Which Marder(s) served in Africa? I have not been able to figure this out on my own...any help would be great.

Hi. Going back through a couple of the old Squadron/Signal books I have I find that the Marder IIIs were in Africa for sure, as over 100 of this production run was shipped there to help Rommel's Afrika Korps. Not sure on the Marder II, but I would have to say that some of them made it down there as well. Maybe somebody else cound say yes or no on this for sure.

Take care, sgirty

sgirty-

Yea, the Marder III did serve in the Africa Korps - however, as of today, nobody can really pin down and Marder II's in Africa. Someone on another forum posted a photo of a Marder II being unloaded from a plane, supposedly in N. Africa - and the debate whether it was Africa or Sicily raged. I would tend to think that some did infact make it there - but I know of no pictures proving this.

I just went back and looked for the thread, and the picture is no longer up, otherwise I would have linked it here for your information.

Maybe someone else can clear this up for me as well - I'm kinda intrigued by this now......

Jeff

Thanks guys

Hi jrnelson. This post has me wondering as well. Been looking through some more or my books here and found one called, "German Tanks of World War II" by Dr S.Hart and Dr R. Hart. They are kind of vage in the Marder II as well, at least as far as Africa is concerned.

The only thing they say on this is:

"The Western Allies did not encounter the vehicle until early 1943 in Tunisia. Their forces soon learned to have a healthy respect for the heavy anti-tank punch of the Marder II, particularly after encountering it regularly during the Italian campaign in 1944."

So it seems, that according to this book anyway, there may have been some of these vehicles in Africa towards the end of hostilities there. But, so far, this is all I've found out.

Take care, sgirty

sgirty,

I just did some online snooping, and according to the actung panzer website these Marder II's served on all fronts from 1942 onwards. Thus, North Africa would be a possibility. I think if someone were to do a Marder II in Africa service, they could. I have one of these little kits on the shelf, and probably will do mine in Africa colors - just because I can't find a pic doesn't mean I can't do it, right? LOL

Just wait - as soon as I finish, some pointy headed intellectual will probably publish a book proving me wrong.

Later-
Jeff

PS - I'll keep digging for pictures and will post any I find.

For the record I have listed the German Marder series and their variants. Those in bold served in North Africa

MARDER II SERIES:
- Panzer ( Sf ) 7.62cm PaK36(r) auf fahrgestell Pz Kpfw II Ausf D1 & D2 ( Sd Kfz 132 ).

- 7.5cm PaK40/2 auf fahrgestell Pz Kpfw II ( Sf ) ( Sd Kfz 131 ) Served on all major fronts. This was the second most produced Marder type ( 626 vehicles ) next to the Marder III Ausf M which had over 900 produced


MARDER III SERIES:
- Panzerjager 38(t) fur 7.62 PaK36 ( Sd Kfz 139 ). Seved with Panzerjager Abt.33 /15.Panzer Div ......... and Panzerjager Abteilung 39

- 7.5cm PaK40/3 auf Pz Kpfw 38(t) Ausf H ( Sd Kfz 138 ). Served in Tunisia & Italy 1943

- Panzerjager 38(t) mit 7.5cm PaK40/3 Ausf M ( Sd Kfz 138 )

And the very early 4.7cm PaK (Sf) Pz Kpfw I Ausf B Panzerjager also in action in N. Africa 1941 with Panzerjager Abteilung 605.

At the Achtung-Panzer site I found that "Marder IIIs were issued to Panzerjäger Abteilungen and served mainly on the Eastern Front, but 66 were also delivered to North Africa from July to November 1942. In North Africa, the Marder III served with the 15th Panzer Division (33rd Panzerjäger Abteilung) and 39th Panzerjäger Abteilung."

I have recently been doing much research on the North African campaign and I have come across numerous reports of German self-propelled guns carrying the captured Russian 76.2mm gun being destroyed by the British at El Alamein (October-November 1942). These would likely have been the Marder III SdKfz 139 (the first Tamiya kit) mentioned at Achtung-Panzer, particularly since Anti-tank Battalion 33 was involved in these operations.

Nic