This converted Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), formerly a Skoda tank, was outfitted with a Russian 7,62 cm anti-tank gun, the PaK 36(r). This gun was rechambered for the more powerful PaK 40 shell. This self-propelled tank destroyer was one of the stop gap solutions before better German anti-tank vehicles were available.
Different types of Marder III existed, one with a Russian 76,2 cm anti-tank gun and two versions with a German Pak 70 anti-tank gun, but all based on the Panzer 38(t).
Marder III with 7,62 cm PaK 36(r)
The Marder III with 7.62 cm PaK 36(r) was a German self-propelled anti-tank gun used during World War II, primarily on the Eastern Front. It was a modification of the Marder III series, a family of armored vehicles designed to provide anti-tank fire support. The Marder III was based on the PzKpfw 38(t) chassis, a Czech-built tank captured and repurposed by the Germans.
The Marder III was armed with the 7.62 cm PaK 36(r), a captured Soviet 76.2 mm ZiS-3 field gun that had been adapted for German use. This gun was highly effective against early-war Soviet tanks, such as the T-34 and KV-1, but became less effective as enemy armor improved. The gun had a high rate of fire and could engage enemy tanks at ranges of up to 1,500 meters (4,920 feet).
Powered by a Praga AC 6-cylinder engine producing 160 horsepower, the Marder III had a top speed of 42 km/h (26 mph) and a range of about 200 km (124 miles). The vehicle’s armor was relatively thin, with protection up to 30 mm, which made it vulnerable to artillery and heavier tank fire. However, its speed, mobility, and powerful gun made it highly effective in ambush tactics and quick strikes.
The Marder III with 7.62 cm PaK 36(r) played a crucial role in German anti-tank operations on the Eastern Front and North Africa during the early stages of World War II.
