Cooperation with MOWAG was terminated due to a patent dispute.įor the prototypes of the second generation, a new conceptual approach ensued. Henschel did not take part in the competition, as the company was concentrating primarily on the development of prototypes for the following variants: a gun-based tank destroyer, a mortar carrier, a field ambulance and a rocket launcher. In October 1962 development contracts for seven new prototypes of the section vehicle were signed with Ruhrstahl (Hanomag) and MOWAG. The maximum height requirement of 1,890 mm was abandoned, while the crew strength was cut from twelve to ten troops.
And there is still no clear end in sight to the combat vehicle’s service life.Īfter examining the first vehicles, it gradually became clear to the Army general staff that the restrictive specifications would have to be dropped in order to enable a better IFV concept. The Marder, on the other hand, has remained in service down to the present day, proving its mettle as part of the Quick Reaction Force in firefights in the Kunduz and Mazar-e Sharif regions of Afghanistan. It has been a long time since the Leopard 1 featured in the Bundeswehr’s inventory. In reality, the future had altogether different challenges in store for the vehicle.ĭuring the Cold War, deployments were limited to peacetime exercises, which, however, credibly underscored the ability and willingness of the Federal Republic of Germany and its NATO partners to defend themselves. At the time of its inception, it was assumed that the German Army’s new infantry fighting vehicle – teamed with the Leopard 1 main battle tank – would make a decisive contribution to national territorial defence.
This took place at simultaneous ceremonies at Kassel and Kiel – the corporate seats of manufacturers Thyssen-Henschel and Krupp MaK, both of which have belonged to Rheinmetall since 19, respectively. On, the first production versions of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) were formally transferred to the German Army.
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