Captured self-propelled gun, Italy, 1943

Photograph by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, Italy, 1943.

Marder III Ausf M, SdKfz 138 self-propelled gun named, 'Gerdi'.

This German self-propelled gun was captured by elements of the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters). The Marder III was armed with either a Russian F22 76.2 mm gun or the German 75 mm Pak 40 gun, mounted on an old Czech tank chassis. Most World War Two self-propelled guns were lightly armoured when compared to tanks and lacked turrets. Tanks were armed with guns primarily designed to destroy other tanks while most self-propelled guns were used as mobile artillery.

From an album containing 233 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).