The Marder I (Marten) was an open-topped tank destroyer mounting the 7,5 cm Pak 40/1 on converted French Lorraine tracked prime mover chassis.

Production Details

Because production numbers of the self-propelled versions of the 7,5 cm Pak 40 were reported together with the towed version until February 1943, the total number of manufactured vehicles is unclear. Production plans in July 1942 called for 172 vehicles to be converted. By October 1942, this had been reduced to 170. By November 1942, after the initial 170 vehicles had been converted, an addition 10 chassis are identified: Eight with the staff of Edgar Feuchtinger and two at the army weapons office in Magdeburg. In addition, 12 guns were made available for additional conversions in May 1943, but no additional conversions were ever reported.

As can be seen from the production numbers below, the 1 March 1943 inventory of 179 together with a total loss of vehicles up until that point of 13 vehicles suggests a total production of 182. These additional 12 vehicles are not specified in the production reports, however, and the following month, the inventory is verified to be only 163 without any additional reported losses. While the exact number of Marder I can't be determined from these numbers, they indicate a total production of between 170 and 182 vehicles.

Month Inventory Wa AAbbreviation for: Heeres-Waffenamt
office of armaments
Look up term		 Fz InAbbreviation for: Feldzeuginspektion
ordnance inspectorate
Look up term		 Losses
1942
July NA 104 63 NA
August 66 97
September - 10
October - -
November - -
December - -
1943
January NA - - NA
February - - 131Includes all losses up until that point.
March 179 - - -
April 1632Inventory verified. - - 2
May 161 - - 7
June 154 - - -
July 154 - - 1
August 153 - - 6
September 147 - - 7
October 1262Inventory verified. - - 1
November 125 - - 1
December 124 - - -
1944
January 124 - - -
February 124 - - -
March 124 - - -
April 124 - - 8
May 116 - - 4
June 112 - - 11
July 101 - - 11
August 90 - - -
September 90 - - -
October 90 No further reports

Technical Details

Marder I
Crew
Commander 1
Gunner 1
Loader 1
Driver 1
Physical characteristics
Weight 8500 kg
Length With barrel 4.95 m
Without barrel 4.50 m
Width Overall 2.10 m
Track edges 1.56 m
Tread 1.34 m
Track 0.22 m
Hull 1.03 m
Height Overall 2.05 m
Firing height 1.80 m
Ground clearance 0.30 m
Ground contact Without sinking 2.60 m
Ground pressure Without sinking 0.75 kg/cm2
Steering ratio 1:1.94
Armament and ammunition
Gun Model 7,5 cm Pak 40/1
Ammunition 48
Left traverse 20°
Right traverse 20°
Maximum elevation 10°
Minimum depression -8°
Armor
Hull Front 10 mm
Sides 8 mm/90°
Rear 8 mm/90°
Top 8 mm/0°
Bottom 8 mm/0°
Superstructure Front 10 mm
Sides 10 mm
Rear -
Top -
Performance
Maximum speed 35 km/h
Road Sustained speed 20 km/h
Range 120 km
Mileage 0.90 l/km
Medium terrain Sustained speed 8 km/h
Range 75 km
Mileage 1.50 km/l
Terrain Trench crossing 1.80 m
Vertical climb 0.57 m
Upward climb 20°
Downward climb 40°
Fording 0.85 m
Engine and fuel
Engine Make Delahaye
Power Kilowatt 51
Metric horsepower 70
Power-to-weight ratio Kilowatt/ton 6.1
Metric horsepower/ton 8.2
Fuel Type Gasoline
Number of fuel tanks 1
Fuel capacity 110 l
Vision devices
Gun sight 3×8°
Communications
External Funksprechgerät d
Internal Intercom

Notes

  1. Includes all losses up until that point. Back
  2. Inventory verified. Back

Sources

  1. Überblick über den Rüstungsstand des Heeres - Waffen- u. Gerätegebiet : Stand: 1.11.1942. Berlin, 1942. 118 p. Der Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres - Stab Rüst IIc Nr. 2730/42 g.Kdos.. NARA T78 R166.
  2. Überblick über den Rüstungsstand des Heeres - Waffen- u. Gerätegebiet : Stand: 1.12.1942. Berlin, 1942. 124 p. Der Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres - Stab Rüst IIIc Nr. 3100/42 g.Kdos.. NARA T78 R166.
  3. Überblick über den Rüstungsstand des Heeres (Waffen und Gerät) : Stand: 1.10.1942. Berlin, 1942. 110 p. Der Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres - Stab Rüst IIc Nr. 2400/42 g.Kdos.. NARA T78 R166.
  4. Überblick über den Rüstungsstand des Heeres (Waffen und Gerät) : Stand: 1.8.1942. Berlin, 1942. 115 p. Der Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres - Stab Rüst IIc Nr. 1850/42 g.Kdos.. NARA T78 R165.
  5. Überblick über den Rüstungsstand des Heeres (Waffen und Gerät) : Stand: 1.9.1942. Berlin, 1942. 216 p. Der Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres - Stab Rüst IIc Nr. 2100/42 g.Kdos.. NARA T78 R166.
  6. Bilder und technische Daten der Panzerjäger und Sturmgeschützen : Stand: 1.5.43. WaA/WaPrüf 6, 1943. 6 p. BArch RH 10/367.
  7. Überblick über den Rüstungsstand des Heeres - Waffen und Geräte : Stand: 1.12.1943. Berlin, 1943. 224 p. Der Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres - Stab Rüst IIIc Nr. 3600/43 g.Kdos.. NARA T78 R167.
  8. Überblick über den Rüstungsstand des Heeres - Waffen und Geräte : Stand: 1.3.1943. Berlin, 1943. 166 p. Der Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres - Stab Rüst IIIc Nr. 800/43 g.Kdos.. NARA T78 R166.
  9. Überblick über den Rüstungsstand des Heeres - Waffen und Geräte : Stand: 1.5.1943. Berlin, 1943. 207 p. Der Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres - Stab Rüst IIIc Nr. 1360/43 g.Kdos.. NARA T78 R166.
  10. Überblick über den Rüstungsstand des Heeres - Waffen und Geräte : Stand: 1.7.1943. Berlin, 1943. 217 p. Der Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres - Stab Rüst IIIc Nr. 1950/43 g.Kdos.. NARA T78 R167.
  11. Überblick über den Rüstungsstand des Heeres (Waffen und Geräte) : Stand: 1.2.1943. Berlin, 1943. 159 p. NARA T78 R166.