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Germany's Marder II

Marder II:	Marder II:	Marder II:	Marder II, spring of 1944, with the Grossdeutschland Division:
Marder II:	Marder II:	Marder II:	Marder II:
Marder II:	Marder II:

Design

With the invasion of Russia, and their tanks that were encountered, it was found that there was a need for mobile anti-tank firepower.⁵

The Marder II was developed from the conversion of the PzKpfw II chassis.⁷

Fighting Compartments

The driver's compartment was located in the front, the fighting in the middle, and the engine at the rear.⁷ The fighting compartment had the top open.⁷

Captured Soviet Guns

These were designated the 7.62 cm FK 296(r).⁵ Most of the guns were rechambered so that they could use the new anti-tank round used in the 75 mm PaK 40/2 gun.⁵ These were designated the 7.62 cm Pak 36(r).⁵

Prototype

Production

Marder II Ausf A, Ausf B and Ausf C:
- Converted: 531⁵
  - 1942-1943⁵
- Manufacturer: Alkett⁵
Marder II Ausf D and Ausf E:
- Converted: 185⁵, 201²
  - 1942⁵, April 1942 - June 1943²
- Manufacturer: Alkertt^2,5, Wegmann²
- Chassis #s: 27001-28000²
Marder II 7.5 cm: 576², 744⁷, 852, 1,217³, 1,983⁵
- Production: 1942 - 1943⁵, 1942 - June 1943⁷, June 1942 - June 1943², July 1942 - 1944, July 1943 - March 1944⁷
- Converted: 75²
  - July 1943 - March 1944²
- Manufacturer: FAMO^2,6, MAN², Daimler-Benz², Breslau⁶, Böhmisch-Mährisch Kolben-Darek AG (Prague)⁶
- Chassis #s: 28001-29550²

Variants

Marder II Ausf A, Ausf B, Ausf C: In mid-1942, Alkett started to convert PzKpfw II Ausf A - Ausf C tanks.⁵ They either mounted an unmodified 7.62 cm Soviet FK 296(r) field gun (without muzzle brake) or the rechambered 7.62cm Pak 36(r) (with muzzle brake).⁵
The gun was mounted in a single three sided armored section.⁵
- Also known as:
  - Panzerjäger II Ausf A-C für 7.62 cm Pak 36(r), SdKfz 131
  - PzSfl fuer 7.62cm Pak 36(r), SdKfz 132, Marder II
  - 7.62 cm Pak 36(r) L/54.8 auf Fgst, PzKpfw II (Sfl)
  - PzJaeg II Ausf D, E fuer 7.62 cm Pak 36(r)
  - 7.62 Pak 36(r) (Sfl im PzKpfw II)
Marder II Ausf D and Ausf E: In the Spring of 1942, Alkett designed a vehicle that used the PzKpfw II Ausf D and E chassis with captured Russian 76.2 mm M36 field guns.⁵
Used captured Russian guns. They were rechambered to hand German PaK 40 ammunition. Could penetrate 80 mm at 900 meters. Were issued to the Panzerjägerabteilungen (Sf) (tank hunter detachments) of Panzer and Panzer-Grenadier divisions from April 1942 (primarily units fighting in Russia).
Uses FuG Spr d radio.²
- Also known as:
  - Panzer Selbstfahrlafette I fur 7.62 cm PaK 36(r) auf Fahrgestell PzKpfw II Ausf D und E, SdKfz 132
  - Panzerjäger II Ausf D-E fur 7.62 cm Pak 36(r), SdKfz 132⁵
Marder II 7.5cm: Could penetrate 92 mm at 900 meters. Issued to Panzerjäger detachments from July 1942. Most were sent to the Eastern Front, but did serve on all fronts. Some models were equipped with infrared searchlights.
The 75 mm gun fired a 15 lb AP shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,461'/sec.⁶ The HE shell had a range of 8,421 yards.⁶
Used FuG Spr d radio.²
- Also known as:
  - 7.5 cm PaK40/2 auf Fahrgestell PzKpfw II (Sf), Marder II, SdKfz 131
  - 7.5 cm PaK 40/2 auf SF1, II, "Marder II", SdKfz 131⁶
  - 7.5cm Pak 40/2 auf Sfl II (Marder II) SdKfz 131
  - PzJaeg II Ausf A, C und fuer 7.5cm Pak 40/2 L/46
  - GW II fuer 7.5cm Pak 40/2 (Marder II)

Usage

The Marder II was used in Tunisia in 1943.⁵

	Panzer Selbstfahrlafette I fur 7.62 cm PaK 36(r) auf Fahrgestell PzKpfw II Ausf D und E, Marder II, SdKfz 132	7.5cm Pak40 auf PzKpfw II, Marder II, SdKfz 131
Crew	4²	3 or 4³ 3^1,2, 4⁶
Physical Characteristics
Weight	25,760 lb, 25,353 lb 10.7 tons⁵, 11.5 tons²	24,192 lb, 23,810 lb, 24,251 lb³ 10.63 tons¹, 10.8 tons^2,4, 11.8 tons⁶ 10,800 kg¹, 11,000 kg³
Length w/gun	18' 6" 5.65 m²	20' 10", 20' 10.4"^1,3 6.36 m^1,2,3,4
Length w/o gun		14.9'⁶
Height	8' 6" 2.6 m²	7' 2.5", 7' 2.6"^1,3 2.2 m^1,2,3,4
Width	7' 6" 2.3 m²	7.3'⁶, 7' 5.75"¹, 7' 5.8"³ 2.28 m^1,2,3,4
Width over tracks
Ground clearance		13.4"⁶
Ground contact length		94.5"⁶
Ground pressure		10.6 psi⁶
Turret ring diameter
Armament (mm)
Main	76.2 mm PaK 36 L/51.5²	75 mm Pak 40⁴ 75 mm PaK40/2^2,3 75 mm¹ 75 mm Pak 40/2, L/46⁶
Secondary
MG	7.92 mm MG34²	7.92 mm MG¹ 7.92 mm MG34 or MG42³ 7.92 mm MG34²
Side arms
Quantity
Main	30^2,5	37^2,3,4,6
Secondary
MG	900²	600^2,3
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	10-14.5⁵	35¹ Front: 0.38"⁶, 30⁴ Side: 0.6"⁶, 15⁴ Superstructure: 0.38"⁶
Hull Front, Upper	30@9°²	30@10°²
Hull Front, Lower	30@9°²	35@13°²
Hull Sides, Upper	14.5@20°²	10@8°²
Hull Sides, Lower	14.5@0°²	15@0°²
Hull Rear	14.5@15°²	10@0° & open²
Hull Top	open²	10 & open²
Hull Bottom	5@90°²	5@90°²
Turret Front	14.5@30°²	Gun Shield: 4+4@30°²
Turret Sides	14.5@15°²
Turret Rear	open²
Turret Top	open²
Engine (Make / Model)	Maybach HL 62 TRM^2,5	Maybach HL 62 TRM^1,2 Maybach HL62³ Maybach HL 62 TR⁶
Bore / stroke
Cooling		Water⁶
Cylinders	6⁵	I-6⁶
Capacity
Net HP	140⁵	140^3,4, 140@2,600 rpm⁶
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio		6.5:1⁶
Transmission (Type)	7 forward, 3 reverse²	Synchromesh⁶ 6 forward, 1 reverse^2,6
Steering		Clutch brake⁶
Steering ratio
Starter		Electric⁶
Electrical system		12-volt⁶
Ignition
Fuel (Type)		Gasoline⁶
Octane
Quantity		45 gallons⁶
Road consumption		2.6 mpg⁶
Cross country consumption		1.5 mpg⁶
Performance
Traverse	50°, hand² 65°, hand⁵	32° left, 24° right^2,4 Hand² 65°⁶
Max speed	34 mph 55 kph²	24.8 mph^1,3, 25 mph⁶ 40 kph^1,2,3,4
Cross country speed	136.7 mph	12 mph⁶
Road radius	220 km²	118 miles^1,3,6, 129 miles 190 km^1,2,3
Cross country radius		78 miles⁶
Turning radius
Elevation limits	-5° to +16°² -5° to +22°⁵	-5° to +20°⁶, -8° to +10°^2,4
Fording depth		35"³, 3'⁶ 0.9 m³
Trench crossing		5' 11"³ 1.8 m³
Vertical obstacle		1' 4.5"^3,6 0.42 m³
Climbing ability		30° (57%) slope⁶
Suspension (Type)
Wheels each side	5x2	Each road wheel is attached to an arm which is attached to a 1/4 elliptic spring which rests against a roller⁶
Return rollers each side	4
Tracks (Type)		Dry pin⁶
Length
Width		11.8"⁶
Diameter
Number of links		108⁶
Pitch		3.6"⁶
Tire tread
Track centers/tread		6.2'⁶

Sources:

The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
World Encyclopedia of Armored Fighting Vehicles, Jack Livesey, 2006