Marder 2

The Marder 2 is a German tier 8 Premium AFV. In real life, the Marder 2 was a heavy IFV designed to counter the Soviet BMP/BMD series while giving Germany a well defended and powerfully armed IFV at its disposal. In Armored Warfare, the Marder is characterized by having a large boxy shape and appearance for an AFV while also having a large and powerful 50mm autocannon and thick armor for its class. Additionally, the tank comes with a unique permanent camo scheme. Currently, the Marder 2 is the highest tiered premium AFV in the game and the only one at tier 8.

The Marder 2 was originally sold during the Black Friday sale event in November of 2017 beside the Sabra Mk. 2 on the Armored Warfare web shop. As of January 2018, the Marder and Sabra are both available permanently in the web shop for purchase with real world money or in game gold.

Player Recommendations
The Marder 2 is best as a heavy AFV. It might not be the best scout or have the best camo, but its frontal armor makes it immune to smaller autocannons from the front, making it a very good AFV hunter and killer. Peek-a-boo tactics around buildings, dead tanks, or terrain for cover are paramount when the Marder 2 is fighting an opponent that can penetrate its front armor. It should only engage MBTs or light tanks in ambushes or flanks. The large health pool allows for brawling with light tank opponents, but this must be done with caution, as many light tanks can penetrate the front armor and have high damage output of their own.

Care must be taken to avoid getting caught out in the open. The autocannon cannot be used at medium or long range effectively. The vehicle's large size makes it easy to hit. The lack of ATGMs also means the Marder has no standoff capability against heavily armored vehicles. If necessary, the Marder can be a passive spotter.

Pros

 * Premium vehicle, so increased reputation and credit earnings
 * Comes with a level 5 crew, a unique camo, and is available in the web shop for gold
 * Has deadly PELE rounds at its disposal to shred light vehicles and cause significant amounts of damage to the sides and rear of heavier vehicles
 * Strong frontal armor is almost impervious against smaller autocannons

Cons

 * Has no ATGMs and cannot penetrate thickly armored targets such as MBTs from the front
 * Does not have an APS, nor is its armor reliable against anything other than autocannons
 * Rather large bulky size for an AFV

Upgrade Suggestions
Premium vehicles come fully upgraded.

Retrofit Suggestions

 * Advanced MRS
 * Electro-Optical Absorbing Paint
 * Improved Telescopic Lenses
 * Augmented Optics
 * Laser Warning Receiver

Commander and Crew Skill Suggestions

 * Commander: Sabrina Washington or Erin O'Connell
 * Driver: Off-Road Driving, Spin to Win
 * Gunner: Quick Draw, Sharpshooter

Upgrades
Premium vehicles come fully upgraded.

History
Class: Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Prototype) Developed: 1988-1991 Service: N/A Vehicles Built: 2 Operators: N/A The Marder 2 was an experimental German IFV, developed in the late 1980s to replace the aging Marder IFV. The initial goal was to produce 1000 of these new IFVs between 1997 and 2001. The first prototype was finished by 1991 and shown to Bundeswehr on September 17 of the same year. It featured thicker armor than its predecessor, a new turret and a brand-new Rheinmetall dual-caliber autocannon that could fire both 35mm and 50mm rounds. Despite its excellent qualities, the vehicle was never accepted in service due to its high cost and because it was no longer needed because of the fall of the Soviet Union. A single surviving prototype can be found today in the Koblenz military collection.