? for the Resident Experts-any 'Panzer Aces' that used a Marder IIIM?

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

I’m trying to determine & document any Panzer Aces that used a Marder IIIM for the Panzer Aces Group Build. Any thoughts and imput (pictures/links) is appriciated.

Thanks

2

The Marder vehicles served with special Panzerjager or tank hunter units, and usually didn’t rack up lots of kills or perform notable actions due to the fact that they were usually used only in ambush or the occasional support role, and the fact that Marder crews were pretty much trained the same as AT crews and never got to the level of a “Panzer Ace”. It’s kind of like asking if there were any Panzerfaust aces…

There are a few pictures of a Marder III M with 20-some kill stripes on the barrel, but unfortunately we don’t know who crewed it. What makes a “Panzer Ace” is usually official dispatches noting heroic acts or large numbers of kills. As far as I know such documents don’t exist for any Marder crewmen.

3

Thanks Hermesminiatures. Trying to utilize a kit from the stash rather than purchase a new kit for the Panzer Aces GB, but Father’s Day & birthday will be coming up, so I can leave some screen prints of desired kits lying about…[:-^]

4

What is your definition of a “Panzer Ace”, that might help answer your question. Are you meaning a Panzer Commander with 5 kills or more?

5

Bropous2007-that is exactly what I am looking for-a Panzer commander with 5 or more kills.

6

Good old Michael Wittmann of Villiers-Bocage fame was quite familiar with the Sturmgeschutz III Ausf A, which he worked with in the early years of the war. He commanded a platoon of the old StuGs in Greece in 1941.

Courtesy “Achtung Panzer” http://www.achtungpanzer.com/gen3.htm

also, check out Will Fey’s books, and the Panzer Aces and Panzer Aces II available through Barnes and Noble.

Hope this helps…good ol’ search engines!

7

http://www.alanhamby.com/aces.html

This is a good link to Tiger Aces, maybe trying a Google search on their names and looking at their service records might lead you in the right direction.

8

Typically a Panzer ace isn’t defined by five kills like an aircraft ace is. There are more factors, and while kills is one, “Ace” status is usually based on commendations recieved. Many commanders you’ve never heard of had five or more kills, but if it was under ideal circumstances, maybe it wouldn’t have counted. Those men commonly recongnized as Panzer Aces are the ones who could engage against long odds and be the last tank standing when the shooting was over. Possesion of at least the Iron Cross and usually the Knight’s Cross is also a good sign.

Also, keep in mind that a Marder is not really armor, it is essentially a self-propelled oversized Panzerfaust. It cannot succesfully engage with tactics other than ambush. Therefore its crews really never even experienced the same type of combat as the “Panzer Aces” would have.

9

This is tough because Marder crews would have been drawn from artillery whereas the tankers came from their own branch (which included the Sturmgeschutzen).

10

Thanks all for the input & info. I’m just going to keep the Marder in the stash and wait for a Group Build that fits it and pick up a StuG G for the Panzer Aces GB (after I complete out some other obligations).

Again, thanks.