COBI COH3 Marder III (Sd.Kfz.139) #3050

The Cobi COH3 Marder III (Sd.Kfz.139) #3050 is a 420-piece set that includes one minifigure.  This Company of Heroes 3 set will make an excellent addition to your collection.

The Marder III (Sd.Kfz.139) was a German tank destroyer used during World War II. It was developed in response to the need for an effective anti-tank weapon that could be quickly produced and deployed.  The Marder III was built on the chassis of the Czechoslovakian Panzer 38(t) tank, which was captured by Germany early in the war. The original turret was removed and replaced with an open-topped superstructure that housed a 75mm Pak 40 anti-tank gun. The gun was mounted at the rear of the vehicle and had a limited traverse, which meant that the entire vehicle had to be turned to aim at its target.

The Marder III first saw combat in the summer of 1942 on the Eastern Front, where it proved to be an effective weapon against Soviet tanks. It was also used in North Africa and Italy, as well as on the Western Front.  While the Marder III was successful in combat, it had several drawbacks. The open-topped superstructure left the crew vulnerable to enemy fire, and the limited traverse of the gun made it difficult to engage targets that were not directly in front of the vehicle. Additionally, the Marder III had a high profile, which made it an easy target for enemy artillery and aircraft.  Despite its limitations, the Marder III remained in service throughout the war and was widely used by German forces. A total of 1,581 Marder III tank destroyers were produced between 1942 and 1944.