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Germany's Marder I
Marder I: |
Marder I: |
Design
After the invasion of Russia, it was realized that more powerful and mobile anti-tank capability was needed at the front.2
Captain Alfred Becker, 227th Infantry Division, was stationed in France and designed vehicles that married captured chassis with captured artillery guns.2 This caught the notice of the German High Command and in the summer of 1942, Becker was transferred to Alkett in Berlin.2 He was then dispatched to Paris to convert enough vehicles to equip two panzer divisions.2
The Weapons Department ordered on May 25, 1942, that the Lorraine Schlepper chassis was to be developed into a self-propelled mount for anti-tank and artillery guns.2
Idler was mounted in rear, and drive sprocket in front.2
Radio
The Marder I used a FuG5 radio.1
Main Armament
The PaK40 kept its shield when it was mounted.3
Prototype
Production
- Marder I:
- Converted: 152, 662, 843, 1042, 1701
- June - July 19422 , July - August 19421, August 19422 , September - December 19422
- Manufacturer: Alfred Becker1
- Chassis #s: 731001-1
- Converted: 152, 662, 843, 1042, 1701
Variants
- Marder I:
- Also known as:
- 7.5 cm Pak 40/1 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine Schlepper (f), SdKfz 135, Marder I
- 7.5 cm Pak 40/1 auf Lorraine Schlepper(f) (Marder I) SdKfz 135
- Panzerjaeger fuer 7.5cm Pak 40(Sf) Lorraine Schlepper
- PzJaeg LrS fuer 7.5cm Pak 40/1:
- Also known as:
Usage
Issued to Panzerjäger detachments and mainly operated in France.2 Some did go to the Easter Front, and to Italy in 1943-1944.2
After the destruction of the 21st Panzer Division in North Africa, it was reconstructed in Normandy, France.2 Becker, now Major, took command of it's 200th Assault Gun Battalion, which had 45 Marder Is in 5 batteries.2 Major Becker was awarded the Knight's Cross for his fighting around Caen.2
131 were still being used in France on January 1, 1944.2
| Marder I | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 42, 51 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 8 tons1, 8.3 tons2 |
| Length w/gun | |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | |
| Width | |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure (psi) | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 75 mm PaK40/1 L/461 75 mm Pak 402 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | 7.92 mm MG341 |
| Quantity | |
| Main | |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Front: 122 Side: 92 Rear: 92 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 9@35°1 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 12@round1 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 9@45°1 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 9@0°1 |
| Hull Rear | 9@35°1 & 9@36°1 |
| Hull Top | 6@90°1 |
| Hull Bottom | 5@90°1 |
| Turret Front | 10@33°1 gun shield: 10@33°1 |
| Turret Sides | 9@20°1 |
| Turret Rear | 7@28°1 |
| Turret Top | open1 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | DelaHaye 103 TT1 De La Haye 103TT2 |
| Cylinders | 61,2 |
| Net HP | 702 701 @ 2,800 rpm1 |
| Transmission | 5 forward, 1 reverse.1 |
| Fuel type | Gasoline2 |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | 111 liters2 24 gallons2 Reserve tank: 5.5 gallons2, 25 liters2 |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 32° left, 32° right.1 |
| Max Speed | 21 mph2 34 kph1, 38 kph2 |
| Cross Country | |
| Road radius | 56-93 miles2 90-150 km2, 135 km1 |
| Turning Radius | |
| Elevation Limits | -5° to +22°1,2 |
| Fording depth | |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical Obstacle | |
| Suspension (Type) | Semi-elliptical leaf springs2 |
| Wheels each side | 12x2 |
| Return rollers each side | 3, 42 |
| Track length | |
| Tires | 17.5"2 445 mm2 |
| Track width | 3.9"2 100 mm2 |
| Track centers/tread |
Sources:
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- World Encyclopedia of Armored Fighting Vehicles, Jack Livesey, 2006
