An Ersatz Tank Destroyer from an Ersatz Tractor

Operation Barbarossa was a difficult trial for the Wehrmacht, as they ran into many unexpected complications. One of them was the presence of a significant amount of Soviet tanks with shell-proof armour (T-34 and KV). The 37 mm anti-tank gun was powerless against them. Another issue was the low quality of roads, which turned into a serious obstacle for wheeled vehicles and even halftracks as soon as the autumn rains came. The first issue was solved by introducing the 75 mm Pak 40, the second by creating the "eastern" RSO prime mover. In 1943 these were joined together to form an ersatz tank destroyer.

Marder III: German Tank Destroyer on a Czech Chassis

The start of the Great Patriotic War on June 22nd, 1941, triggered serious corrections to both Soviet and German tank building. The fighting in 1941 showed that the time of light tanks is coming to an end. At the same time, the increasing mass of more and more powerful anti-tank weapons limited their ability to be transported by their crews. The abilities of the German PzI Ausf. B tank were limited, and it was impossible to create anything more powerful than the Panzerjager I. It's not surprising that the Germans came up with the idea to create SPGs using the chassis of other obsolete light tanks. This article will discuss the family of Marder III tank destroyers, which were built on the chassis of the Pz38(t).

Pak 40 Discovery

"To the Deputy People's Commissar of Defense, Lieutenant General of the Tank Forces, comrade Fedorenko

August 18th, 1942

I report that, according to documents, the German army possesses 7.5 cm mod. 1940 anti-tank guns.

The gun fires regular 7.5 cm mod. 1939 armour piercing rounds, 7.5 cm mod. 1938 HEAT rounds, special 7.5 cm mod. 1940 armour piercing rounds (with a hardened core), and 7.5 cm mod. 1934 HE rounds.

Pak 40 Penetration Tables

Spare Track Links

"In order to increase the protection of the T-VI (Tiger) tank, the Germans place spare track links in front of the hull, on the vertical armour plate.

In order to check if this is an effective method, in March of 1944, a T-34 upper front hull segment (part number 34.29.304) with track links attached was tested at the NIBT proving grounds.

The shooting was done with an armour piercing 75 mm shell fired from a German gun (PaK 40) with the muzzle velocity of 770 m/s.

Trials showed that the front of the hull protected by track links can be penetrated by the German gun from 800 meters, but not from 900 meters. The unprotected part of the hull can be penetrated from 1000 meters, but not from 1100 meters. Therefore, the tracks increase protection by 200 meters.

I deem it sensible to alter the existing spare track transport method on the T-34 and SU-85. I ask you to order the People's Commissariat of Tank Production to move the spare track link holders to the front of the T-34 and SU-85 hull starting on April 15th, 1944."

CAMD RF 38-11355-2548

Of course, not only the Tigers had such protection. Many vehicles had track links attached to them to the front for extra armour, including tracks from other vehicles.

This StuG, for example, is clearly covered in T-34 track links.

Those that could not find nice and wide T-34 tracks had to make do with less.

Track links on T-34 tanks were also carried tucked behind infantry handrails, but it's also possible that these were not expected to improve protection.