Maresal tank destroyer, development

Guys,

The germans had multiple projects of transforming various tank platforms into tank destroyers. The idea of using 38(t), pz I, pzII, pzIII, pzIV, V and VI chassis and transforming them into tank destroyers was well recognized and developed in Germany. Multiple parallel experimental projects and variants were in process.

I have the same archival report from Dragos03 - I believe we obtained it at the same time, several years ago. It's interesting, but IMO quite inconclusive in establishing whether the German technical envoy - Ventz - was "inspired" by the idea of the "Maresal".

Let's not forget the industrial capacity of Germany vs. Romania, and the number of projects the Germans had in producing prototypes of light, maneouvreable tank destroyers.

Regardless, the Hetzer (whether "inspired" or not by the "Maresal") went into production (though too late in the war) and was very effective on the battlefield and ended up being used by the Swiss army until the 1970's.

Were it not for the Hetzer, the Jagdpanzer IV (also reaching production too late), was very effective as well on the battlefield.

The Maresal had the misfortune of not making it to production, unfortunately.

In any case, let's keep things in perspective, however. I find the archival document very inconclusive and insufficient in establishing that the Germans inspired themselves after the Maresal. In any case, if it they did or not, the production of a light and nimble tank destroyer was a high priority on Guderian's list and it would have been developed anyway.

No offence intended regarding the Romanian know-how, we had some smart and innovative engineers, but the country's industrial capacity for mass production of armored vehicles was limited at best.

Hi guys,
i have question for M-06. Existing this prototype ? Your specifications... ? Existing summary for all prototypes in publications, website ...? Weight, lenght, wide etc....more data ?
THX
Braňo

I don't know how to put it, but even this is an optimistic approach!
@brano: check out this forum, search the terms and you'll get a result!

Doesn't this imply, however, that the Hetzer was already in existence while trials were barely being carried out for the Maresal?

If this was taking place in Jnuary 1944 then the Ventz might well have been aware of the developement of the Jagdpanzer 38 but as it certainly wasn't called the "Hetzer" by the Germans yet why would he say such a thing unless he meant the proper meaning of the German word "Hetzer", which is "trouble maker". So perhaps Ventz just meant that the Maresal would cause the Russians a lot of trouble ?

TACAB M 06 plans from april 1944 found on the Internet, on a russian site:
http://alternathistory.org.ua/files/users/...ath-d3dhrbt.jpg
http://alternathistory.org.ua/files/users/...ath-d3dhr12.jpg

If i remember correctly these are fantasy drawings made for a game.

If these are fantasy drawings, they are done with a great amount of authenticity. They can easily fool anyone, even specialist ones. This is partly a compliment, partly a warning to a potentially dangerous situation of faking history.

Gen. Dénes

This post has been edited by Dénes on July 21, 2012 02:26 pm

Yes, they are artistic creation

http://wingsofwrath.deviantart.com/art/TAC...-Plan-204062105

I'm sorry, I didn't knew! The only doubt I had was about the drive wheels in front and rear that looks like Pz.III early version, which were no longer produced from 1941 I guess, but I couldn't be sure about it! Anyway it's good that we cleared this pictures problem right now!