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Marder II

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G20_Marder_II (Stock)

Blitz_G20_Marder_II_screen.png
Totals
42000 Cost
250 HPDurability
11.61 / 12.8 Weight
Crew
  1. Commander
  2. Radio Operator
  3. Driver
  4. Gunner (Loader)
Armor
30/15/15Hull Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)
4/0/4Turret Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)
Maneuver
160 h.p.Engine Power
40 km/hTop Speed / Reverse Speed
36 deg/sTraverse Speed
Firepower
160 damage
96 mmAverage Penetration
11.6 Gun Loading
44 deg/sGun Traverse Speed
Communication
240 mView Range
500 mSignal Range
III
Marder II
42000
Light tank destroyer developed in early 1942 based on the chassis of the outdated, but massively produced, Pz.Kpfw. II, and fitted with a powerful gun. The vehicle saw wide use on the Eastern Front; from 1944, it also fought in Italy and on the Western Front. The tank destroyer was in service until the end of the war.

It is a vast improvement over the Panzerjäger I. It has a great penetration and damage with its cannons, especially the 7,5 cm PaK 40/2 L/46, which can hurt all other vehicles one or two tiers higher, even able to penetrate a KV-1 up front when hitting weaker spots. With more engine power and a better gun than the Panzerjäger I, the Marder II is a decent tank to play whilst heading further up the tank destroyers line, a few players even keep the tank after they have finished researching it, though it is important to remember that although the guns have great damage and penetration, they fall short in terms of rate of fire and aim time, but with patience the Marder can lay waste to its enemies.

Gun

Gun

Level Gun Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time Experience Weight (t)
IV 7,62 cm Pak 36 (r) 96/166/20 160/160/200 5.17 0.43 2.5 0 1670
V 7,5 cm Pak 40/2 L/46 108/154/20 160/160/200 5.22 0.42 2.5 2700 1520
Engine

Engine

Level Engine Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact Experience Weight (t)
III Maybach HL 62 TRM 160 20 0 550

Level Suspension Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s) Experience Weight (t)
II Marder II 12.8 36 0 2100
Radio

Radio

Level Radio Signal Range (m) Experience Weight (t)
II FuG2 500 0 40


Compatible Equipment

Light Spall Liner
Camouflage Net
Coated Optics
Enhanced Gun Laying Drive
Enhanced Springs
Binocular Telescope
Toolbox
"Wet" Ammo Rack Class 1

Compatible Consumables


Player Opinion

Pros and Cons

Pros:


  • Good shell travel arc
  • Good penetration
  • Good view range
  • High damage for its tier
  • Huge gun traverse angle


Cons:


  • Worthless armor
  • Low ammo capacity
  • Long aiming time
  • Below average accuracy
  • Poor traverse speed


Performance

It is ill-advised to engage in close quarters as its low HP and poor armor may result in a quick death. Keep in mind that the tank's open-top crew compartment has virtually no armor, making it extremely vulnerable to howitzers, autocannons and semi-automatic cannons.

It is recommended to equip the Binocular Telescope to enhance its view range, which can be key to winning in small maps such as Province. Curiously, what is essentially the same gun on the FCM36 PaK40 has somewhat better rate of fire, accuracy and aim time than the 7,5 cm PaK 40/2 L/46 on the Marder II. Nonetheless, the increased penetration compensates for these drawbacks. But with its low rate of fire and small ammo capacity, precise aiming is an absolute must as missing a shot in battle could prove costly.


Early Research

  • The FuG 5 radio is the only thing that carries over from the Panzerjager I. Install it immediately.
  • First research the Maybach HL 62 TRM engine.
  • Next research the upgraded suspension.
  • Now you can research the 7,5 cm PaK 40/2 gun.
  • You may now unlock the top gun or just go for the Hetzer, whichever you prefer.


Historical Info

The Marder II was a German tank destroyer of World War II based on the Panzer II chassis.

History

During the very first days of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, the Germans were shocked to encounter Soviet T-34 medium tanks and KV heavy tanks. Although the Wehrmacht succeeded in most operations due to superior tactics, morale, and supply, it had few anti-tank weapons capable of successfully engaging these vehicles at normal ranges. An urgent need arose for a more mobile and powerful anti-tank weapon than the existing towed anti-tank guns or tank destroyers like the Panzerjäger I.

Among a series of solutions, it was decided to use light tanks like the Panzer II and captured vehicles like the Lorraine Schlepper as the basis for makeshift tank destroyers. The result was the Marder series, which were armed with either the new 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank guns or captured Soviet 7.62 cm F-22 Model 1936 field guns, large numbers of which had been acquired early in the war.

Production

The Marder II came in two major versions. The first version Marder II (Sd.Kfz. 132) was based on the light Panzer II Ausf. D/E and Flammpanzer II chassis with Christie suspension. It was armed with captured Soviet 7.62 cm guns, re-chambered to accept German 7.5 cm Pak 40 ammunition, which improved its penetrative capabilities. These early Marder IIs 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 armour on 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.

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, but the armor was thin and the compartment was open to the top and rear, as in Sd. Kfz. 132. FAMO, MAN and Daimler-Benz produced 576 Marder II (Sd.Kfz. 131) conversions from June 1942 to Mid 1943. 75 more were converted (probably by FAMO only) from mid 1943 to early 1944 when the last Panzer IIs were taken out of active service.

Combat history

The various Marder IIs fought on all fronts of the war, mainly at the Eastern Front.

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.

The Marder's weaknesses were mainly related to survivability. The combination of a high silhouette and open-top fighting compartment made them vulnerable to indirect artillery fire, shrapnel, and grenades. The armor was also quite thin, making them vulnerable to enemy tanks or infantry.

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.


Historical Gallery

Sources and External Links

Tank Destroyers
USA IIT18 IIIT82 IVM8A1 IVT40 VM10 Wolverine VT49 VIM18 Hellcat VIM36 Jackson VIIT25/2 VIIT25 AT VIIIT28 VIIIT28 Prototype IXT30 IXT95 XT110E3 XT110E4
UK IIUniversal Carrier 2-pdr IIIValentine AT IVAlecto VAngry Connor VAT 2 VIChurchill Gun Carrier VIAT 8 VIIAT 15A VIIAT 7 VIIIAT 15 IXTortoise XFV215b (183)
Germany IIPanzerjäger I IIIMarder II IVHetzer VStuG III Ausf. G VIDicker Max VIJagdpanzer IV VIIE 25 VIIE 25 "#1" VIIJagdpanther VIIIFerdinand VIIIJagdpanther II VIII8,8 cm Pak 43 Jagdtiger VIIISnowstorm Jagdtiger 8.8 IXJagdtiger XJagdpanzer E 100
USSR IIAT-1 IIISU-76 IVSU-85B VSU-85 VSU-85I VISU-100 VISU-100Y VIISU-152 VIISU-100M1 VIISU-122-44 VIIIISU-152 VIIISU-101 IXObject 704 IXSU-122-54 XObject 263 XObject 268
France
China
Japan
Czechoslovakia
Sweden
ja:Blitz:G20 Marder II