Difference between revisions of "Marder III H"
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{{About | {{About | ||
| about = German tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}''' | | about = German tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}''' | ||
| − | | usage = other | + | | usage = the other version III |
| − | | link = | + | | link = Marder III |
}} | }} | ||
{{Specs-Card | {{Specs-Card | ||
|code=germ_pzkpfw_38t_Marder_III_ausf_H | |code=germ_pzkpfw_38t_Marder_III_ausf_H | ||
| − | |images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}} | + | |images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}} |
}} | }} | ||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --> | <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --> | ||
| − | The '''{{Specs|name}}''' ( | + | The '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''' officially designated '''{{Specs|name}}''' ([[Abbreviations#.28DE.29_Sd.Kfz._Index|Sd.Kfz. Index:]] '''Sd.Kfz. 138''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.47 "Big Guns"]]. |
| − | The Marder III H is a step above the basic [[Marder III]]. As it is in Germany's open - | + | The Marder III H is a step above the basic [[Marder III]]. As it is in Germany's open-topped tank destroyer line, its calling card is its superb firepower, in fact, it has a powerful gun for its BR range. APCBC is almost always enough to penetrate and destroy any tank on the battlefield, and with APCR, it has a very high penetration for its battle rating range. |
| − | The Marder III Ausf. H mounts a 75 mm gun slightly surpassing those on the late [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IV's]] | + | The Marder III Ausf. H mounts a 75 mm gun, slightly surpassing those on the late [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IV's]]; thus its only disadvantages are its weak armour and its open fighting compartment. |
| − | Being a modified Pz.38(t) tank, it is one of the more mobile of the German tanks | + | Being a modified Pz.38(t) tank, it is one of the more mobile of the German tanks, nearly matching some Russian tanks. The gun is better at close range and the gun shield is curved to the sides, unlike the earlier Marder III. |
== General info == | == General info == | ||
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=213|rbMinHp=133}} | {{tankMobility|abMinHp=213|rbMinHp=133}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Marder can gain a good amount of speed on flat ground (about 40-45 km/h). However, it does not take well to hills, even the slightest elevation can drop your top speed to 25 km/h or less, making you an easy target when trying to reach a firing position, especially in open areas. If faced with a large hill, go around it. It will take you the same or less time to find a way around then struggle up the hill. If there is no choice but the hill, perform a "zig-zag" up the hill to prevent the vehicle from getting bogged down. | ||
=== Modifications and economy === | === Modifications and economy === | ||
| Line 75: | Line 77: | ||
==== Ammunition ==== | ==== Ammunition ==== | ||
| − | { | + | {{:PaK40/3 L46 (75 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39, Hl.Gr 38B, PzGr 40, K.Gr.Rot Nb., Sprgr. 34}} |
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ==== | ==== [[Ammo racks]] ==== | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
| + | '''Note''': | ||
| − | * Gun shield empty (racks 1 & 2 emptied): 33 ''(+5)''. | + | * Gun shield empty (racks 1 & 2 emptied): 33 ''(+5)'' shells. |
=== Machine guns === | === Machine guns === | ||
| Line 168: | Line 117: | ||
== Usage in battles == | == Usage in battles == | ||
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --> | <!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --> | ||
| − | Since you are an unprotected tank from behind, try to be as far from the action as possible. If getting close to enemy tanks cannot be prevented ( | + | Since you are an unprotected tank from behind, try to be as far from the action as possible. If getting close to enemy tanks cannot be prevented (urban maps, allies retreat etc.), then try to face at least a part of your hull against a wall or rock. |
| − | Use the horizontal range of the Marder III H as much as possible | + | Use the horizontal range of the Marder III H as much as possible, the gun traverse is excellent for a turretless SPG. This tank destroyer can be penetrated easily; it has next to no armour at its battle rating. Keep close to other tanks to prevent this. Furthermore, it is imperative to exercise caution when being subjected to artillery fire; a single close hit, especially to your unprotected rear, can result in your demise due to shrapnel. Another important aspect to consider is the fact that ammunition is stored in the nearly unarmoured gun shield. Nearly any vehicle in the game, with the notable exception of the [[GAZ-AAA (4M)]], can penetrate there with ease. To mitigate the risk of ammo rack explosion, bring fewer shells, 33 are more than enough. Another fact to consider is that nearly all shells will over penetrate the superstructure and not explode. |
| − | The Marder III H's main APCBC shell, the PzGr 39, is good enough against most standard medium tank models like the M4 Sherman and T-34 from a frontal and slightly angled perspective. However, the penetration performance against sloped armour is only just enough | + | The Marder III H's main APCBC shell, the PzGr 39, is good enough against most standard medium tank models like the M4 Sherman and T-34 from a frontal and slightly angled perspective. However, the penetration performance against sloped armour is only just enough under these circumstances, and an extreme angling beyond 60° on those tanks' part can cause rounds heading towards their front glacis to bounce. This makes up-armoured models like the T-34E and T-34E STZ particularly dangerous, as they can defeat the APCBC shell's sloped performance even at slight angles. While the T-34E has enhanced side armour, the T-34E STZ features increased front armour to bounce shots, so be sure to distinguish the two models for a more profound understanding on where to aim. |
=== Pros and cons === | === Pros and cons === | ||
| Line 179: | Line 128: | ||
'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
| − | * Outstanding gun | + | * Outstanding gun, can knock out frontally common foes like [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]], [[M4]], [[Churchill I]] with a single shot |
| − | * Armour | + | * Armour protects the crew from MG fire, and is thin enough for explosive AP rounds to over-penetrate |
* Fairly small tank destroyer can hide behind most obstacles | * Fairly small tank destroyer can hide behind most obstacles | ||
| − | * Good gun depression | + | * Good -9° gun depression, good for most hills |
| − | * Excellent horizontal arc of 30°, | + | * Excellent horizontal arc of 30°, allowing hiding easily |
| − | * Amazing penetration | + | * Amazing penetration of APCR, effective even in uptiers |
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
| − | * Vulnerable to overpressure ( | + | * Vulnerable to HE shell overpressure (e.g. from [[SU-122]]) |
| − | * Not fully enclosed (exposed crew) | + | * Not fully enclosed (exposed crew), vulnerable to MG, bombs, and strafing planes |
| − | * Poor gun elevation | + | * Poor +9° gun elevation can be unsuitable in certain situations |
| − | * | + | * Shells can overpenetrate some lightly-armoured vehicles (e.g. [[ZiS-12 (94-KM)|ZiS-12 94KM]], [[Chi-Ha LG]]) |
== History == | == History == | ||
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --> | <!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --> | ||
===Development=== | ===Development=== | ||
| − | After the start of | + | After the start of Operation Barbarossa, the Wehrmacht found itself in a very dire situation due to the lack of adequate mobile anti-tank weapons, especially after the appearance of the superior Soviet [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]] and [[KV-1 (L-11)|KV-1]] tanks. The only mass-issued dedicated anti-tank gun was the 37 mm PaK36 while the sole widely used tank destroyer was the Panzerjäger I with the Czech 47 mm anti-tank gun. Obsolete tanks and captured vehicles were converted to tank destroyers to enable them to penetrate the modern Soviet tanks at common combat distances. Those were mainly the Marder I (from French Lorraine tracked supply vehicles), the Marder II (from [[Pz.II F|Panzer IIs]]), and the Marder III (from Czech [[Pz.38(t) F|Panzer 38(t)s]]). |
===Specifications=== | ===Specifications=== | ||
| − | The Marder | + | The Marder IIIs, like the rest of the Marder series, were self-propelled guns better suited for fighting enemy armour than the Panzers III and IV then in service. They mounted dedicated anti-tank guns such as the 75 mm PaK40 or captured Soviet 76.2 mm guns, mainly the F-22. All the Marders were open-topped vehicles, leaving the crew exposed to mortar fire, shrapnel, or infantry fire. This weakness was mitigated by the fact that the Marders were supposed to be tank destroyers that are to ambush incoming enemy tanks or shoot them from afar. |
| − | The '''Marder III Ausf. H''' | + | The '''Marder III Ausf. H''' used the Panzer 38(t) chassis because it was becoming obsolete, and when new, desperately needed more powerful anti-tank weapons became available, as a stop-gap measure they were mounted on outdated tanks like the Panzer 38(t) first. The finished self-propelled mount had a higher silhouette, which left it more vulnerable, but had a 75 mm PaK40 gun and could hold 38 rounds in the vehicle. A machine gun on the hull was retained for anti-infantry purposes. |
| − | The Marder III Ausf. H predecessor, simply named as the | + | The Marder III Ausf. H predecessor, simply named as the [[Marder III]] mounted a rechambered 76.2 gun instead of a PaK40. Another variant created, the Ausf. M, featured a lower silhouette and a better-sloped armour and fighting compartment, despite only holding 27 rounds for the mounted PaK40. A total of 3,472 Marder IIIs and its versions were created or converted from Panzer 38(t) during its production life. |
===Combat usage=== | ===Combat usage=== | ||
| − | The Marder III Ausf. H fought on all fronts of the war, being produced from 1942 to 1945, with 450 Marder III Ausf. H with the | + | The Marder III Ausf. H fought on all fronts of the war, being produced from 1942 to 1945, with 450 Marder III Ausf. H with the PaK40 converted and produced. Using the tested design of the Panzer 38(t), the Marder III was mechanically reliable and had a gun that could take out most allied tanks in the war. The vulnerability of the crew due to lack of armour was its most pressing issue, with only a front shield plate at most 15 mm thick and side plates that can't enclose the crew. This makes it a poor assault vehicle or tank substitute, it allows infantry to easily kill the crew from ambushes. Despite that, with the deteriorating situation during the last years of the war, they were nevertheless used this way and suffered considerable losses. |
| − | As its production was underway, Germany already had a few self-propelled assault weapons being produced such as the [[StuG III F|StuG III]] that could have the same anti-tank capabilities, yet was fully armoured, enclosing the crew | + | As its production was underway, Germany already had a few self-propelled assault weapons being produced such as the [[StuG III F|StuG III]] that could have the same anti-tank capabilities, yet was fully armoured, enclosing the crew in adequate armour. This obvious advantage over the open Marder series encouraged the development of a new kind of tank destroyer from the Panzer 38(t) with better armour, which would eventually become the [[Jagdpanzer 38(t)]]. Despite that, the Marders continued to serve to the end of the war. |
| − | + | {{break}} | |
| + | {{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}} | ||
| + | {{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}} | ||
An antitank vehicle designed by Alkett. The prototype was built in June, 1942. It was produced from November, 1942 to April, 1943 at the BMM factory. The Marder II Ausf.H was also rebuilt from damaged tanks at the Wehrmacht factory in Prilougi using cabins obtained from BMM. | An antitank vehicle designed by Alkett. The prototype was built in June, 1942. It was produced from November, 1942 to April, 1943 at the BMM factory. The Marder II Ausf.H was also rebuilt from damaged tanks at the Wehrmacht factory in Prilougi using cabins obtained from BMM. | ||
Marder IIIs were used actively on all fronts of World War II. Most of them were used on the Eastern Front. | Marder IIIs were used actively on all fronts of World War II. Most of them were used on the Eastern Front. | ||
| − | A total of 613 Marder III Ausf.H tank destroyers were produced. | + | A total of 613 Marder III Ausf. H tank destroyers were produced. |
| + | {{Navigation-End}} | ||
== Media == | == Media == | ||
| Line 221: | Line 173: | ||
;Skins | ;Skins | ||
| + | |||
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_pzkpfw_38t_Marder_III_ausf_H Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.] | * [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_pzkpfw_38t_Marder_III_ausf_H Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ;Videos | ||
| + | {{Youtube-gallery|LyVyFGLX1TY|'''The Hetzer's Useless Uncle? - Marder III Ausf. H.'''<br>''-Military History Visualized''}} | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:'' | ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:'' | ||
| + | |||
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;'' | * ''reference to the series of the vehicles;'' | ||
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' | * ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' | ||
| Line 230: | Line 187: | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:'' | ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:'' | ||
| + | |||
* ''topic on the official game forum;'' | * ''topic on the official game forum;'' | ||
* ''other literature.'' | * ''other literature.'' | ||
{{Germany tank destroyers}} | {{Germany tank destroyers}} | ||
Latest revision as of 10:42, 19 November 2023
| This page is about the German tank destroyer Marder III H. For the other version III, see Marder III. |
Contents
Description
The Marder III H officially designated PaK40/3 auf Sfl.38 Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. Index: Sd.Kfz. 138) is a rank II German tank destroyer with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.47 "Big Guns".
The Marder III H is a step above the basic Marder III. As it is in Germany's open-topped tank destroyer line, its calling card is its superb firepower, in fact, it has a powerful gun for its BR range. APCBC is almost always enough to penetrate and destroy any tank on the battlefield, and with APCR, it has a very high penetration for its battle rating range.
The Marder III Ausf. H mounts a 75 mm gun, slightly surpassing those on the late Panzer IV's; thus its only disadvantages are its weak armour and its open fighting compartment.
Being a modified Pz.38(t) tank, it is one of the more mobile of the German tanks, nearly matching some Russian tanks. The gun is better at close range and the gun shield is curved to the sides, unlike the earlier Marder III.
General info
Survivability and armour
Armour type:
- Rolled homogeneous armour
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides (Slope angle) | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 50 mm (19°) Front plate 12 mm (74°) Front glacis 50 mm (13°) Lower glacis |
16 mm Upper 15 mm Lower |
15 mm | 12 mm |
| Turret | 11 + 8 mm (31°) | 11 mm (8-9°) | N/A | N/A |
Note:
- Belly armour is 15 mm thick.
Mobility
| Game Mode | Max Speed (km/h) | Weight (tons) | Engine power (horsepower) | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward | Reverse | Stock | Upgraded | Stock | Upgraded | ||
| Arcade | 49 | 7 | 11 | 213 | 286 | 19.36 | 26 |
| Realistic | 45 | 7 | 133 | 150 | 12.09 | 13.64 | |
The Marder can gain a good amount of speed on flat ground (about 40-45 km/h). However, it does not take well to hills, even the slightest elevation can drop your top speed to 25 km/h or less, making you an easy target when trying to reach a firing position, especially in open areas. If faced with a large hill, go around it. It will take you the same or less time to find a way around then struggle up the hill. If there is no choice but the hill, perform a "zig-zag" up the hill to prevent the vehicle from getting bogged down.
Modifications and economy
| Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Always go for "Parts" and "FPE" first to increase the vehicle's survivability. The stock shell is quite effective, so the Ml.Gr 38B HEAT shell and PzGr 40 APCR shell are not priorities either. Instead, focus on mobility upgrades and the Horizontal Drive modification. After that, the order of research will be determined by personal preference.
Armaments
Main armament
| 75 mm PaK40/3 L46 | Turret rotation speed (°/s) | Reloading rate (seconds) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mode | Capacity | Vertical | Horizontal | Stabilizer | Stock | Upgraded | Full | Expert | Aced | Stock | Full | Expert | Aced |
| Arcade | 38 | ±9° | ±28° | N/A | 10.57 | 14.63 | 17.76 | 19.63 | 20.89 | 7.67 | 6.79 | 6.25 | 5.90 |
| Realistic | 7.14 | 8.40 | 10.20 | 11.28 | 12.00 | ||||||||
Ammunition
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | |||||
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 2,000 m | ||
| PzGr 39 | APCBC | 151 | 148 | 135 | 121 | 108 | 96 |
| Hl.Gr 38B | HEAT | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| PzGr 40 | APCR | 182 | 177 | 159 | 140 | 122 | 107 |
| Sprgr. 34 | HE | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Shell details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile mass (kg) |
Fuse delay (m) |
Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g) |
Ricochet | |||||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | ||||||||||
| PzGr 39 | APCBC | 792 | 6.8 | 1.2 | 14 | 28.9 | 48° | 63° | 71° | |||
| Hl.Gr 38B | HEAT | 450 | 4.4 | 0.05 | 0.1 | 872.1 | 62° | 69° | 73° | |||
| PzGr 40 | APCR | 990 | 4.1 | - | - | - | 66° | 70° | 72° | |||
| Sprgr. 34 | HE | 550 | 5.74 | 0 | 0.1 | 686 | 79° | 80° | 81° | |||
| Smoke shell characteristics | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile mass (kg) |
Screen radius (m) |
Screen deploy time (s) |
Screen hold time (s) |
Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g) |
| K.Gr.Rot Nb. | 540 | 6.2 | 13 | 5 | 20 | 50 |
Ammo racks
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
4th rack empty |
5th rack empty |
6th rack empty |
7th rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 37 (+1) | 33 (+5) | 25 (+13) | 22 (+16) | 14 (+24) | 11 (+27) | 1 (+37) | No |
Note:
- Gun shield empty (racks 1 & 2 emptied): 33 (+5) shells.
Machine guns
| 7.92 mm MG37(t) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal |
| Hull | 1,200 (200) | 769 | ±10° | ±10° |
Usage in battles
Since you are an unprotected tank from behind, try to be as far from the action as possible. If getting close to enemy tanks cannot be prevented (urban maps, allies retreat etc.), then try to face at least a part of your hull against a wall or rock.
Use the horizontal range of the Marder III H as much as possible, the gun traverse is excellent for a turretless SPG. This tank destroyer can be penetrated easily; it has next to no armour at its battle rating. Keep close to other tanks to prevent this. Furthermore, it is imperative to exercise caution when being subjected to artillery fire; a single close hit, especially to your unprotected rear, can result in your demise due to shrapnel. Another important aspect to consider is the fact that ammunition is stored in the nearly unarmoured gun shield. Nearly any vehicle in the game, with the notable exception of the GAZ-AAA (4M), can penetrate there with ease. To mitigate the risk of ammo rack explosion, bring fewer shells, 33 are more than enough. Another fact to consider is that nearly all shells will over penetrate the superstructure and not explode.
The Marder III H's main APCBC shell, the PzGr 39, is good enough against most standard medium tank models like the M4 Sherman and T-34 from a frontal and slightly angled perspective. However, the penetration performance against sloped armour is only just enough under these circumstances, and an extreme angling beyond 60° on those tanks' part can cause rounds heading towards their front glacis to bounce. This makes up-armoured models like the T-34E and T-34E STZ particularly dangerous, as they can defeat the APCBC shell's sloped performance even at slight angles. While the T-34E has enhanced side armour, the T-34E STZ features increased front armour to bounce shots, so be sure to distinguish the two models for a more profound understanding on where to aim.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Outstanding gun, can knock out frontally common foes like T-34, M4, Churchill I with a single shot
- Armour protects the crew from MG fire, and is thin enough for explosive AP rounds to over-penetrate
- Fairly small tank destroyer can hide behind most obstacles
- Good -9° gun depression, good for most hills
- Excellent horizontal arc of 30°, allowing hiding easily
- Amazing penetration of APCR, effective even in uptiers
Cons:
- Vulnerable to HE shell overpressure (e.g. from SU-122)
- Not fully enclosed (exposed crew), vulnerable to MG, bombs, and strafing planes
- Poor +9° gun elevation can be unsuitable in certain situations
- Shells can overpenetrate some lightly-armoured vehicles (e.g. ZiS-12 94KM, Chi-Ha LG)
History
Development
After the start of Operation Barbarossa, the Wehrmacht found itself in a very dire situation due to the lack of adequate mobile anti-tank weapons, especially after the appearance of the superior Soviet T-34 and KV-1 tanks. The only mass-issued dedicated anti-tank gun was the 37 mm PaK36 while the sole widely used tank destroyer was the Panzerjäger I with the Czech 47 mm anti-tank gun. Obsolete tanks and captured vehicles were converted to tank destroyers to enable them to penetrate the modern Soviet tanks at common combat distances. Those were mainly the Marder I (from French Lorraine tracked supply vehicles), the Marder II (from Panzer IIs), and the Marder III (from Czech Panzer 38(t)s).
Specifications
The Marder IIIs, like the rest of the Marder series, were self-propelled guns better suited for fighting enemy armour than the Panzers III and IV then in service. They mounted dedicated anti-tank guns such as the 75 mm PaK40 or captured Soviet 76.2 mm guns, mainly the F-22. All the Marders were open-topped vehicles, leaving the crew exposed to mortar fire, shrapnel, or infantry fire. This weakness was mitigated by the fact that the Marders were supposed to be tank destroyers that are to ambush incoming enemy tanks or shoot them from afar.
The Marder III Ausf. H used the Panzer 38(t) chassis because it was becoming obsolete, and when new, desperately needed more powerful anti-tank weapons became available, as a stop-gap measure they were mounted on outdated tanks like the Panzer 38(t) first. The finished self-propelled mount had a higher silhouette, which left it more vulnerable, but had a 75 mm PaK40 gun and could hold 38 rounds in the vehicle. A machine gun on the hull was retained for anti-infantry purposes.
The Marder III Ausf. H predecessor, simply named as the Marder III mounted a rechambered 76.2 gun instead of a PaK40. Another variant created, the Ausf. M, featured a lower silhouette and a better-sloped armour and fighting compartment, despite only holding 27 rounds for the mounted PaK40. A total of 3,472 Marder IIIs and its versions were created or converted from Panzer 38(t) during its production life.
Combat usage
The Marder III Ausf. H fought on all fronts of the war, being produced from 1942 to 1945, with 450 Marder III Ausf. H with the PaK40 converted and produced. Using the tested design of the Panzer 38(t), the Marder III was mechanically reliable and had a gun that could take out most allied tanks in the war. The vulnerability of the crew due to lack of armour was its most pressing issue, with only a front shield plate at most 15 mm thick and side plates that can't enclose the crew. This makes it a poor assault vehicle or tank substitute, it allows infantry to easily kill the crew from ambushes. Despite that, with the deteriorating situation during the last years of the war, they were nevertheless used this way and suffered considerable losses.
As its production was underway, Germany already had a few self-propelled assault weapons being produced such as the StuG III that could have the same anti-tank capabilities, yet was fully armoured, enclosing the crew in adequate armour. This obvious advantage over the open Marder series encouraged the development of a new kind of tank destroyer from the Panzer 38(t) with better armour, which would eventually become the Jagdpanzer 38(t). Despite that, the Marders continued to serve to the end of the war.
| Archive of the in-game description | |
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An antitank vehicle designed by Alkett. The prototype was built in June, 1942. It was produced from November, 1942 to April, 1943 at the BMM factory. The Marder II Ausf.H was also rebuilt from damaged tanks at the Wehrmacht factory in Prilougi using cabins obtained from BMM. Marder IIIs were used actively on all fronts of World War II. Most of them were used on the Eastern Front. A total of 613 Marder III Ausf. H tank destroyers were produced. | |
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See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the series of the vehicles;
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External links
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| Germany tank destroyers | |
|---|---|
| Pz. I Derivatives | Panzerjäger I |
| Pz. II Derivatives | 15cm sIG 33 B Sfl |
| Pz. 38(t) Derivatives | Marder III · Marder III H · Jagdpanzer 38(t) |
| Pz. III Derivatives | StuG III A · StuG III F · StuG III G · StuH 42 G |
| Pz. IV Derivatives | Jagdpanzer IV · Panzer IV/70(A) · Panzer IV/70(V) · Dicker Max · Nashorn · Brummbär · VFW |
| Pz. V Derivatives | Jagdpanther G1 · Bfw. Jagdpanther G1 |
| Pz. VI Derivatives | Sturer Emil · Elefant · Ferdinand · 38 cm Sturmmörser · Jagdtiger |
| Wheeled/Half-track | 8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl. · Sd.Kfz.251/9 · Sd.Kfz.251/10 · Sd.Kfz.251/22 · Sd.Kfz.234/3 · Sd.Kfz.234/4 · 15 cm Pz.W.42 |
| ATGM Carrier | RakJPz 2 · RakJPz 2 (HOT) · Wiesel 1A2 |
| Other | Waffenträger · M109G · JPz 4-5 · Raketenautomat · VT1-2 |
