Marder IFVs, Leopard MBTs Team Up in Upcoming Ukrainian Offensive

(Photo : Alexander Koerner/Getty Images)
The German government has announced the shipment of Leopard 2 tanks and Marder infantry military vehicles to Ukraine.

The German government announced the latest shipment of military aid to Ukraine
The list includes heavily armored vehicles, 18 Leopard 2A6 tanks with ammunition, and 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles with ammunition
Germany allocates another $13 billion for military support to Ukraine

German Leopard-2 tanks have received extensive media notice compared to other western tanks given to Ukraine. Infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) such as the Marder have yet to receive the attention they merit.

In preparation for the forthcoming spring counter-offensive, Ukraine and its Western allies received much Western equipment, including Leopard-2 tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFV).

Germany Supplies Ukraine with Leopard 2, Marders

Before the February 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian armed forces were known to operate 900 infantry fighting vehicles, such as BMP-2s and 200 BMP-1s. Over 300 BMP-1s and more than 100 BMP-2s were lost in Ukraine's armored fleet during the initial thirteen months of the conflict.

As the war in Ukraine progressed, both Ukrainian IFV fleets became depleted and less protected, much like the Russian IFV fleet. This was especially problematic for the Ukrainian military as it prepared for the highly anticipated spring or summer counter-offensive.

This reduction of the Ukrainian armored fleet has been partially countered by the influx of Western IFVs, including approximately 100 M-2A2s from the United States, at least 50 CV90s from Sweden, and 40 Marders from Germany.

It is claimed that the German Marders are the best protected of the three species. Oleksii Reznikov, the Ukrainian defense minister, tweeted, "Marder is an outstanding example of German quality." "I have personally tried it. Looking forward to shortly subduing the Leopards. I adore their roaring! "

It has been updated considerably over the years. It remains one of the primary platforms of the German Army's mechanized infantry formations, with high-level tactical mobility, firepower, and troop transport capability in high-risk action areas.

The 1A3 variant of the Marder 1 is one of the largest and heaviest IFVs, with a level of protection comparable to that of the Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank (MBT).

The Ukrainian military's Soviet counterpart, the BMP-1 IFV, is substantially lighter, smaller, and lacks the same level of protection, as per EuroAsian Times. Consequently, these German Marder IFVs are a major upgrade over the BMP-1 IFVs utilized by the Ukrainian Army.

Marder IFVs, Leopard MBTs Features

Overall, the Marder 1A3 can protect against 30-millimeter automatic cannon fire, which is more than double that of the BMP-1, which can provide full protection against 12.7-millimeter bullets and half protection against 20-millimeter rounds via its frontal arc.

The Marder 1A3 is rumored to be equipped with spaced armor consisting of two layers of steel separated by a tiny gap that effectively delays the penetration of incoming shots. The Marder IFV has Milan anti-tank guided missiles and a high-explosive warhead. However, the vehicle's primary weapon is a Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh 202 20mm automatic cannon.

In addition, it is equipped with a Rheinmetall MG 3 7.62mm general-purpose machine gun with a firing range of 200 to 1,200 meters when the sights are adjusted. The maximum shooting distance on the gun carriage is 3 000 meters. The machine gun has a muzzle velocity of 820 meters per second and fires 7.62 51 NATO cartridges.

The Marder IFV is powered by a 600-horsepower MTU MB 833 Ea-500 diesel engine, which provides a top on-road speed of 65 kilometers per hour and a range of 520 kilometers.

Also, the vehicle has excellent mobility on difficult terrain. According to the manufacturer's assessment of the Marder's service in Afghanistan, "the open, occasionally broken terrain of northern Afghanistan suited the Marder IFV extremely well; irrigation ditches and customary earthen walls generally offered no obstacle."

Military observers hypothesize that when these Marder IFVs approach near Russian positions, they will be on the receiving end of several hostile rounds. While these Marders may not be able to withstand heavy fire indefinitely, they will outlast any other BMP.

Per Military Guide, the BMP-2 is an infantry combat vehicle variant of the BMP-1 that significantly improves armament. It carries a 30-mm automatic gun, model 2A42, with a long, thin tube, a double-baffled muzzle brake, and a 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun in its front turret. On the turret's top is an ATGM launcher. This launcher is compatible with AT-4 SPIGOT and AT-5 SPANDREL missiles.

Meanwhile, the Marder FV is built on a unique tracked chassis created in the early 1960s to serve as a common platform for various armored vehicles. The IFV was only one component. The Germans prioritized crew protection and mobility. This vehicle was meant to operate alongside and follow after Leopard 1 main battle tanks in combat. It shared the same level of protection and mobility as the Leopard 1 tank.

The Marder is a fearsome vehicle that resembles a light tank but is equipped with an externally mounted 20 mm cannon and coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun atop a two-man turret. The sloped hull superstructure armor provides protection. This IFV was powered by a 600-horsepower MTU MB 833 Ea-500 diesel engine. The Marder possessed comparable speed and mobility to the Leopard 1 main battle tank.

Over its history, the Marder IFV has served as the foundation for numerous versions, although only a few have been adopted by the German Army. According to Military Today, the German army is replacing the Marder IFV with the new Puma heavy infantry fighting vehicle.