OTO Melara Marder, The German-Italian TAM!

[IngegnerMacchi 623]

GENERAL INFO:
In the second decade of the 2000 Rheinmetall was wondering how to increase the service life of the renowned and battle-hardened Marder IFV, seeing the huge amount of platforms built and the potential that the various upgraded versions of the vehicle showed during the years. 

As war scenarios evolve fast and seeing that large tank battles are less and less common, MBTs aren't the most convenient type of equipment. Having the combat potential of an MBT, may be too excessive to deal with the majority of the modern era threats, but other armored vehicles can be lacking in firepower and combat capabilities. In this scenario, a new niche is created, where a sub-par MBT firepower is needed, but the cost have to stay way lower, the same niche where the existing CV90-105/120 light tanks are the landmarks.

With the german army close to phasing out the 1970s IFV, Rheinmetall took the opportunity and started a joint-venture with OTO-Melara to create a Medium MBT from the existing marder, in the hope to fullfil the needs of overseas countries that wanted to upgrade their militaries with low budget, the result was the Marder Revolution program, showed to the public for the first time at the 2012 Eurosatory, presented in 2 Upgraded versions, one as APC variant with theese modifications:
-Ballistic protection comparable to STANAG level 4+

-Mine protection comparable to 3a/3b

-Improved ergonomics by lifting the top deck

-Installation of MTU MB883 diesel engine that brings the power to 600hp

 

 

And one presented as MGS, with the same modifications regarding the engine and the top deck, but with a thicker armor package estimated to protect at least against 30mm shells and even stronger rounds on the front, with enhanced HEAT protection (actual values are classified). This version was developed as a private joint-venture between Rheinmetall and Oto-Melara, seeking to equip the IFV with the Italian B1 centauro turret and 105/L52 gun, transforming the platform into a Medium MBT in all senses.

 

 

In 2016, as Indonesia have shown interest into the project, at the Indo Defence 2016, lRheinmetall and OTO-Melara showed yet another variant, without the armor packages and equipped with the Centauro MGS turret with the same 105/L52mm Oto-Melara rifled gun (Standard HITFACT Systems: Digital FCS, Better Thermals than the B1 variant, LWS ecc)

 

 

ARMAMENT+EQUIPMENTS:

 

-105/L52 OTO-MELARA rifled gun, on the B1 centauro turret, able to fire all the standard NATO ammunitions.

-2x4 smoke launchers, one on each side of the turret

-coaxial 7,62mm machinegun

 

SPECIFICATION:
 

-protection at least from 30mm ammunition all around

-600hp MTU MB883 diesel engine allowing a top speed of 65 km/h

-680 liters fuel tank giving the tank a range of 500km

-6.9m long hull, 3.6m wide and 3m high

-43tons weight

-4 crew members: commander, driver, gunner, loader

-2500mm trench clearance

-60% Gradient and 30% Side Slope

 

WHY IT SHOULD BE IN GAME:

I think this vehicle can become a very good premium/tech tree light tank, alongside the MGS turreted version, boosting even more the light tank branch of the italian and german tech trees, considering the long experience and know-how on that class of vehicles of the mentioned nations. Being a modified Marder hull (both one with add-on the other without) fitted with 2 already existing turrets in game (with minor differences, especially on the B1 centauro one, having a similar armour package to the MGS one as seen in the photos) would be easier to model and would go in 2 tech trees.

 

PHOTOS:

 

 

 

SOURCES:

 

https://en.topwar.ru/23984-sredniy-tank-iz-bmp-neodnoznachnaya-modernizaciya-mashiny-marder.html

http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=1074.100

https://military-wiki.com/marder-evolution-apc-the-final-upgraded-version-of-the-successful-marder-ifv/

http://www.delta.gov.ge/en/blog/rheinmetall-მა-ახალი-ქსმ-marder-evolution-წარმოადგ/

http://www.military-today.com/tanks/marder_light_tank.htm

https://defense-update.com/20120613_eurosatory-2012-photo-report.html

 

video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ERW0xZ3Ymk

 

Edited April 13, 2022 by kurururocks
removed poll-only option

[kurururocks 210]

Open for discussion 

 

[DMYEugen 688]

+1 On the condition that Germany gets them as well. I'm glad that someone suggested them for Italy as I had already suggested them for Germany.

Edited April 13, 2022 by DMYEugen

[Охраняет-Камни 6,650]

More photos

Spoiler

 

^ I would like to see this variant in the Italian Tech Tree and another one in the German TT.

Edited April 13, 2022 by _Condottiero_

[IngegnerMacchi 623]

4 hours ago, DMYEugen said:

+1 On the condition that Germany gets them as well. I'm glad that someone suggested them for Italy as I had already suggested them for Germany.

Absolutely! They HAVE TO go to both tech trees, no doubt at all! Thank you for your support

4 hours ago, _Condottiero_ said:

More photos

Hide contents

 

^ I would like to see this variant in the Italian Tech Tree and another one in the German TT.

Thank you so much for the more photos and for the support! 

5 hours ago, kurururocks said:

Open for discussion 

 

Thank you sir! 

[RagingRaptorWT 29]

The More vehicle for smaller techtrees the better!

+1 from me

[Momon_ 6]

+1, Italy needs more light tanks as there really aren't many other options regarding mbts, so vehicles like this could fill the gaps in the Italian TT. 

[IngegnerMacchi 623]

20 minutes ago, RagingRaptor177 said:

The More vehicle for smaller techtrees the better!

+1 from me

 

11 minutes ago, Momon_ said:

+1, Italy needs more light tanks as there really aren't many other options regarding mbts, so vehicles like this could fill the gaps in the Italian TT. 

Love you both thank you for the support!

[MrLight013 292]

Yes pls More light tanks

[AspandaIV 376]

I have no problems adding this vehicle to the Italian TT as long as Germany receives this vehicle too since the Hull is German while the Turret is Italian

[Nicholas_Concu 2,634]

+1 good job, happy to have helped. 

[IngegnerMacchi 623]

4 hours ago, AspandaIV said:

I have no problems adding this vehicle to the Italian TT as long as Germany receives this vehicle too since the Hull is German while the Turret is Italian

Absolutely! It HAS TO GO to both TT since it's half italian and half German

51 minutes ago, Nicholas_Concu said:

+1 good job, happy to have helped. 

Thank you so much Nicho, your help Is Always FUNDAMENTAL

[Grimbergen95 362]

+1 like SK105 being in both german and french TT, this machine can easily get in the italian and german TT

[ThunderFla 291]

+1 yes definitely! It looks quite chad with that centauro turret, it would really be an amazing addition both in the german and the italian TTs

Edited April 13, 2022 by ThunderFla

[Milocat 4,855]

I like, +1 for Germany and Italy.  

[ChatBonk 5]

Fantastic work my guy, easy +1.

[Nafuu 21]

+1 give us our damn Tam pls

[IngegnerMacchi 623]

1 hour ago, ChatBonk said:

Fantastic work my guy, easy +1.

thank you so much!

8 hours ago, Grimbergen95 said:

+1 like SK105 being in both german and french TT, this machine can easily get in the italian and german TT

 

7 hours ago, ThunderFla said:

+1 yes definitely! It looks quite chad with that centauro turret, it would really be an amazing addition both in the german and the italian TTs

 

4 hours ago, Milocat said:

I like, +1 for Germany and Italy.  

 

1 hour ago, Nafuu said:

+1 give us our damn Tam pls

thank you all! hopefully we will get them in game

[TerraStalker 158]

+1 Italy needs more light vehicles! And this can go into tank destroyers line

[S__bastienZ88 635]

+10

[plеb 4]

+1 yes please

[Yamato_damashi 10]

Up!

[Mostwest 10]

+1

[Mr_YellowJacket 7]

1+

[SanchezIsBruh 54]

+1 sure, I don't see why not because both the hull and turret are already ingame. Maybe could be added as an event or premium vehicle?