NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Marder II

The Marder II was a German tank destroyer of World War II based on the Panzer II chassis. Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets or shells, protecting the soldiers inside from enemy fire. ... German PaK 40 75 mm anti-tank gun The PaK 40 was a German 75 mm anti-tank gun developed in 1939-1941 by Rheinmetall and used during the Second World War. ... A self-propelled anti-tank gun, or tank destroyer, is a type of armoured fighting vehicle. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Panzer II was a German tank used in World War II. Designed as a stopgap while other tanks were developed, it played an important role in the early years of World War II, during the Polish and French campaigns. ... A chassis (plural: chassis) consists of a framework which supports an inanimate object, analogous to an animals skeleton; for example in the construction of an automobile or of a firearm. ...

History

Even in the early stages of Operation Barbarossa, the Wehrmacht already felt the need for a more mobile and more powerful anti-tank solution than the existing towed anti-tank guns or tank destroyers like the Panzerjäger I. This need became urgent in late 1941, with the appearance of the new Soviet tanks like the T-34 and Kliment Voroshilov. Combatants Germany, Romania, Finland, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia Soviet Union Commanders Adolf Hitler, Ion Antonescu, C.G.E. Mannerheim, Benito Mussolini, MiklÃ³s Horthy, Jozef Tiso Joseph Stalin Strength ~3. ... Image:Wehrmacht 20 April 1939 Birthday Parade. ... The first of many tank destroyers, the PanzerjÃ¤ger I (tank hunter I) was based on the chassis of the Panzer I ausf B and was armed with the Skoda 47 mm Pak L/43 anti-tank gun. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank first produced in 1940. ... The Kliment Voroshilov (KV) tanks were a series of Soviet heavy tanks, named after the Soviet defense commissar and politician Kliment Voroshilov. ...

As an interim solution, it was decided to use both obsolete tanks like the Panzer II and captured vehicles like the Lorraine as the base for makeshift tank destroyers. The result was the Marder series, which were armed with either the 75 mm PaK 40 anti-tank guns or the Soviet 76.2 mm F-22 Model 1936 divisional field gun, of which large numbers had been captured. German PaK 40 75 mm anti-tank gun The PaK 40 was a German 75 mm anti-tank gun developed in 1939-1941 by Rheinmetall and used during the Second World War. ... 76-mm divisional gun model 1936 (F-22) was a Soviet divisional semi-universal gun, adopted for the Red Army service in 1936. ...

Production

The Marder II came in two major versions. The first version Marder II (Sd.Kfz. 132) was based on obsolete Panzer II Ausf. D/E and Flammpanzer II chassis with Christie suspension. It was armed with captured Russian 7.62 cm guns. These Marder II had a very high silhouette (2.60 m high), thin armor of only 30 mm (front) and 10 to 15 mm (sides). There was no protection for the top or rear leaving the crew with very little protection. Alkett and Wegmann produced 201 Marder II (Sd. Kfz. 132) from early 1942 to early 1943. PaK 36(r) (7,62 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 36(rusland)) was a German anti-tank gun used by Wehrmacht in World War II. The gun was a deep conversion of the Soviet 76-mm divisional gun M1936 (F-22). ...

The second version Marder II (Sd.Kfz. 131) was based on Panzer II Ausf. A to C removed from active service but later also newly produced Ausf. F chassis were used. This Marder II had a redesigned (widened) fighting compartment and used the german 75 mm PaK 40 anti-tank gun. The silhouette was lowered by about 40 cm to 2.20 m of height but the armor was thin and open to the top and rear just like in Sd. Kfz. 132. FAMO, MAN and Daimler-Benz produced 576 Marder II (Sd.Kfz. 131) from June 1942 to Mid 1943. 75 more were converted (probably by FAMO only) from Mid 1943 to early 1944 when the last Panzer II's were taken out of active service.

Combat history

The various Marder IIs fought on all fronts of the war, mainly at the Eastern Front. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... The Eastern Front was the theatre of combat between Nazi Germany and its allies against the Soviet Union during World War II. It was somewhat separate from the other theatres of the war, not only geographically, but also for its scale and ferocity. ...

The Marder IIs were used by the Panzerjäger Abteilungen of the Panzer divisions of both the Wehrmacht and the Waffen SS, as well as several Luftwaffe units. Image:Wehrmacht 20 April 1939 Birthday Parade. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The Marder's weaknesses were mainly related to survivability. The combination of a high silhouette and open-top armor protection made them vulnerable to indirect artillery fire. The armor was also quite thin, making them vulnerable to enemy tanks or infantry at close range. Armor or armour (see spelling differences) is protective clothing intended to defend its wearer from intentional harm in combat and military engagements, typically associated with soldiers. ... Artillery with Gabion fortification Cannons on display at Fort Point Continental Artillery crew from the American Revolution Firing of an 18-pound gun, Louis-Philippe Crepin, (1772 â€“ 1851) A forge-welded Iron Cannon in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. ...

The Marders were not assault vehicles or tank substitutes; the open top meant that operations in urban areas or other close-combat situations were very risky. They were best employed in defensive or overwatch roles. Despite their weaknesses they were much more effective than the towed antitank guns they replaced.

External links

Category: World War II German tank destroyers Tanks Panzer I The Panzer I wasnt intended as a combat vehicle, but more to familiarise industry and the army with tanks. ... The Panzerkampfwagen I, or Sonderkraftfahrzeug (SdKfz) 191, abbreviated PzKpfw I and more commonly referred to as the Panzer I, was a light tank produced by Germany in the 1930s. ... The Panzer II was a German tank used in World War II. Designed as a stopgap while other tanks were developed, it played an important role in the early years of World War II, during the Polish and French campaigns. ... The Panzerkampfwagen III (PzKpfw III), more commonly referred to as the Panzer III, was a tank developed in the 1930s by Germany and used extensively in World War II. It was designed to fight other AFVs, serving alongside the infantry-support Pzkpfw IV. It soon became obsolete in this role... The Panzerkampfwagen IV (PzKpfw IV), more commonly referred to as the Panzer IV, was a tank developed by Germany and used extensively in World War II. It was designed initially as an infantry-support medium tank, to work in conjunction with the anti-tank Pzkpfw III. Later in the war... The Panther ( ) was a tank fielded by Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. ... The Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. ... The Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. ... The LT-35 or LT vz. ... The Panzer 38(t) was a Czechoslovakian tank used by Germany during World War II. (The Czechoslovak military designation was LT-38. ... A U.S. M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer Self-propelled artillery (also called mobile artillery or locomotive artillery) vehicles are a way of giving mobility to artillery. ... The Wespe (German for wasp) was a German self-propelled artillery vehicle during World War II based on the Panzer II tank. ... The Hummel (‘Bumble Bee’) was a self-propelled artillery unit based on the Geschutzwagen III/IV chassis, armed with a 150 mm howitzer. ... The Grille series of self propelled artillery vehicles were used by Germany during World War II. The Grille series was based on the Czech Panzer 38(t) tank and used a 15 cm sIG 33 infantry gun. ... Panzerwerfer alias Maultier Panzerwerfer is the name for two different types of half-tracked multiple rocket launchers employed by Germany during the Second World War. ... The sIG 33 (schwere InfanterieGeschÃ¼tz 33) was a German 150 mm close support gun used in the Second World War. ... The Wurfrahmen 40 was a German World War II artillery unit. ... German StuG III with high-velocity 75 mm gun, 1943 An assault gun is a gun or howitzer mounted on a motor vehicle or armored chassis, designed for use in the direct fire role in support of infantry when attacking other infantry or fortified positions. ... The SturmgeschÃ¼tz III (StuG III) assault gun was Germanys most produced armored fighting vehicle during World War II. It was built on the chassis of the Panzer III tank. ... The SturmgeschÃ¼tz IV (SdKfz 167) was a German amoured fighting vehicle of the Second World War. ... The SturmgeschÃ¼tz III (StuG III) assault gun was Germanys most produced armored fighting vehicle during World War II. It was built on the chassis of the Panzer III tank. ... General characteristics Length 5. ... The Tiger-MÃ¶rser, 38 cm RW61 auf Sturm(panzer)mÃ¶rser Tiger, or SturmmÃ¶rser Tiger, more commonly known as the Sturmtiger or Sturmpanzer VI, was a World War II German assault gun built on the Panzer VI Tiger I chassis armed with a large naval mortar, the 38cm... A self-propelled anti-tank gun, or tank destroyer, is a type of armoured fighting vehicle. ... The first of many tank destroyers, the PanzerjÃ¤ger I (tank hunter I) was based on the chassis of the Panzer I ausf B and was armed with the Skoda 47 mm Pak L/43 anti-tank gun. ... Marder I on Tracteur Blinde 37L chassis The Marder I was a German World War II tank destroyer, armed with a 75 mm anti tank gun. ... Marder III Ausf. ... Polish-seized Hetzer on a baricade during the Warsaw Uprising Based on the Czech Panzer 38(t) chassis Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer was an excellent tank destroyer: it was better armoured than the earlier Panzerjäger (60 mm sloped armour at 60 degrees, giving a equivalence of about 180 mm... Jagdpanzer IV/48 Jagdpanzer IV/70 (V) Jagdpanzer IV/70 (A) Prototype The Jagdpanzer IV, Sd. ... The Jagdpanther (Hunting Panther) was a tank destroyer built by Germany during World War II based on the chassis of the Panther tank. ... Nashorn (Ger. ... The Jagdtiger (SdKfz 186) (Ger. ... The PanzerjÃ¤ger Tiger (P) Elefant (Sd. ... M3 Half-track A half-track is a civilian or military vehicle with regular wheels on the front for steering, and caterpillar tracks on the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. ... Polish armoured car Korfanty in 1920. ... The SdKfz 4 Gleissketten-Lastkraftwagen (track chain truck) or Maultier was a family of halftracks developed in the The Second World War by Germany which, between 1933 and 1945, was the leader in production of these vehicles [1]. The SdKfz 4 was developed after the 1941 invasion of Russia as... In World War II, the SdKfz 6 was a large half track for towing artillery pieces. ... The SdKfz 7 is a half-track military vehicle used by the German Army in WWII. SdKfz 7 Development of the SdKfz 7 can be traced back to a 1934 requirement for an eight-tonne (7. ... The SdKfz 10 was a German half-track that saw limited use in World War II, it could carry eight infantry and tow anti-tank guns. ... The SdKfz 11 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 11) is a half-track military vehicle used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War. ... The SdKfz 250 was an armoured half track, similar in appearance to the larger Sdkfz 251, used by Nazi Germany in World War II. The 250 had 4 roadwheel axles, compared to 6 for the 251. ... Sd. ... The SdKfz 252 leichte Gepanzerte Munitionskraftwagen was an Axis powers armoured ammunition half-track used in France in 1940. ... SdKfz 253 leichter Gepanzerter Beobachtungskraftwagen was a German light observation vehicle that was used by artillery forward observers to accompany tank and mechanized infantry units. ... The Sdkfz 254 was a german fully tracked scout car during WWII From 1936, the RK-7 was developed by Saurer as an artillery tractor for the Austrian army. ... The Leichter PanzerspÃ¤hwagen (roughly Light Amoured Reconnaissance Vehicle) were a series of light 4 x 4 armoured cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944. ... The term Schwere PanzerspÃ¤hwagen (Heavy Armoured Vehicle), covers the 6 and 8 wheel armoured cars Germany used in World War II. In the German Army, armoured cars were intended for the vital role of reconnaissance, scouting ahead of the Panzer tank units to assess enemy strength and intentions. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft, or air defense, is any method of combating military aircraft from the ground. ... The Flakpanzer IV (Sd. ... Wirbelwind at CFB Borden Wirbelwind at CFB Borden The Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind (Whirlwind in German) was an anti-aircraft vehicle based on the Panzer IV. It was developed in 1944 as a successor to the earlier AA tank MÃ¶belwagen. ... The Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz was a German anti-aircraft (AA) tank from World War II, which was still at the prototype stage at the end of the war. ... History The Flakpanzer (shortened from Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer) 38(t) was designed around the chassis of the Czech-built LT-38 tracked vehicle and was first built in 1943, entering limited service in 1944. ... The Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus (Sd. ... The Entwicklung series, more commonly known as the E- series, was a late-World War II attempt by Germany to produce a standarised series of tank designs. ... The Panther ( ) was a tank fielded by Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. ... The German Neubaufahrzeug series of tank prototypes were a first attempt to create a heavy tank for the Wehrmacht after Adolf Hitler had come to power. ... The German Panzerkampfwagen VII LÃ¶we (Lion) was a WW II design by Krupp to give the Germans a superheavy tank. ... The Panzerkampfwagen IX and Panzerkampfwagen X were theoretical projects using the latest developments of Panzerkapfwagen Armors, intended to enter in action in 1946-47. ... The Panzerkampfwagen IX and Panzerkampfwagen X were theoretical projects using the latest developments of Panzerkapfwagen Armors, intended to enter in action in 1946-47. ... The Landkreuzer P. 1000 Ratte (Rat) was to have been an extremely large tank for use by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was designed in 1942 by Krupp with the approval of Adolf Hitler, but the project was canceled by Albert Speer in early 1943 and none were... The Landkreuzer P. 1500 Monster was a preprototype ultraheavy tank meant as a mobile platform for the Krupp 800mm Schwerer Gustav artillery piece. ... This article lists German AFV production during World War II. Where figures for production in 1939 are given, they refer to September 1939 onwards; that is, they only count wartime production. ...

Contents

History GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Production

Combat history

External links

History