marder 1a5 Marder 1A5(A1) MELLS IFV: Reinvigorating the Old

[Yontzee 1,673]

 

A Marder 1A5 equipped with MELLS-ATGM's,

 

• The Schützenpanzer Marder 1 (or Marten) is a German Infantry Fighting Vehicle designed in West Germany in the 1960's that is still in use by the German Army. Several variants of the Marder 1 have been developed such as the Marder A1 that features a remote 7.62 turret above the troop compartment, the 1A3 which is the mainstay of the German Army, to the 1A5(A1) which has been developed featuring modern technology. The Marder 1A5 and its modification, the 1A5A1, is the most up to date model of the Marder-series that is currently in service. Drawing lessons learned from the conflict in Afghanistan, the German Army requested modifications to be completed to its Marder 1A3's, increasing armor for IED protection on the bottom of the vehicle, and a new layout for better protection of the crew. The 1A5 upgrade was first implemented between 2004 and 2005, with 74 units upgraded. In 2010-2011, 35 vehicles were further upgraded to the 1A5A1 standard, featuring A/C for the crew, an IED jammer, as well as Barracuda Multispectral camouflage. The Marder 1A5 saw service in Afghanistan, being used in the Kunduz Province Campaign of 2009. In the Late-2010's, the German Army requested to further enhance the Marder 1A5 with the Israeli Spike-LR missile, or produced domestically as MELLS to extend the life expectancy of the Marder. This is being trialed and expected to become the replacement for the MILAN F2 ATGM's currently in use by the German Army. This upgrade is being applied to the Wiesel 1A2 Tank Destroyers, replacing their TOW-ATGM's. The Marder 1A5(A1) equipped with the MELLS ATGM is expected to supplement the new Puma S1 IFV's. The Marder 1A3 and 1A5(A1) variants continue to serve in the German Army despite ridicule to retire them due to being in service for around 50 years.

 

• Armament:
  • 20mm Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh 202 Automatic Cannon (1,250rds)
    • DM43 (HVAP-T)
    • DM51A1 (HEFI-T)
    • DM63 (APDS)
  • 7.62mm MG3 Machine Gun (5,000rds)
  • Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (4 Missiles)
    • (Starting Modification) MILAN F2
      • Penetration: 730mm Penetration (HEAT)
      • Engine: Solid-propellant Rocket
      • Diameter: 115mm
      • Reload: 15s
      • Range: 200-2,000m
      • Guidance: SALCOS Wire
    • (Tier IV Modification) MELLS-ATGM/SPIKE-LR
      • Penetration: 700mm Penetration behind ERA (Tandem HEAT)
      • Engine: Solid-propellant Rocket
      • Diameter: 130mm
      • Reload: 15s
      • Range: 200-4,000m
      • Guidance: Fire-and-Forget/Infrared Homing
• Armor:
  • Armor values remain the same with the exception of additional plating on the bottom of the vehicle for IED protection.
  • In-game armor values:

• Maneuverability:
  • Engine:
    • 591hp-MTU MB 833 Ea-500 Diesel Engine
  • Transmission:
    • 8-Forward, 8-Reverse Gears
  • Speed:
    • 65km/h
  • Weight:
    • 42t
• Crew (x3):
  • Gunner
  • Commander
  • Driver

• Fire-protection Equipment
• 8x 76mm Smoke Grenades
• Laser Rangefinder
• Night Vision Device
  • Driver
  • Commander
• Thermal Imager:
  • Gunner
• A1 Modification:
  • IED Jammer (Not needed, but if IED's are implemented in the future as a static ground explosive in new maps, etc.).
  • Barracuda Multispectral camouflage (comes standard).

• In-game the Marder 1A5(A1) would play very similar to its predecessor, the 1A3, however could start of using the MILAN 2 ATGM (or known in Germany as the MILAN F2) missile at start with the option of upgrading to the MELLS ATGM at Tier IV. This would significantly improve the performance of the Marder 1A5 by giving it the Spike-LR ATGM. Also, another Tier III modification could be the "A1" modification, providing the vehicle with the Barracuda multispectral camouflage as well as an IED jammer that could be used in any future update that including IED's. This modification could be implemented into the game similarly to the BMP-2 receiving the "BMP-2D" upgrade. 

Front-quarter view of the 1A5 equipped with MELLS.

Side view of the 1A5 with the MELLS launcher in view.

Closeup of the MELLS launcher on the Marder 1A5.

Marder 1A5 launching a MELLS ATGM.

Marder 1A5 in Afghanistan, note the camoflauge.

Marder 1A5 equipped with spectral camouflage.

Front view of the Marder 1A5 equipped with spectral camouflage. 

 

Marder 1A5A1 equipped with spectral camouflage, note the design. 

 

Marder 1A5A1 along with other variants of the Marder as well as Puma. 

 

• http://tank-masters.de/?p=7391
• https://www.joint-forces.com/defence-equipment-news/12108-rheinmetall-integrates-mells-into-marder-ifv
• http://www.dmitryshulgin.com/tag/mells/
• https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.php?armor_id=102
• https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43014/germany-still-cant-give-up-its-marder-infantry-fighting-vehicles-after-half-a-century
• http://www.military-today.com/apc/marder.htm
• https://warthunder.com/en/news/7164-development-marder-a1-the-first-ifv-of-the-west-en
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marder_(infantry_fighting_vehicle)
• https://wiki.warthunder.com/Marder_1A3

 

• Please see also my Flakpanzer Gepard 1A2 suggestion which is a laser-rangefinder equipped Gepard that can shoot FAPDS rounds!

Edited April 28, 2023 by Yontzee

[kurururocks 210]

Open for discussion

[Milocat 4,854]

Definite +1 from me, this would be a great addition.

[memer4life9000@psn 36]

Not too sure about the Spike missiles. I think it would be better to release the Marder 1A5A1 without them, at least for now. Otherwise, this is a +1 from me!

[Woolfi23456789@psn 28]

On 03/10/2022 at 19:55, memer4life9000@psn said:

Not too sure about the Spike missiles. I think it would be better to release the Marder 1A5A1 without them, at least for now. Otherwise, this is a +1 from me!

Knowing the game and how it implemented the drones probably next update

The vehicle is needed to show the final evolution of the Marder1 before the Marder2 and Puma. +1

Edited October 8, 2022 by Woolfi23456789@psn

[Jsaac4000 3]

Now that In this April Fools event Spikes are being tested again, i think this is might be  able to be added in the future.