Bundeswehr to deploy Marders to 'Stan
 

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs...3-32425439d457

Semper Fi, Carry On

Re: Bundeswehr to deploy Marders to 'Stan
 

AFAIK there already are a few of these beasties, I recall seeing a pics of them in desert camo in typical mud hut villages...

Re: Bundeswehr to deploy Marders to 'Stan
 

A Marder at the Bundeswehr camp 'Marmal' near Masar-i-Scharif, Afghanistan, 30 June 2008.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...7912148263.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...8312148264.jpg

I think they have been largely used to protect bases ... until now. I'm not sure how well they are suited to the climate.

Re: Bundeswehr to deploy Marders to 'Stan
 

Dunno about the climate, but I would say it will be found that 20mm is not enough for dealing with mud huts (but then from what I heard any autocannon needs a mig ammo expedienture to make a decent hole, the dried mud on straw matrix is apparently pretty tough composite armor). Will Germany send some tanks? Canucks and Danes seem to like Leopards in A-Stan well enough and it might be a good place to combat-test proposed Leopard2A6 UrbOps module (IE hull of 2A6M with dozer blade and turret of 2A4, fitted with heavy uparmoring).

Re: Bundeswehr to deploy Marders to 'Stan
 

Looks like some desert camo icons are in order then... ?:)

Re: Bundeswehr to deploy Marders to 'Stan
 

Why not put an Marder A3 on a desert map and see what happens......

Don

Re: Bundeswehr to deploy Marders to 'Stan
 

I've a little experience with adobe, it's just straight up tough stuff. Probably the only enemy adobe needs to fear is a soaking rain or wet snow. If somebody was shooting at me, and I had the option of covering behing a rock wall or an adobe one, I'd chose the mud. :)


Matt

Re: Bundeswehr to deploy Marders to 'Stan
 

Yep, apparently even LAWs and RPGs can make just a small hole, if you need to make an alternative entrance you need either heavier ATGM warhead (Javelin vs Mud Hut, way to go! ;)) or 105-120mm tank gun. It is possible to get through with a .50 HMG, but you'd better reserve few hours and a convoy with ammo...

Re: Bundeswehr to deploy Marders to 'Stan
 

Wrap it in plastic to keep out the rain & you have some cheap add on armour.:)
Seriously it would not surprise me if they are collecting diffrent mud samples to find out which mud is best & why

Re: Bundeswehr to deploy Marders to 'Stan
 

Just got a crazy idea... What about using tougher matrix? The troops in A-Stan need protected bases, so why not take Kevlar sheets or just fibres (the kind that is used in various rugged printed circuit boards) and make a mud hut-like walls around say HW emplacements?