Marder II Tank Destroyer

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The Minister for Arms and Armaments sent a requirement to the Heereswaffenamt in May 1942 for a self-propelled anti-tank weapon based on the chassis of the PzKpfw II tank. In the resulting design the excellent 7.5cm PaK 40 anti-tank gun was mounted in an open-topped superstructure in the centre of the vehicle. It retained its original shield, recoil system, and traversing and elevating gears. MAN was made responsible for the development of the chassis, Alkett for the superstructure and Rheinmetall-Borsig for the main armament. The resulting vehicle was known as the Marder II (Marten II). The pilot vehicles of the Marder II were delivered in June 1942 and eventually 1,216 vehicles were completed. They were based on the PzKpfw II Ausf A, B, C and F, and were numerically very important. They served with the anti-tank battalions of the Eastern Front, and later in the war on other fronts. Model Id: 138 Manufacture: Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg (MAN) AG, Nürnberg, Bavaria, Middle Franconia, Germany (PzKpfw II and Marder II prime contractor - produced from June 1942) Fahrzeug- und Motoren-Werke (FAMO) GmbH, Stare Miasto, Wrocław, Dolnośląskie, Poland (Additional manufacturer) 1) National Armor and Cavalry Museum, Fort Benning, USA Number of Photos: 5 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 94 Serial Number: Registration: Name: Other Identification: Text in original Preserved German Tanks publication: This vehicle was on display in the Ordnance Museum at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, USA, for many years. In 1989 it was returned to Germany on a long term loan of 99 years. This was in exchange for it being restored. The two other vehicles involved were a Tiger tank, which also went to the Auto und Technik Museum, and a PzKpfw II tank which went to the Munster Panzermuseum. Text in Preserved German Tanks Update: This Marder II went to the Wheatcroft Collection for some years, and was returned to the USA in 2012.

2) Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor, Fort Knox, USA Number of Photos: 4 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 95 Serial Number: Registration: Name: Other Identification: This SdKfz 131 was used against, and captured by, the Third US Army during World War II.

3) Pansarmuseet, Axvall, Sweden Number of Photos: 1 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 96 Serial Number: Registration: Name: Other Identification: This Marder II carries the number “214”. It is missing its muzzle brake.

4) Kubinka NIIBT Research Collection - Foreign Vehicles, Kubinka, Russia Number of Photos: 1 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 97 Serial Number: Registration: Name: Other Identification: This is a standard production example of the Marder II based on the Ausf F chassis.