Our Marder III Ausf H sd.Kz. 138 (m/41 stridsvagn) Project.
Acquired late 90's , restored and converted into a ammunitions carrier due to missing top structure and turret. Early 2002 original Pak40 was found and restored, late 2004 an original gun mount was found in Europe, buried for 60 years and unearthed whilst digging foundations at the site of an original conversion factory (still undrilled/never fitted). Its the nearest well get to operating/owning the real thing, but the gun mount and pak40 are original, and the tank is war time dated.
We've had to manufacture lots of missing parts, e.g. barrel clamp, hatches, interior boxes for pak40 sight, the main armour plates (from thinner steel due to handling , cost and limitations in the workshop). its taken two years upto now to convert from the ammo carrier, and will hopefully be ready for its first outing to a show at Elvington Airfield, York, Airfield (East Yorkshire).
Lots of future work on the books, namely a recoil mechanism, we already removed the original pistons/dampeners which were in a un-usable state, and slotted in two new hydraulic rams, our plan is to eventually have a pyro go off in the barrel and trigger the pistons to simulate the recoil of the original gun firing. Original radio acquired, hoping to restore and make usable for original headphones and throat mic use.
Re-enactment: We choose jagers from the 21st panzer Div, after several weeks of research, checking libraries, books, sending letters, and checking upto date information we found the 21st had used the H variant.
We've had allot of interest in the Marder, people wanting us to bring it to shows and a few film company's wanting to use it in documentaries.
We are trying to locate a Pak40 sight if anyone knows anything let me know and also Panzer headphones rubber ear cups, any help appriciated.
Heres some pictures:
The Actual Vehicle:
Built under license by Scania Vabis in Sodertalje, a Swedish company, designated m/41 stridsvagn, identical to the 38(t), i has a swiss engine (the engine in the czech built 38(t) was actually built under license from the swiss just to confuse matters more). The Swiss originally wanted to purchase from the occupied Czech manufacturers CKD / BMM with the Germans authority, which they provided, only to cancel the Swiss order and use the tanks themselves. Think the damage came from its use on a firing range, before it was purchased and brought to the UK.
Acquired late 90's , restored and converted into a ammunitions carrier due to missing top structure and turret. Early 2002 original Pak40 was found and restored, late 2004 an original gun mount was found in Europe, buried for 60 years and unearthed whilst digging foundations at the site of an original conversion factory (still undrilled/never fitted). Its the nearest well get to operating/owning the real thing, but the gun mount and pak40 are original, and the tank is war time dated.
We've had to manufacture lots of missing parts, e.g. barrel clamp, hatches, interior boxes for pak40 sight, the main armour plates (from thinner steel due to handling , cost and limitations in the workshop). its taken two years upto now to convert from the ammo carrier, and will hopefully be ready for its first outing to a show at Elvington Airfield, York, Airfield (East Yorkshire).
Lots of future work on the books, namely a recoil mechanism, we already removed the original pistons/dampeners which were in a un-usable state, and slotted in two new hydraulic rams, our plan is to eventually have a pyro go off in the barrel and trigger the pistons to simulate the recoil of the original gun firing. Original radio acquired, hoping to restore and make usable for original headphones and throat mic use.
Re-enactment: We choose jagers from the 21st panzer Div, after several weeks of research, checking libraries, books, sending letters, and checking upto date information we found the 21st had used the H variant.
We've had allot of interest in the Marder, people wanting us to bring it to shows and a few film company's wanting to use it in documentaries.
We are trying to locate a Pak40 sight if anyone knows anything let me know and also Panzer headphones rubber ear cups, any help appriciated.
Heres some pictures:
The Actual Vehicle:
Built under license by Scania Vabis in Sodertalje, a Swedish company, designated m/41 stridsvagn, identical to the 38(t), i has a swiss engine (the engine in the czech built 38(t) was actually built under license from the swiss just to confuse matters more). The Swiss originally wanted to purchase from the occupied Czech manufacturers CKD / BMM with the Germans authority, which they provided, only to cancel the Swiss order and use the tanks themselves. Think the damage came from its use on a firing range, before it was purchased and brought to the UK.
I like it very much, could I exchange it for my 15 years old Golf?
to see that this vehicle will never again be Swedish. But, then, well... impressive work and WELL DONE chaps! 
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