Thread by @Jeff21461

So here is the Marder 1 thread.

So remember when I said 55-65 tweets yesterday.... it ended up being 75🙃but I hope you will enjoy it non the less.

1/75

As Germany starts rebuilding its military to allow it to protect itself in case of a Soviet invasion they tell NATO that they will look to get 12 divisions ready by 1960. Such a massive force would obviously need equipping.

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When it came to the infantry, lessons learned from WW2 would play a crucial role in shaping the sort of equipment that would be procured. This was especially the case with the armoured infantry.

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The WW2 Panzergrenadiere mounted on their armoured halftracks would lay the basis for the modern Panzergrenadier. For this reason West-Germany needed an armoured vehicle that could not only deliver troops to the fight but also partake in it.

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The Soviet union would meanwhile take similar lessons from the WW2 German use of armoured halftracks which lead to the development of their BMP-1 in the 1960’s

5/75

To develop a set of requirements for such a vehicle a Panzergrenadierlehrbataillon training unit would be established which was to be equipped with US donated M39 tracked carriers.

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While the M39 was combat proven it had several major shortcomings. As an open top vehicles it provided only limited protection to those inside and its armament, a single M2 50. Cal machine gun was found to be lacking.

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A new vehicle had to be adopted to fill this role but as a result of WW2 the German defence industry was not in any state to take on such task nor was it found to make economic sense as they where still barred from exporting military goods.

8/75

The Germans would thus look abroad for a suitable vehicle. The French AMX-13 VTP was considered but ended up being to expensive. The US M59 APC on the other hand was found to be to big and lacking in protection.

9/75

At the time Swiss based Hispano-Suiza made a proposal for a vehicle that met German demands and would come in 30% cheaper then the AMX-13 VTP. This vehicle would end up being the less then stellar HS.30.

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An order would be placed for a prototype vehicle in March 1956 but even before that one is delivered a massive production order for 10.680 units would be placed by the German procurement authorities.

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Hispano-Suiza meanwhile was completely unprepared for such order and sub contracted Layland, Henschel and Hanomag to build HS.30’s for them without informing the German government of this.

12/75

When the first production units do arrive they are found to be riddled with technical problems. The suspension was to weak, the tracks wore out to quickly, the engine was under powered and servicing that engine was a nightmare.

13/75

The production order was cut down to 2.178 units and as soon as 1959 a new set of requirements would be drafted for a replacement vehicle.

14/75

If you are interested in how the Germans ended up using the HS.30 then I would suggest this excellent video by @battle_order which goes over the organization of HS.30 equipped units.



15/75

@battle_order The new set of requirements would be:
- Keep up with the MBT during the attack with a hp/t ratio of at least 20.
- Operational range equal to the Leopard 1
- Allow the crew to engage ground and air targets while mounted
- 360° day and night visibility

16/75

@battle_order - Be easy to maintain in the field
- Use as many already in service components
- Large number of dismounts
- Be armed with a 20mm cannon
- Full NBC protection
- Fording capability up to 5 meters.

17/75

@battle_order Right from the start it was envisioned that the chassis of this new AIFV was to be used for a whole family of vehicles.
- AIFV and command vehicle
- Gun based tank destroyer
- Missile based tank destroyer
- 120mm mortar carrier

18/75

@battle_order - Air defence command vehicle
- Ambulance
- Tracked cargo vehicle
- Gun based Air defence
- Missile based air defence

19/75

@battle_order The large number of potential variants however turned out to be unfeasible with the Gun and missile based tank destroyers ending up being build on a different platform all together. These would be the KJP and Jaguar and they would be ready for service in 1967.

20/75

@battle_order As early as 1960 the order to develop this new AIFV was given to the German defence industry. Two teams would be formed. The Rheinstahl group with Rheinstahl/Witten, Rheinstahl-Hanomag/Hanover and design bureau Warnecke.

21/75

@battle_order The other team would be comprised of Henschel AG and the Swiss MOWAG. MOWAG would leave the competition in 1968. Design work was however be continued by “Thyssen Industrie AG Henschel”.

22/75

@battle_order The Rheinstahl group would produce the RU 111, RU 112 and RU 122 prototypes in 1962 while Henschel would build the 1 HK 2/1 and 1 HK 2/2 prototypes in 1960/61 while MOWAG build the HM1 and HM2 prototypes.

23/75

@battle_order All prototypes had a similar weight of around 16 tonnes. Trials on these 7 prototypes too longer then expected as not only did every German agency try and get their design demands in but the USA was also feeling left behind.

24/75

@battle_order Germany and the USA had previously signed a bi-national agreement to develop a new AIFV. Germany had jumpstarted this on their own. The USA would end up not bothering to participate as they still held to the battle taxi concept for armoured troop carrying vehicle.

25/75

@battle_order In 1963 the trails on the second generation of prototypes started. 1 M1/1, 2 M1/2 and 3 M1/3 from MOWAG and Rheinstahl groups RU 241, RU 261 and RU 262 would take part in these trials.

26/75

@battle_order Two years later in 1965 the third generation of prototypes would start their trials. These would improve the vehicles combat parameters and saw the introduction of the iconic rear mounted machine gun.

27/75

@battle_order In 1966 a change would be made to the design requirements. The new AIFV was now to have an 2 man turret with externally mounted 20mm cannon under full armour.

28/75

@battle_order This would see the introduction of the Wegmann designed turret. Rheinstahl groups RU236 would sport a 6 roadwheel running gear which would make it start to look like the eventual production model.

29/75

@battle_order In total 23 prototypes would be build and trailed across all generations. This directly lead to the order for the construction of 10 pre-series vehicles (the 0-series).

30/75

@battle_order These would be fitted with a new transmission from Renk allowing for an steeper angle on the upper glacis plate. Four firing parts with balmounts where added and the turret housing and machine gun mount where reworked to ease production.

31/75

@battle_order Without side-skirts these 0-series vehicles ended up at a weight of 26,5 tonnes. Further trials would be held on these vehicles between October 1968 and March 1969. These trials finally satisfied the massive demands placed on the design.

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@battle_order This would lead to the first troop trials with the 92nd Armoured Infantry Training Battalion. Additional teething problems where found and it was discovered that the training demands were much higher than anticipated.

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@battle_order However in early 1971 after solving most of these teething problems a production contract for 2.136 vehicles would be signed. 1.161 where build by Rheinstahl while the other 975 where build by MaK.

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@battle_order The first series production units would be handed over to the Bundeswehr on the 7th of May 1971. The new vehicle would be adopted as the Schützenpanzer Marder.

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@battle_order Variants;

A1: In 1977 the Marder would see its first upgrade with the installation of the Miland ATGM launcher on the turret. Later in 1979 a more extensive upgrade would be installed causing the first model to be redesignated as the A1.

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@battle_order A1 A; 1.112 A1 models would be updated to A1 A standard which saw the installation of a dual feed system for the 20mm cannon, stronger turret drive motors and revised internal ammunition storage.

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@battle_order A1 (+); 674 A1 models would be upgraded to A1 (+), these received all the upgrades of the A1 A but also got the PERI Z 59 passive night vision sight with Thermal location/detection system.

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@battle_order A1 (-); 350 A1 would be upgraded to A1 (-), these received all the upgrades of the A1 (+) but without the PERI Z 59 sight. The mounts and cabling routing for the PERI sight was however installed allowing for later upgrade.

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@battle_order It is worth noting that the A1 A, A1 (+) and A1 (-) retained the A1’s original IR targeting/searchlight system.

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@battle_order 1 A2; The 1.462 A1 A and A1 (-) where fitted with the WGB-X Thermal imaging system and had their rear mounted machine guns removed.

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@battle_order A1 A2; The 674 Marder A1 (+) would be re-designated as the Marder A1 A2 when the 1 A2 model entered service. Just like the A2 these would have their rear mounted machine guns removed.

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@battle_order A3; 2.100 1 A2 and A1 A2 would start to be upgraded to 1 A3 standard between 1989 and 1998. The main upgrade would be for the vehicles armour. It would receive an all-round armour addon package.

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@battle_order This would increase the weight of the vehicle by 5,5 tonnes requiring upgrades to the running gear and suspension. A new braking system would be fitted as well as a modification to the gearbox allowing for better handling.

54/75

@battle_order The SEM 70/80/90 radio system would be fitted and the coaxial machine gun would receive its own independent mount on the turret. A further upgrade to a 720hp engine was not performed due to budget constraints.

55/75

@battle_order Also worth noting that the A1 A2 models that where upgraded to 1 A3 did receive the WGB-X thermal sight.

56/75

@battle_order A3 VB; A Marder 1 A3 that had the Milan ATGM launcher removed and where fitted with the ZOG TZG 90 target location system and would serve as forward artillery observer vehicles
57/75

@battle_order A4; This is a command version of the 1 A3 that received the SEM 93 radio set. Only 26 of this variant would be build.

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@battle_order A5; During NATO peacekeeping missions in the 90’s it was found that the 1 A3 had very poor mine protection. To remedy this a set of changes where made to the vehicle.

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@battle_order A new hull belly would be installed and the seats for the crew and dismounts would be suspended from the hull roof instead of the floor. New side skirts where fitted and a new 500mm wide track was installed.

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@battle_order In total 74 1 A3 would be upgraded to this standard increasing the vehicles weight to 38,5 tonnes. These would later have their Milan launcher replaced with a MELS launcher.

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@battle_order A5A1; An update introduced to 10 1A5’s in 2010 that saw the installation of an AC system which would be housed in a box at the rear of the vehicle. Additionally it would receive the CG12 IED jammer and SAAB Baracude.

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@battle_order A5A1 Triple ESB; A further upgrade to the 10 “1 A5A1” from 2013 that would see the installation of a night vision system for the driver, better ballistic protection for the crew, reworked ammunition storage and a rear facing camera.

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@battle_order Panzermörsers 120; A 120mm mortar carrier developed on the Marder A1. 6 prototypes would be build but the vehicle would never enter service.

64/75

@battle_order Giraffe; An ATGM carrier build on the Marder A1 with a telescoping arm that would carry 4 HOT ATGM. Work on this concept would be continued on the Leopard 1 chassis. While promising it would not enter service.

65/75

@battle_order Marder Fahrschulpanzer; A driver training variant equipped with the same instructor position as the Leopard 1 DDT.

66/75

@battle_order Flugabwehr-Raketenpanzer ROLAND; A Marder equipped with the ROLAND Short Range Air defence System. Due to budget cuts the vehicle would not go past the prototype stage.

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@battle_order TAM; The Tanque Argentino Mediano or TAM for short is a light tank/direct fire support vehicle based on the Marder 1 armed with the FM K.4 Modelo 1L 105mm gun used by Argentine.

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@battle_order Export;

- Chile would acquire 280 ex-German Marder 1A3s to go along with their fleet of Leopard 2A4CHL MBT.
- Argentine would purchase a total of 280 TAM light tanks/direct fire support vehicles
- Indonesia purchased 50 ex-German units to go along with the Leopard 2RI.

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@battle_order - Jordan would buy 75 ex-German Marder 1A3 the last of which was delivered in 2020.
- Greece would end up trading 40 BMP-1A1 OST for 40 Marder 1A3 with Germany under Ringtausch. Those BMP’s would then go to Ukraine.

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@battle_order Ukraine;

Germany would jointly pledge IFV’s to Ukraine with the USA in January of 2023. As of the writing of the article Germany has pledged 100 Marder 1A3 to Ukraine of which 60 have been delivered.

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@battle_order In Ukrainian service we have only seen these in use with the 82nd Air Assault Brigade which is currently engaged in fighting around Robotyne and Verbove alongside the 47th Mechanized Brigade.



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@battle_order Sources;
Tankograd – Militärfahrzeug Spezial N° 5017 SPz Marder written by Peter Blume
Original Fahrzeuge "In Detail" ()
Ukrainian paratroopers showcase Marder 1A3 IFV maneuvering skills ()

73/75panzer-modell.de/referenz/in_de…
mil.in.ua/en/news/ukrain…

@battle_order Ukrainian armored vehicles break through the Surovikin Line ()
Tank Chats #136 | Schützenpanzer | The Tank Museum ()
Marder (infantry fighting vehicle) ()

74/75mil.in.ua/en/news/ukrain…

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marder_(i…

@battle_order Tanque Argentino Mediano ()
Weapon Loadout: West German Panzergrenadiers (1960s) ( )
75/75en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanque_Ar…

@battle_order Tank you very much for reading all the way to the end. As always if I missed something then further addendum's will be added under this tweet.

A companion article on Defence archive should also be out before the end of the week.

Vote for next thread.

x.com/Jeff21461/stat…

Addendum 1; The thread is 65 tweets long and not 75.

I miscounted when numbering these in the word document the thread was originally written in.

Addendum 2; The Marder Flugabwehr-Raketenpanzer ROLAND was adopted with 143 units being build.

I misread this section of the Tankograd book as stating this variant was cancelled.