Bohemian Melancholy | 7.5 cm StuK auf Panzer 38(t)

[@Sofus.]

Have been hoping for this article for years, I am a total sucker for obscure armored vehicles.

[@ottovonbismarck2443]

Intersting that the Pz 38(t) was never used by the Czech army and was produced for Germany exclusively. There were some exported to Sweden, though. First Marders were 38(t) armed with the Russian 7,62 cm and came out late 41/early 42. The gun shield and crew protection looked very different. This project indeed looks more like a prototype for the Marder III H with the 7,5cm L/48 PAK.

[@TanksEncyclopediaYT]

The LT vz 38 was built for the Czech, with a few built before the annexation, but not issued to the army. None were actually exported to Sweden (those got confiscated and designated Ausf.S) but Sweden did receive a licence for production. The first Marders were Pak 40s on French chassis (Lorraine 37L, Hotchkiss H39, FCM 36). The one you're talking about is the first Marder III type. This one was armed with a L/40 StuK, not a L/48 Pak.

[@ottovonbismarck2443]

@@TanksEncyclopediaYT Thanks for your input and clarification about the Swedish version ! I've re-read through Marder history. The "French" Marders had PAK 40 only, early Marder II and III used both 7,62 and PAK 40 (there are pictures of odd Marder II field conversion with a 5 cm PAK 38). All first entered service mid 1942. Mid-production Marder III (M) is the one that I think looks a lot like the thing in the video.

[@billd.iniowa2263]

So this is how the Marder II came into being? Interesting. SPGs are kinda fun to use in wargaming. Not having a turret presents a different fighting tactic. Use them to sit back and support attacks. I was very surprised to see one enter the town in Saving Private Ryan. You just dont do that with this type of AFV with enemy infantry around.

[@davidjames1068]

The Germans often had to use assault guns to substitute for tanks they were short of. And the Panzers were usually part of a panzer division, but the assault guns would be attached to Infantry divisions. So if the German counter attack in Saving private Ryan was launched by an Infantry division, they would have had assault guns at best.

[@bondhesh7372]

is this a td or is it an spg no escape from the Soviets iam just a German enginer no need for practical designs

[@wolfsoldner9029]

Because of memes people think that the germans mostly focused on huge and overengineered tanks. But looking how they brought out the best from their older models proofs differently.

[@elektronischemusik1903]

A big if not the biggest chunk of allied armored vehicles got smashed from all sorts of anti-tank guns, stugs and tank destroyers. I think the Stug 3 (or maybe it was the stug 4) with all the different versions had one of the best cost-benefit and kills/loss ratios in the war.

[@alexrennison8070]

Very succinctly put.

[@farleyfox1840]

Although the 38T was a reliable and well made vehicle, it was not liked by it's crews. The armor plate was very hard but brittle. Any substantial hit could send red hot steel shards and broken rivets flying around the interior taking off hands,feet, arms and heads.

[@letoubib21]

Not all 38(t)s were riveted *.. .*

[@thebuilderxen6858]

Minecraft nether music in the backround: Btw that's an interesting vehicle, but highly, it should be an infantry support wepon.

[@joeavent5554]

If you look at the Swiss G-13 it could have been the StuG-38 if accepted into German production. I have read about this vehicle that was developed before the end of WW2. The Swiss Army received the G-13 after the war and kept in service from 1952-1970.

[@Panzermeister36]

You mean the Jagdpanzer 38?

[@maxkronader5225]

I have always wondered if there would have been utility in developing a low pressure 88mm gun firing HEAT rounds to retrofit tanks like 38t for use as recon vehicles with a close to mid range antiarmor capability. The South Africans did much the same idea with the Eland (Panhard AML-90) armored cars with the 90mm gun. They took out Angolan T-55s with HEAT rounds on several occasions. One would think a similarly armed 38t could have done a similar job against T34s and KVs

[@maxkronader5225]

@@AKUJIVALDO Exactly. The PAW was basically a breech loading 81mm mortar firing a shaped charge HEAT round out to about 750 yards accurately, but retaining the ability to fire HE. A low recoil weapon like that could have been mounted in the turret of 38t, giving it an anti armor and anti bunker capability for recon/scouting work: although, of course, the 38t armor was much to thin for it to go looking for a fight with enemy tanks, even if provided with an effective main gun.

[@maxkronader5225]

@@AKUJIVALDO PAW was a modification of the standard 81mm smoothbore mortar tube design, specifically designed that way so mortar manufacturing lines could make it with minimal retooling. PAW was, in effect, a long barrelled, breech loading, 81mm mortar with muzzle compensator, mounted on a modified version of a light AT gun frame design.

[@maxkronader5225]

@@AKUJIVALDO You put "breech loading mortar" in quotes, and then proceed to laugh your ass off, as though you find the idea baffling, or ludicrous, or unfamiliar. Have you never heard of the class of weapons called breech loading mortars (sometimes called gun/mortars)? Have you heard of the 82mm Soviet 2B9 Vasilek towed breech loading gun/mortar? How about the Russian 2A60 breech loading 120mm mortar mounted in the 2S9 and 2S23 SPG vehicles? Or the Soviet M1943 160mm breech loading towed mortar, or its replacement the M-160? Or the 2S4 240mm breech loading SP mortar? How about the French Brandt 60mm 60LR and 60HB breech loading mortars turret mounted in a variety of vehicles, including AML 60s and Ratel 60s? Or the current Finno-Swedish AMOS composed of a turret mounted twin barrelled breech loading 120mm automatic mortar system? Need more examples? There's plenty out there. Do a little research. It is completely reasonable to call a lightweight smoothbore gun specifically designed to be compatible with mortar barrel manufacturing equipment, firing a modified 81mm mortar bomb a breech loading mortar, considering that there are numerous examples of the same principle in production before the PAW, contemporary with the PAW, and after the PAW, which were referred to as breech loading mortars or gun/mortars. And your repeated mention of the High-Low pressure system is irrelevant. It refers to the design of the propellant charge for the projectile, it does not define what you call the tube it comes out of. Hi-lo rounds have been designed and mfg'ed for everything from 40mm grenade launchers to breech loading gun/mortars.

[@maxkronader5225]

@@AKUJIVALDO I get it. You embarrassed yourself with your childish LOL-ings and LMAO-ings and are now getting huffy. You post the definition of a light infantry mortar as though that is the only type of mortar that had ever existed and is the textbook definition for all types of mortar. My response that there is an entire class of light to heavy artillery universally acknowledged by every military artillery professional on earth as being "breech loading mortars" or "gun/mortars" (many of which are direct fire weapons firing HEAT rounds), and that the PAW easily falls into such a category, has proven your infantile ranting to be the uninformed babbling of an idiot. Rather than thanking me for the education, you cling to your indefensible position like a stubborn five year old child.

[@maxkronader5225]

@@AKUJIVALDO Ok. You have been repeatedly proven wrong, yet continue babbling. Your points have been refuted, yet you continue claiming your points have been ignored. Clearly, what you are looking for is satisfaction of some petty psychological need to have the last word. Well, as your superior in every conceivable way, it costs me nothing to grant it to you. And. . .go.

[@jayklink851]

Brilliant! Well done!

[@ericvogt3313]

What a ridiculous vehicle. I love it. I'll take 100.

[@Soundwave3591]

"we need panzerjägers! Stick a Stug gun, mantlet and all, on a 38t!"

[@sebulbableves]

Minecraft Nehter music, nice !

[@w0lfgm]

Great job all!

[@henkormel5610]

Nice vid but i do have the impression some terms were wrongly translated or vocal passed on. A PAK is a Panzer Abwehr Kanone, this is literely translated an Armour Defence Gun. A gun that is used to defend against attacking armour. A StuG is a Sturm Geschutz this means assault gun. A gun that is used to breach enemy strongholds during an attack to gain teritory. A StuK schould be a Sturm Kanone, i never heard or read that term being used in war history. Phoneticly SuG and StuK sounds very simular for a native English speaker. In German i know of the PAK and FlAK as the only two guns that used the name 'Canon' the second one is the Flieger Abwehr Kanone this does translate as Airplane Defence Gun. In Enlish and German are the terms of gun and canon or Geschutz and Kanone more or less interchangeble.

[@REX-gq6ur]

Very nice!

[@KettyFey]

I didn't see mention in the article of the vehicle's combat service? From what I'd read the prototype was sent to the Soviet Union, however the article infers that the prototype was only a wooden mockup.

[@TanksEncyclopediaYT]

None of the sources we use mention any use of it, and it does seem to be only a mock-up, not a fully-built vehicle.

[@ParanoidAlaskan]

We have the Dicker Max, now get ready for the Dicker Minimum

[@VeganerHippie]

Dünner Max.

[@mrkrabber5319]

Cardboard box on a metal sheet

[@thefunnyfritz4035]

Song title?

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

It's OK but it is no Hetzer!

[@AHappyCub]

"pzjager" lol

[@cristycoman7691]

Romania make TACAM R2

[@VisualdelightPro]

Marder 1 FCM36

[@malkavianstr450]

KA-NO-NEH

[@andywuhu6720]

First