Marder 1
In service 1971 - 2010s
The West German answer to the BMP: heavier, better protected and far more expensive - and it kept its crews alive. Not a tank.
Built byRheinmetall and MaK
Photograph pending. No clearly licensed photograph of this vehicle was found.
Development history
Where the Soviet BMP traded protection for amphibious capability and numbers, the Marder went the other way: nearly twice the weight, frontal protection against 20 mm fire, a stabilised autocannon and a rear compartment its panzergrenadiers could actually fight from. It was the most expensive infantry vehicle of its day and arguably the best. Over two thousand were built, upgraded repeatedly with thermal sights, MILAN missiles and mine protection, and they served the Bundeswehr for four decades. Recorded here as an infantry fighting vehicle rather than a tank.
Variants
One canonical record, 3 recorded variants.
Marder 1A1
1979Thermal imaging and improved 20 mm ammunition feed.
Marder 1A2
1984New suspension, fire-control and turret improvements.
Marder 1A3
1988Substantially increased armour, new hatches and stowage.
Notable actions
- Cold War NATO service
- Later deployments in Kosovo and Afghanistan