Marder II
| Marder II | |
|---|---|
This Marder II (Sd.Kfz. 131) was nicknamed "Kohlenklau" (Coal thief), after a propaganda caricature which was very popular in Germany from 1942 onward. | |
| Type | Tank destroyer |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1942–1945 |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | FAMO FAMO-Ursus |
| Produced | 1942–1943 |
| No. built | ~863 (681 built, ~182 converted) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 10.8 tonnes (23,809 lb) |
| Length | 6.36 m (20 ft 10 in) |
| Width | 2.28 m (7 ft 6 in) |
| Height | 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) |
| Crew | 4 |
| Armor | Front 35 mm Sides 14.5 mm Rear 14.5 mm |
Main armament | 7.62 cm Pak 36(r) w/ 30 rounds (Sd.Kfz. 132) 7.5 cm Pak 40 gun w/ 37 rounds (Sd.Kfz. 131) |
Secondary armament | 7.92 mm MG 34 |
| Engine | Maybach HL 62 TRM 6-cylinder gasoline engine 138 hp (140 PS, 103 kW) |
| Power/weight | 12.8 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | Leaf spring |
Operational range | 190 km (118 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 40 km/h (25 mph) |
![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-197-1238-16,_Russland-Mitte,_Panzerjäger_"Marder_II".jpg){kind=link}
The Marder II ("marten" in English) was a German tank destroyer of World War II based on the Panzer II chassis. There were two versions, the first mounted a modified Soviet 7.62 cm gun firing German ammunition, while the other mounted the German 7.5 cm Pak 40 gun. Its high profile and thin open-topped armor provided minimal protection to the crew. Nevertheless, the Marder II (and similar Marder III) provided a great increase in firepower over contemporary German tanks during 1942 and into 1943. Only four Marder IIs remain today.