Tamiya 35248 German Marder III 1/35

Tamiya 35248 German Marder III 1/35

In the summer of 1941, Germany’s invasion of Russia was unfolding favorably for the Wehrmacht. However, German authorities began to notice the inferiority of their tanks and anti-tank weaponry to those of the Soviet army, such as the T34. To cope with this disparity they decided to: improve the Pz.Kpfw.III and Pz.Kpfw.IV tanks; develop new tanks; and increase production of the 7.5cm anti-tank cannon. Finally, as an interim solution, it was decided to improve captured Russian 7.62cm anti-tank cannons and deploy them for Wehrmacht use. These fearsome cannons could penetrate 83mm armour plating at a range of 1000m, but after improvement, could penetrate up to 122mm, and were renamed the 7.62cm Pak36(r) gun.

Until the new tanks were ready for deployment, 7.62cm Pak36(r) guns were to be mounted on the chassis of obsolete Pz.Kpfw.II and Pz.Kpfw.38(t) tanks for the creation of a stopgap tank hunter. The 38(t) tanks were based on the LtVz.38 tank, which was developed for use by the Czech company CKD (later BMM) for the Czech army in 1938. In 1939, with the annexation of Czechoslovakia, this tank went into production for the Wehrmacht. The base Czech-made tank was combined with the Soviet 7.62cm Pak36(r) gun, resulting in the creation of the Wehrmacht’s fearsome tank hunter, the Marder III Sd.Kfz.139. The turret base of the Pk.Kpfw.38(t) was removed and a 16mm steel plate was attached in its place. The Soviet 7.62cm Pak36(r) gun was mounted on that plate, 11mm armour plating installed to the front and sides, and massive stirrups immobilized the gun.

About the Model
1/35 scale plastic assembly model kit based on the German Tank Destroyer Marder III
Overall length: 174mm
Each detail of this fascinating fighting machine has been accurately reproduced for total modelling satisfaction
All the details of the fighting compartment (main gun plate, gun supports, ammunition rack, etc.) have been precisely recreated
Protective armour and sighting equipment moves with raising and lowering of main gun
Crew seats and large clamp for main gun can be modelled in the fighting or moving positions
Two crew figures are included in set. Five kinds of battlefield markings are included