UM Models 1/72 Marder III Sd.Kfz. 138 Tank Destroyer (343)

Marder III: mobile anti-tank firepower in 1/72 scale

UM Models kit 343 represents the German Marder III Sd.Kfz. 138 tank destroyer. Combining a tracked chassis with a prominent gun and open fighting compartment, the Marder offers a distinctive alternative to a conventional turreted tank for your WWII armour collection.

Historical background

The Marder III family was developed to give German forces mobile anti-tank weapons using the proven Czech-designed Panzer 38(t) chassis. The Sd.Kfz. 138 versions carried the German 7.5 cm PaK 40 anti-tank gun, providing substantially greater firepower than the original light tank.

That firepower came with compromises. The lightly protected, open-topped fighting compartment left the crew vulnerable to shell splinters and small-arms fire, so the Marder was better suited to firing from carefully selected positions than fighting like a fully enclosed tank. It illustrates the wartime drive to put effective anti-tank guns onto available tracked vehicles.

In miniature, the exposed fighting compartment and angular silhouette make an engaging subject for careful painting and weathering. Set it on a dusty track or beside a concealed firing position to tell the story of a mobile anti-tank crew.

Model details

• Manufacturer: UM Models (UniModel)
• Scale: 1/72
• Subject: Marder III Sd.Kfz. 138 German WWII tank destroyer
• Kit number: 343

Model kit requiring assembly and painting. Consult the kit instructions and marking options before selecting a specific vehicle or unit for your build.