Germany's Marder II; 7.5 cm Pak 40/2 auf Slf II
Translation: Martin/Marten (weasel)

Photos

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.^3,4

Fighting Compartments

The driver's compartment was located in the front, the fighting in the middle, and the engine at the rear.⁴ The fighting compartment had the top open.⁴ The main armament was put behind 10 mm armor.³

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

The initial prototype of the Panzerjäger with a PzKpfw II chassis had a 5 cm anti tank gun installed. The final production model had a 7.5 cm Pak 40/2.³

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
• Marder II 7.5 cm: 576², 744⁴, 852, 1,217³, 1,983⁵
  • Production: 1942 - 1943⁵, 1942 - June 1943⁴, June 1942 - June 1943², July 1942 - 1944, ? - 1944³, July 1943 - March 1944⁴
  • Converted: 75²
    • July 1943 - March 1944²
  • Manufacturer: FAMO^2,6, MAN², Daimler-Benz², Breslau⁶, Böhmisch-Mährisch Kolben-Darek AG (Prague)⁶

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).
  • 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
  • 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

Reduced Crew

The crew was often reduced by one to reduce manpower by 1944.³

Infra-Red

Infra-red searchlights were sometimes installed to allow the Marder II to be used at night.³ These units were primarily used on the Eastern Front.³

Specifications

	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 31,2, 46
Radio	FuG Spr d2	FuG Spr d2
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 tons2, 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 m1,2,3
Length w/o gun		14.9'6
Height	8' 6" 2.6 m2	7' 2.5", 7' 2.6"1,3 2.2 m1,2,3
Width	7' 6" 2.3 m2	7.3'6, 7' 5.75"1, 7' 5.8"3 2.28 m1,2,3
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 PaK40/22,3 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	302,5	372,3,6
Secondary
MG	9002	6002,3
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	10-14.55	351 Front: 0.38"6 Side: 0.6"6 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 TRM2,5	Maybach HL 62 TRM1,2 Maybach HL623 Maybach HL 62 TR6
Bore / stroke
Cooling		Water6
Cylinders	65	I-66
Capacity
Net HP	1405	1403, 140@2,600 rpm6
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio		6.5:16
Transmission (Type)	7 forward, 3 reverse2	Synchromesh6 6 forward, 1 reverse2,6
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° right2 Hand2 65°6
Speed - Road	34 mph 55 kph2	24.8 mph1,3, 25 mph6 40 kph1,2,3
Speed - Cross Country	136.7 mph	12 mph6
Range - Road	220 km2	118 miles1,3,6, 129 miles 190 km1,2,3
Range - Cross Country		78 miles6
Turning radius
Elevation limits	-5° to +16°2 -5° to +22°5	-5° to +20°6, -8° to +10°2
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