SdKfz 135 Marder I

SdKfz 135 Marder I
Country	Nazi Germany
Role	Tank destroyer
In Service	1942–1944
Built	170

The Marder I “Marten” (Sd.Kfz. 135) was a German World War II tank destroyer, armed with the 75 mm anti-tank gun. Most Marder Is were built on the base of the Tracteur Blindé 37L (Lorraine), a French artillery tractor/armoured personnel carrier of which the Germans had acquired more than three hundred after the Fall of France in 1940.

Source: SdKfz 135 Marder I on Wikipedia

SdKfz 135 Marder I Walk Around
Photographer	Vladimir Yakubov
Localisation	Musee des Blindes, Saumur
Photos	80

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An Emergency Solution to the Soviet Armor Crisis

The Marder I (Marten) was born out of the German Wehrmacht’s urgent need for mobile anti-tank firepower following the shock of encountering the Soviet T-34 and KV-1 tanks. Rather than waiting for new designs, German engineers, led by Major Alfred Becker, repurposed hundreds of captured French Lorraine 37L artillery tractors. By mounting the powerful 7.5 cm PaK 40 gun on these reliable French chassis, Germany created a highly effective “stopgap” tank destroyer that served from the Eastern Front to the beaches of Normandy.

Attribute	Standard Specification (Sd.Kfz. 135 Marder I)
Role	Self-Propelled Tank Destroyer (Panzerjäger)
Primary Chassis	Tracteur Blindé 37L (Lorraine)
Crew	4 or 5 (Commander, Driver, Gunner, 1-2 Loaders)
Main Armament	7.5 cm PaK 40/1 L/46
Secondary Armament	7.92 mm MG 34 (often hand-held/stowed)
Ammunition	approx. 38–40 rounds
Engine	Delahaye 103TT 6-cylinder petrol (70 hp)
Max Speed	38 km/h (24 mph) on road
Weight (Combat)	8.2 metric tons

The “Baukommando Becker” Conversions

The “Flying Truck” Chassis: The Lorraine 37L was originally an un-armed supply vehicle. Its engine was located in the center, which allowed for a rear-mounted fighting compartment—ideal for stabilizing the heavy 7.5 cm gun.
Open-Topped Fighting Compartment: To save weight and allow for rapid smoke clearance during firing, the crew compartment was protected only by thin (5–12 mm) steel plating on the front and sides. It was completely open to the rear and top. [Image showing the internal layout of the Marder I fighting compartment]
Strategic Reuse: Beyond the Lorraine, small numbers of Marder I’s were also built on other French chassis, including the Hotchkiss H39 and the FCM 36. Each had a slightly different silhouette but shared the same lethal PaK 40 gun.

Service and Combat Effectiveness

The Eastern Front: The first 170 units were rushed to Russia in late 1942. Despite their improvised nature, they were highly successful at long-range ambushes, though their high silhouette made them easy targets if spotted.
The 21st Panzer Division: After the original batch was largely depleted, many survivors and later conversions were used by the reformed 21st Panzer Division in France. These vehicles were a major component of the German defense against Allied landings on D-Day.
Limitations: The Marder I was not a tank and could not survive a direct hit from even light anti-tank weapons. It was strictly a “shoot and scoot” weapon that relied on its mobility and the 7.5 cm gun’s range.