Amazing what the Germans did with captured vehicles …
Yes, and not quite.
The Germans didn't capture Marders. They built them. It was a German design, built in a German-run factory.
Based on a Czech chassis, to be sure. And you might say that the German-run factory was captured, more-or-less. I mean if you seize some territory without a fight, are the things in that territory "captured"?
I know it may seem that I am splitting hairs, but the Germans did in fact capture stuff too, and they re-used much of it. A lot of French tanks were captured and re-used. But would we use the same terminology, captured, for a newly designed vehicle built in a German-run factory in occupied France?
Once you control the factory, the spares problem becomes much more manageable. It's not quite the same as putting a T-34 into Wehrmacht service against it's former owners.
… but a logistical nightmare.
True, in both cases. But a little more so in the case of an actual captured vehicle.
Oh, and yes, very nice work Leon. Quite a treat for the eye. And an interesting commentary on the extra work done to overcome the shortcomings of the original kit (empty ammo racks in an open fighting compartment?!?).
-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)
