TANK-DESTROYER MARDER I 7,5 CM PAK 40/1 AUF LR.S.(F) SDKFZ 135 (NORMANDY 1944)

Marder I (Sd.Kfz 135) was a German tank destroyer from the Second World War. The first prototypes of the vehicle were created in 1942, and serial production continued in the period 1942-1944, ending with the production of about 170 cars. The Marder I was powered by a single 70hp Dela-Haye 103TT engine. He was armed with 1 cannon 76.2mm PaK 36 (r) or one 75mm PaK 40 gun (Sd. Kfz. 138) and 1 MG34 machine gun cal. 7.92 mm. Marder I was created in connection with the disastrous Wehrmacht experience in Operation Barbarossa (1941) with the destruction of Soviet T-34 and KW-1 tanks. In the course of this campaign, it became necessary to deliver an effective tank destroyer to the front units. In order to minimize the time of testing and implementation into production, the chassis of a captured French artillery tractor was used during the creation of the Marder I. Tracteur Blinde Lorraine 37L, on a smaller scale the chassis of Hotchkiss H-39 or FCM-36 tanks were used. As a result, a vehicle with a low curb weight (about 8-8.5 tons), good mobility and good armament, but very poor armor of only 12 mm was created! The combat debut of Marder I took place in the late summer of 1942 on the Eastern Front. In the period 1942-1943 this type of weapon was in service on the Eastern Front, but later - due to shortages in spare parts and the development of Soviet armored weapons - it was sent to France, where it served until 1944-1945.