfz 138 Ausf M

Machinery	One Praga Typ TNHPS/II water-cooled 6-cyl gasoline engine rated at 123hp
Suspension	Leaf spring
Armament	1x7.5cm PaK 40 gun (27 rounds)
Armor	10-50mm front, bottom, and sides; rear partially armored; top not armored
Crew	4
Length	4.65 m
Width	2.35 m
Height	2.48 m
Weight	10.7 t

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