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Panzerjäger I 4.7 cm PaK (t) Ausf B Prior to the invasion of France in May 1940, the German High Command realised that their standard 3.7 cm PaK 36 anti-tank gun would be unlikely to defeat French heavy tanks such as the Char B1. There did exist a better weapon in the form of the Czech Škoda 4.7 cm anti-tank gun, which was then under German control, and the decision was taken to convert a number of obsolete Panzer I Ausf B light tanks into the first German tank destroyers. The turret was removed and a fixed gun shield added to protect the crew, while the gun itself was mounted on a pedestal in the fighting compartment after the S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 6.4 tons Dimensions: Length 14 ft 6 ins, Width 6 ft 9 ins, Height 7 ft Powerplant: 1 x 100 hp Maybach petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 25 mph, Range 87 miles Armament: 1 x 4.7 cm Pak (t) anti-tank gun Armour: Maximum thickness 14.5 mm Crew: 3 wheels, axle and trails had been removed, although the gun shield was retained. The converted vehicles were designated Panzerjäger I, and in total 202 were converted, 132 in 1940, followed by a further 70 in 1941 which differed by having a seven sided gun shield instead of five. They were first used during the Battle of France in 1940 with Anti-tank Battalions 521, 616, 643 and 670, while Anti-tank Battalion 605 was deployed to North Africa in March 1941. Five Battalions were equipped with Panzerjäger I's for the invasion of Russia in July 1941, but by the late summer of 1942 most had been lost. Country of Origin: Germany Number Built: 202 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

7.6 cm PaK36(r) Marder II After the Germans had invaded Russia in the summer of 1941, the Germans were given a nasty surprise when their tanks first began to encounter the new Soviet T-34 and KV tanks. By then the fighting capability of the Panzer II was of limited value, and by 1942 had largely been removed from front line service. What was required was a powerful mobile anti-tank gun that could accompany the advancing tanks, and one solution was to use the chassis of withdrawn or captured tanks as the basis of a makeshift tank destroyer which resulted in the Marder series. The Marder I used the chassis of the French Lorraine Schleppe, S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 11.5 tons Dimensions: Length 18 ft 7 ins, Width 7 ft 7 ins, Height 8 ft 6 ins Powerplant: 1 x 138 hp Maybach petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 34 mph, Range 136 miles Armament: 1 x 7.6 cm PaK36(r) gun Armour: Maximum thickness 30 mm Crew: 4 while the Marder II was based on the chassis of the Panzer II. Two version were built, the first two being based on the chassis of withdrawn Panzer ausf D and E light tanks and were armed with a captured Russian 7.6 cm field gun. In order to get them into service as quickly as possible the design was hurried, the vehicle having a high silhouette and thin armour, while the vehicle itself possessed a poor cross country performance. Just over 200 were produced from early 1942, most of which served on the Russian Front. Surviving vehicles were phased out of service in early 1944. Country of Origin: Germany Number Produced: 201 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

7.5 cm PaK40/2 Marder II After the Germans had invaded Russia in the summer of 1941, the Germans were given a nasty surprise when their tanks first began to encounter the new Soviet T-34 and KV tanks. By then the fighting capability of the Panzer II was of limited value, and by 1942 had largely been removed from front line service. What was required was a powerful mobile anti-tank gun that could accompany the advancing tanks, and one solution was to use the chassis of withdrawn or captured tanks as the basis of a makeshift tank destroyer which resulted in the Marder series. The Marder I used the chassis of the French Lorraine Schleppe, S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 10.8 tons Dimensions: Length 20 ft 10 ins, Width 7 ft 6 ins, Height 7 ft 2 ins Powerplant: 1 x 138 hp Maybach petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 25 mph, Range 118 miles Armament: 1 x 75 mm Pak 40 gun Armour: Maximum thickness 35 mm Crew: 4 while the Marder II was based on the chassis of the Panzer II. Two version were built, the first two being based on the chassis of withdrawn Panzer ausf D and E, the second being based on the chassis of the standard Panzer II. The fighting compartment was redesigned to mount a German 75 mm Pak 40 anti-tank gun, while the silhouette of the vehicle was lowered, but the fighting compartment remained open at the top and rear and the armour was still thin. About 650 Marder IIs had been produced by early 1944, and despite their weaknesses, they proved to be more effective than towed anti-tank guns. Country of Origin: Germany Number Produced: 576 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

M10 Gun Motor Carriage

In the early 40’s the U.S. Army developed a strategy to counter fast moving armoured formations with a tank destroyer force comprising towed and self-propelled anti-tank guns. The tank destroyer force were to be used in large formations and armed with a powerful gun, and one of the first operational vehicles was the M10 Gun Motor Carriage. The M10 used the chassis of the M4A2 Sherman tank with a new thinner armoured upper hull, the armour being sloped to improve effectiveness. The turret was open topped and also had sloped armour, while the main gun was a development of a 3 inch anti-aircraft weapon.

S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 29.6 tons Dimensions: Length 22 ft 5 ins, Width 10 ft, Height 8 ft 5 ins Powerplant: 1 x 375 hp General Motors diesel engine Performance: Maximum speed 32 mph, Range 86 miles Armament: 1 x 3 inch M7 anti-tank gun,1 x 0.5 inch machine gun Armour: Maximum thickness 57 mm Crew: 5

Production began in September 1942, and when it finished a year later 4,993 M10s and over 1,400 M10A1s had been built. The majority of the M10’s were supplied to the US Army and were first used in action in North Africa after the the Torch landings in late 1942. Many were also supplied to Britain under lend-lease who unofficially named it Wolverine, and to make it more potent, many were re-armed with the new 17 pounder anti-tank gun, these being known as Achilles. The M10 remained operational until the end of World War Two, by which time its effectiveness as a tank hunter was nearing its end.

Country of Origin: USA Number Built: 6,406

T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

M10 Gun Motor Carriage (Achilles) In the early 40’s the U.S. Army developed a strategy to counter fast moving armoured formations with a tank destroyer force comprising towed and self-propelled anti-tank guns. The tank destroyer force were to be used in large formations and armed with a powerful gun, and one of the first operational vehicles was the M10 Gun Motor Carriage. The M10 used the chassis of the M4A2 Sherman tank with a new thinner armoured upper hull, the armour being sloped to improve effectiveness. The turret was open topped and also had sloped armour, while the main gun was a development of a 3 inch anti-aircraft weapon. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 29.6 tons Dimensions: Length 22 ft 5 ins, Width 10 ft, Height 8 ft 5 ins Powerplant: 1 x 375 hp General Motors diesel engine Performance: Maximum speed 32 mph, Range 86 miles Armament: 1 x 3 inch M7 anti-tank gun,1 x 0.5 inch machine gun Armour: Maximum thickness 57 mm Crew: 5 Production began in September 1942, and when it finished a year later 4,993 M10s and over 1,400 M10A1s had been built. The majority of the M10’s were supplied to the US Army and were first used in action in North Africa after the the Torch landings in late 1942. Many were also supplied to Britain under lend-lease who unofficially named it Wolverine, and to make it more potent, many were re-armed with the new 17 pounder anti-tank gun, these being known as Achilles. The M10 remained operational until the end of World War Two, by which time its effectiveness as a tank hunter was nearing its end. Country of Origin: USA Number Built: 6,406 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

M18 Gun Motor Carriage ‘Hellcat’ The M18 Hellcat was the most effective armoured vehicle deployed by American forces in World War Two with a higher kill to loss ratio than any tank or tank destroyer. Design on the M18 began in late 1941, and was progressively up-gunned to the same 75 mm weapon used in the M4 Sherman tank. Tank Destroyer Command then asked for the 75mm gun to be replaced with the new M1 76 mm anti-tank gun which was a lighter version of the standard 3 inch anti-tank gun that had been developed for medium tanks. This design became the T70, the gun being mounted in an open turret and the Christie S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 27.7 tons Dimensions: Length 21 ft 10 ins, Width 9 ft 5 ins, Height 8 ft 5 ins Powerplant: 1 x Continental 400 hp petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 50 mph, Range 100 miles Armament: 1 x 76 mm M7 anti-tank gun,1 x 0.5 inch machine gun Armour: Maximum thickness 25 mm Crew: 5 suspension replaced by a torsion bar system. Six prototypes were ordered in January 1943, but the U.S. Army was confident in the design that a production order for 1,000 machines quickly followed. Full production began in August 1943, with the vehicle being given the unofficial name 'Hellcat'. In combat the major strength of the M18 was its speed, which was twice that of the M10 or M36 tank destroyer, although this came at a cost as the vehicle was only lightly armoured. In service the Hellcat was successfully used in 'hit and run' actions, ending the war with the best kill ratio of any U.S. armoured vehicle. Country of Origin: USA Number Built: 2,507 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer On the 26th November 1943 an Allied bombing raid on Berlin damaged the Alkett factory where the StuG was built. A team was sent to BMM to see if was possible to built the StuG in the Czech factory, but this was impossible, instead they focused on a redesigned version of the Panzer 38(t) that would use the same principles as the StuG, having a heavy gun enclosed within a fully prorected fighting compartment. The first design was produced remarkably quickly, using many components from the existing Panzer 38(t) series. A fighting compartment was fitted that was heavily sloped to improve the effectiveness S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 15.75 tons Dimensions: Length 29 ft 11 ins, Width 8 ft 8 ins, Height 7 ft 1 in Powerplant: 1 x 158 hp Prago petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 26 mph, Range 110 miles Armament: 1 x 7.5 cm PaK 39 L/48 gun, 1 x 7.92 mm machine gun Armour: Maximum 60 mm Crew: 5 of the armour, while the main armament was a modified version of the 7.5 cm Pak 39, and for close defence a shielded roof mounted machine gun was installed which was remotely controlled from inside the vehicle. Known as the Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer, production began at the end of 1943 and they entered service the following year. The Hetzer proved to be successful, and was capable of knocking out all but the heaviest of Allied tanks, and itself difficult to knock out due to its small size and low silhouette. They were used on both the Eastern and Western Front from the late summer of 1944. Country of Origin: Germany Number Built: 1,577 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

Jagdpanzer IV The Jagdpanzer IV was the first of a series of highly effective tank destroyers developed in Germany from 1943, each of which carried a powerful gun in a low chassis protected by well sloped armour. The first mock-up of the Jagdpanzer was completed in May 1943, with production begining in January 1944. The Jagdpanzer had the same basic hull as the Panzer IV, although the flat front was replaced by a sharp nose. The superstructure was built of sloping armour plates, while the frontal armour was originally only 60 mm thick, 20mm thinner than the Panzer IV, but sloped at 50 degrees which greatly S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 25.8 tons Dimensions: Length 27 ft 11 ins, Width 10 ft 5 ins, Height 6 ft 1 in Powerplant: 1 x 296 hp Maybach petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 25 mph, Range 130 miles Armament: 1x 7.5 cm Pak 42 L/70 gun Armour: Maximum 80 mm Crew: 4 improved its effectiveness. The main armament was the 75mm Pak39 L/48 gun, protected by the ‘pig’s head’ mantlet, the same gun as used in the Hetzer. The Jagdpanzer IV began to enter service in March 1944, often replacing the earlier Marder. As with the StuG III the Jagdpanzer IV was an effective defensive weapon, although the limited traverse of the main gun often required the vehicle to be repositioned. After its introduction the Jagdpanzer IV was used in Italy, Russia and Normandy until they were replaced by the Jagdpanzer IV/70 which were armed with the longer and more powerful 75mm KwK42 L/70 gun. Country of Origin: Germany Number Built: 769 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

Type 3 Ho-Ni III The Type 3 Ho-Ni III was based on the the chassis of the Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank. The main armament was a 75 mm tank gun, which was loosely based on a French Schneider design 1927. The gun was mounted in a fully enclosed fighting compartment, its sides protruding beyond the hull sides which gave the appearance of a gun turret, although it was incapable of any rotation. There was no provision for any secondary armament, close defence of the vehicle being provided by light weapons carried by the crew or any accompanying troops. In early 1944 an order was placed with Hitachi for 57 vehicles, but S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 17 tons Dimensions: Length 18 ft 1 in, Width 7 ft 6 ins, Height 7 ft 10 ins Powerplant: 1 x 170 hp Mitsubishi diesel engine Performance: Maximum speed 23 mph, Range 124 miles Armament: 1 x 75 mm tank gun Armour: Maximum 25 mm Crew: 5 production was hampered by material shortages, and the strategic bombing carried out by the U.S.A.A.F. on Japan. It is estimated that only between 31 to 41 were ever completed which were assigned to various combat units, most of which being stationed within the Japanese home islands to defend against the anticipated Allied Invasion. The dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 brought about the surrender of Japanese forces before the invasion occurred, and as a result there is no record of the Type 3 Ho-Ni III ever being used in combat. Country of Origin: Japan Number Built: about 36 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

‘Archer’ Tank Destroyer In the UK a new anti-tank gun had been developed during 1941/42 to replace the standard 6 pounder (57 mm) weapon in the British Army. The new gun was was the 17 pounder with a 3 inch calibre (76.2 mm) and would prove to be superior to any other Allied anti-tank gun in World War Two. In its towed form the gun was large and heavy, so a way of making it more mobile was urgently sought. Ideally the 17 pounder was to be used as a tank gun, but tanks large enough to carry such a weapon were still a way off, so as an interim solution it was decided to mount the gun on the obsolete Valentine tank chassis. This was S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 15 tons Dimensions: Length 21 ft 11 ins, Width 9 ft, Height 7 ft 4 ins Powerplant: 1 x 192 hp GMC diesel engine Performance: Maximum speed 20 mph, Range 140 miles Armament: 1 x QF 17 pounder (76.2 mm) anti-tank gun Armour: Maximum 60 mm Crew: 4 achieved by adding an opened topped superstructure on the forward part of the hull, and to ensure the machine was not nose heavy, the gun was placed so it faced over the rear of the chassis. The Archer entered production in late 1942, with the first machines being issued in 1943, and at first were viewed with trepidation with the rearward facing gun, but in action this proved a bonus, especially in ambush situations as they could quickly retire from the scene after firing if necessary. The Archer proved a success, with many remaining on strength with the British Army well into the mid 1950’s. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 655 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

FV438 Swingfire The FV438 Swingfire was an armoured anti-tank vehicle for the British Army which entered service in the early 1970s. They were based on the FV432 Trojan Armoured Personnel Carrier to accommodate a launcher for Swingfire anti-tank guided missiles which had been developed in the 1960s. Swingfire was a wire guided anti-tank weapon that had an operational range of 150-4,000 metres. Two firing bins were fitted to the roof of the vehicle and sixteen missiles carried which could be reloaded from inside the vehicle. Apart from normal operation, Swingfire could also be fired remotely by a crew member up to S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 16.2 tons Dimensions: Length 16 ft 8 ins, Width 9 ft 10 ins, Height 8 ft 10 ins Powerplant: 1 x 294 hp Rolls-Royce K60 multi-fuel engine Performance: Maximum speed 32 mph, Range 298 miles Armament: 2 x Swingfire ATGM launchers Armour: Maximum 12.7 mm Crew: 3 100 meters away from the vehicle, while the missile could make a 90º turn after firing, allowing the vehicle to remain hidden from any enemy. Initially the FV438 was operated by specialised anti-tank units, but from 1977 the anti-tank role was given to the Royal Artillery who deployed them in four batteries, one for each of the armoured divisions serving with the British Army of the Rhine. In 1984 the Royal Artillery relinquished the anti-tank role and the FV438s were formed into troops of 9 vehicles, one troop per armoured regiment. In 2005 Swingfire was replaced by the American Javelin light-weight anti-tank missile system. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 100 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

7.5 cm PaK40 Marder I Lorraine Schlepper (f) From the early stages of their invasion of Russia, the German army became aware that their ability to combat the new Soviet T-34 and KV tanks was inadequate. The standard towed anti-tank gun, the 37 mm Pak 36, was both difficult to get into position quickly and lacked the ability to penetrate the armour of the new tanks, and what was needed was a more powerful mobile anti-tank gun. The Germans possessed such a gun in the 75 mm PaK 40, while they also had come into possession of a large number of captured Soviet 76 mm F-22 Model 1936 field guns, and as an interim solution it was decided to use S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 8.1 tons Dimensions: Length 17 ft 8 ins, Width 6 ft 2 ins, Height 6 ft 7 ins Powerplant: 1 x 69 hp Delahaye petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 22 mph, Range 90 miles Armament: 1 x 7.5 cm PaK 40 anti-tank gun Armour: Maximum 12 mm Crew: 5 captured French vehicles such as the Lorraine, and less effective tanks such as the Panzer II and 38(t) as the basis for makeshift tank destroyers which resulted in the Marder series. Marder Is were mostly based on the chassis of the Lorraine Tracteur Blindé 37L, a French artillery tractor/armoured personnel carrier of which the Germans had captured over 300 after the Fall of France in 1940. These were modified with a fighting compartment built on to the hull which housed a 75 mm PaK-40 anti-tank gun, the first vehicles being sent to the Eastern Front in 1942. Surviving units were withdrawn in 1944. Country of Origin: Germany Number Built: 170 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

Panzerjäge 4.7 cm PaK (t) 35R(f) After the fall of France large numbers of the Renault R35 Light Infantry Tank fell into German hands. Initially the Germans used many of these for internal security in occupied countries, but after they invaded Russia in June 1941, many R35s were stripped of their turrets and used as artillery tractors or munitions carriers, while others were converted for use as a self-propelled artillery platform. One of the more successful conversions was the 4.7 cm PaK(t) auf Panzerkampfwagen 35R(f). This was based on the German Panzerjäger I tank destroyer that had been successfully deployed during the S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 10.3 tons Dimensions: Length 14 ft 1 in, Width 6 ft 2 ins, Height 6 ft 11 ins Powerplant: 1 x 82 hp Renault petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 12½ mph, range 80 miles Armament: 1 x 4.7 cm Pak (t) anti-tank gun Armour: Maximum 40 mm Crew: 3 French and Polish campaigns, but limited supplies of the Panzer I chassis led to a design using the hull of the Renault R35. After successful trials of the prototype in February 1941 174 were converted between May and October, along with 26 command vehicles. They were too slow to be used with the main armoured forces so were assigned to the anti-tank detachments of Infantry formations. A few served on the Eastern Front, but the majority were based in France where they took part in the fighting after the Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944 where most were destroyed. Country of Origin: Germany Number Built: 174 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

Gun Carrier Tank In 1916 it was clear that if a major break-through occurred on the western Front, the artillery would have trouble in keeping up with the advancing troops, endangering the successful exploitation of the situation. To solve this problem a proposal was put forward for an artillery tank, the idea being approved and a prototype was designed which took part in the tank trials at Oldbury in March 1917. The vehicle bore little resemblance to the Mk I tank, the tracks being low and a large rectangular superstructure fitted to the rear which housed the engine and transmission. At the front there was an open area where a 6 S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 25.4 tons Dimensions: Length 29 ft 10 ins, Width 11 ft 10 ins, Height 9 ft 3 ins Powerplant: 1 x 150 hp Daimler petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 3.7 mph, Range 22 miles Armament: 1 x 6 inch or 60 pounder field gun or 6 inch howitzer Armour: Maximum 12 mm Crew: 4 inch or 60 pounder field gun, or a 6 inch howitzer could be positioned, only the wheels being removed and attached to the side of the carrier for transport. An order for fifty was agreed, although two were to be completed as salvage vehicles. The first were delivered in June 1917 and in July two Gun Carrier Companies were formed, but because of prejudice with many members of the Ordnance Committee, they were never used in their intended roles, instead being used as supply tanks on the Western Front for the rest of the war, and it was calculated that a single vehicle had the same carrying capacity as 291 men. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 50 S E L F - P R O P E L L E D G U N

Gun Carrier Tank Supply Vehicle In 1916 it was clear that if a major break-through occurred on the western Front, the artillery would have trouble in keeping up with the advancing troops, endangering the successful exploitation of the situation. To solve this problem a proposal was put forward for an artillery tank, the idea being approved and a prototype was designed which took part in the tank trials at Oldbury in March 1917. The vehicle bore little resemblance to the Mk I tank, the tracks being low and a large rectangular superstructure fitted to the rear which housed the engine and transmission. At the front there was an open area where a 6 S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 25.4 tons Dimensions: Length 29 ft 10 ins, Width 11 ft 10 ins, Height 9 ft 3 ins Powerplant: 1 x 150 hp Daimler petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 3.7 mph, Range 22 miles Payload: 10,000 lbs Armour: Maximum 12 mm Crew: 4 inch or 60 pounder field gun, or a 6 inch howitzer could be positioned, only the wheels being removed and attached to the side of the carrier for transport. An order for fifty was agreed, although two were to be completed as salvage vehicles. The first were delivered in June 1917 and in July two Gun Carrier Companies were formed, but because of prejudice with many members of the Ordnance Committee, they were never used in their intended roles, instead being used as supply tanks on the Western Front for the rest of the war, and it was calculated that a single vehicle had the same carrying capacity as 291 men. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 50 S E L F - P R O P E L L E D G U N

Saint-Chamond Tracked M280 In 1917, the Saint-Chammond company began designing a tracked self-propelled gun system for the new French Canon de 155 mm which was beginning to enter service. The French engineer Colonel Émile Rimailho, began the development of a complex arrangement which consisted of two tracked vehicles which were outwardly similar in appearance, one mounting the gun and the other acting as a munitions carrier. The munitions carrier was powered by a 120 hp Panhard petrol engine while an electricity generator installed on the ammunition carrier powered the gun carrier, the electricity being supplied to the S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 29.2 tons Dimensions: Length 24 ft 6 ins, Width 10 ft, Height 8 ft 4 ins Powerplant: 1 x 120 hp petrol engine (munitions carrier) Performance: Maximum speed 5 mph, Range 40 miles Armament: 1 x 240 mm mortar Armour: None Crew: 8 vehicle by a cable. The 155 mm gun was soon substituted for a 194 mm weapon, and they began to enter service with the French in 1918 as the Canon de 194 mm mle GPF, a few being armed with a modified 280mm siege mortar which were known as the Tracked M280, these later being re-gunned with the Canon de 194 mm mle. In 1939 about 50 were still on strength, a few being used by the French against German forces in 1940. After the fall of France, surviving guns were taken over by the German Army and later placed in service as the 19.4 cm Kanone 485 (f), and at least three were used in Russia. Country of Origin: France Number Built: 70+ S E L F - P R O P E L L E D G U N

Sturmpanzer I 15 cm sIG 33 Ausf B During the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, the towed sIG 33 15 cm field guns assigned to infantry gun companies of the motorised infantry regiments had difficulties keeping up with the tanks during the fighting. The easiest solution was to modify a tank chassis that could carry the gun into battle, so the sIG 33 was mounted on the chassis of the Panzer I Ausf B, complete with carriage and wheels, in place of the turret and super-structure. A tall lightly armoured open topped fighting compartment was fitted on the forward part of the hull, which provided minimal protection for the gun crew, S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 8.4 tons Dimensions: Length 15 ft 4 ins, Width 6 ft 9 ins, Height 9 ft 2 ins Powerplant: 1 x 100 hp Maybach petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 25 mph, Range 87 miles Armament: 1 x 15 cm schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33 field gun Armour: Maximum thickness 13 mm Crew: 4 while ammunition had to be carried in a separate vehicle. The weight of the gun and fighting compartment severely over-loaded the chassis causing frequent breakdowns, while the vehicle's extreme height and lack of on-board ammunition was a handicap. 38 were produced in February 1940, 36 of which took part in the Battle of France in the spring where they were assigned to self-propelled heavy infantry gun companies attached to panzer divisions. In 1941 they were deployed in the Balkans and then in Russia, the last mention of their use being with the 704th Company of the 5th Panzer Division in 1943. Country of Origin: Germany Number Built: 38 S E L F - P R O P E L L E D G U N

15 cm sFH13/1 (Sf) auf Geschutzwagen Lorraine Schlepper (f) After the fall of France in the summer of 1940, large numbers of French armoured vehicles were captured by the Germans, who mainly mothballed them under guard, but in early 1942 the decision was taken to get as many self-propelled guns to the front as soon as possible. More than 300 Tracteur Blinde 37L had been stockpiled by the Germans, and in May 1942 Hitler ordered that 40 should be converted to mount a 15 cm gun for use by German forces in North Africa. The original Tracteur Blinde 37L was unmodified except that the suspension was strengthened. The engine compartment S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 8.5 tons Dimensions: Length 17 ft 5 ins, Width 5 ft 1 ins, Height 6 ft 7 ins Powerplant: 1 x 70 hp Delahaye petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 22 mph, Range 75 miles Armament: 1 x 15 cm sFH howitzer, 1 x 7.96 mm machine gun Armour: Maximum thickness 14.5 mm Crew: 4 required the gun housing to be positioned in such a manner that it overhanged to the rear of the vehicle, requiring a spade to be fitted which was lowered into the ground to steady the machine as a gun platform. 30 were immediately issued to the Artillery wing of the 21st Panzer Division in North Africa, all of which were lost during the fighting there. Further vehicles were produced in France during the summer of 1942, the majority of which were used during the Normandy campaign in the summer of 1944, the last vehicles being lost when they Germans were caught in the Falaise pocket. Country of Origin: Germany Number Produced: 166 S E L F - P R O P E L L E D G U N

10.5 cm leFH18 (Sf) auf Geschutzwagen Lorraine Schlepper (f) After the fall of France in the summer of 1940, large numbers of French armoured vehicles were captured by the Germans, who mainly mothballed them under guard, but in early 1942 the decision was taken to get as many self-propelled guns to the front as soon as possible. More than 300 Tracteur Blinde 37L had been stockpiled by the Germans, and in May 1942 they should be used as the basis for self-propelled artillery. One version was the 10.5 cm leFH18 (Sf) auf Geschutzwagen Lorraine Schlepper (f), sixty of which were ordered in May 1942, but only twelve were converted of that order. These were sent S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 7.7 tons Dimensions: Length 13 ft 10 ins, Width 5 ft 2 ins, Height 6 ft 7 ins Powerplant: 1 x 70 hp Delahaye petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 22 mph, Range 75 miles Armament: 1 x 105 mm (4.13 in) leFH 18 howitzer Armour: Maximum thickness 12 mm Crew: 4 to France, and with a further twelve being converted in early 1944 formed part of Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 155 of the German Army 21st Panzer Division. After the D-Day landings in June 1944 they took part in the fighting in Normandy. None had been lost after a month of fighting, but during the Allied breakout they suffered heavily in the fierce fighting around Caen, the last vehicles being knocked out when they were destroyed in the Falaise Pocket in August. One vehicle was captured in Burgundy in September 1944 which had been refitted with a Russian 122mm howitzer. Country of Origin: Germany Number Produced: 24 S E L F - P R O P E L L E D G U N

10.5 cm PaK 40 (Sf) auf Geschutzwagen 39H (f) After the fall of France in the summer of 1940 substantial numbers of the Hotchkiss H35 cavalry tank were captured by the Germans. After the invasion of Russia in 1941, many H35s found their way to the Eastern Front as a temporary measure to make up the numbers in armoured units through Attritional losses, although these were soon withdrawn when new German tanks became available. Many then had the turret removed and were used as a gun tractor or supply carrier. In Germany a design was produced to convert the tank into a self-propelled gun platform using the same specification as the S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 16.5 tons Dimensions: Length 14 ft 11 ins, Width 5 ft 1 in, Height 6 ft 7 ins Powerplant: 1 x 120 hp Hotchkiss petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 22 mph, Range 111 miles Armament: 1 x 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer Armour: Maximum 34 mm Crew: 5 Lorraine Schlepper, but with thicker armour for the fighting compartment. 72 were taken in hand, 48 being armed with the 10.5 cm field howitzer and a further 24 having the 7.5 cm PaK 40 anti-tank gun. They were issued to units in France, and at least twenty four were issued to the assault gun battalion Sturmgeschuetz-Abteilung 200 which was attached to the 21st Panzer Division. These were to see action in Normandy from June 1944, and over the next few months most were destroyed by the Allies, the last vehicles being knocked out when they were caught in the Falaise Pocket. Country of Origin: Germany Number Built: 48 S E L F - P R O P E L L E D G U N

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T A N K D E S T R O Y E R 7.62 cm PaK 36(r) Panzerjäger 38(t) Marder III The Panzer 38(t) was built in relatively large numbers, but by late 1941 they were becoming obsolete on the battlefield, especially in Russia. The Panzer 38(t) chassis however was mechanically reliable and suitable for conversion for other purposes, which the Germans exploited to the maximum. Many different armoured vehicles were built using the Panzer 38(t) chassis, including many Panzerjagers. During the early stages of the Russian campaign the Germans captured numerous Russian 7.62 cm field guns (M1936), but after the Germans came across the T-34 and KV-1 tanks late in 1941 S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 10.7 tons Dimensions: Length 20 ft 10 ins, Width 7 ft 6 ins, Height 7 ft 2 ins Powerplant: 1 x 138 hp Praga EPA petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 25 mph, Range 118 miles Armament: 1 x 7.62 cm Pak 36(r) gun Armour: Maximum thickness 30 mm Crew: 4 they needed to quickly produce a counter measure that could defeat them on the battlefield. Various designs were hurried into production, one of them being the Panzerjager 38(t) Marder III which were armed with the Russian 7.26 cm field gun that had been modified for German use. In service the majority of the Marder III tank hunters were sent to the Eastern Front, although a third were supplied to the Afrikakorps in North Africa where they were used against the British and later the Americans. In total 344 were built before production was switched to more advanced designs. Country of Origin: Germany Number Built: 344 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R

A22 Churchill Gun Carrier In the Autumn of 1940, the fear of a German invasion of Enland led to several unsuitable weapons systems being produced during the emergency as anything was better than nothing. At the time problems of reliability with the Churchill tank nearly ended the career of the tank, while the only tank gun available at the time was the 2 pounder (40 mm), which was by then of limited value. An armoured vehicle carrying a high velocity gun of larger calibre was required, and what emerged was the Churchill Gun Carrier. Designated the Gun Carrier, 3-inch, Mk I, Churchill (A22D), this vehicle was the only conversion of the S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 40 tons Dimensions: Length 24 ft 5 ins, Width 8 ft 2 ins, Height 10 ft Powerplant: 1 x 350 hp Bedford petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 15 mph, Range 90 miles Armament: 1 x 3 inch anti-aircraft gun Armour: Maximum 102 mm Crew: 5 Churchill chassis into an Assault Gun/Tank Destroyer. Fifty vehicles were modified with a fixed fighting compartment armed with a hull mounted 3 inch gun The gun was a 3 inch AA weapon of World War One origin, the type at ghe time being replaced in this role by the more effective 3.7 inch weapon when they became available. Due to the reliability of the Churchill they were deployed as mobile pillboxes in the south east of England. However by the spring of 1941 the fear of invasion had passed and most of the Churchill Gun Carriers were converted for other purposes. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 50 T A N K D E S T R O Y E R