Marder II D in Russia	Marder III M with 75mm Pak 40/3 L/46

Following production of the self-propelled artillery vehicle Bison, the chassis of the PzKpfw 38(t) was also used to mount a re-chambered 76.2mm Pak or a 75mm Pak 40/3. The Marder III was the best design of the Marder series, and included three versions. The first version (H) was armed with a 75mm Pak 40 which was placed on the front of the vehicle. This turned out to be instable, and after production of 418 vehicles a second version (M) included a more backwards fighting compartment. From this version 799 were produced before production ceased in May 1944. The third version (R) had a Russian 76.2mm gun placed in the centre of the chassis. Many of the Marder III vehicles served in North Africa with the Africa Korps.

Marder III H with frontal fighting compartment	A camouflaged Marder III R with 76.2mm Pak 36

To improve the mobility of the famous 88mm gun, chassis components of the PzKpfw IV Ausf. F were used for a heavy tank-destroyer known as the Sd.Kfz. 164 Hornisse, later called Nashorn (Rhino), as insect names were used for armored artillery only. The Nashorn entered service in 1943. Despite open-topped, light armor and difficult concealment, 473 of these powerful armed vehicles were built. Production was continued with the similar looking Hummel, also based on the pzKpfw IV chassis. In order to make room for the gun crew, the motor was placed in the front. These designs were however regarded as being of a stop-gap nature, and plans were made for a second generation of tank-destroyers.

Message for the commander of a "Nashorn"	White-washed Nashorn vehicles

 

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