Description: The OTO Melara/Rheinmetall Marder Medium Tank RI is an Italian-German light tank developed by the companies Rheinmetall and OTO Melara. The development started back in the early 2000’s when the German company Rheinmetall started a new program aimed at realizing an upgrade kit for the old Marder IFV to upgrade the existing service units in many countries. Initially made to satisfy a Canadian request, the Marder Revolution weighs around 33 tons, has a longer and wider hull (6.9 m and 3.6 m respectively), additional armor, a better engine, better transport capacity, spall liners, mine protections, and accommodation for various turrets, such as Tanks One’s. This last feature was made to turn the IFV into a light tank to satisfy a possible request of this kind from any nation. After the initial development, Rheinmetall started a collaboration with OTO Melara for the creation of a new light tank based on the Marder Revolution, equipped with OTO’s Hitfact 105 mm turret (the same turret as the B1 Centauro 105). It was showcased for the first time at the Eurosatory 2012, but it didn’t generate the interest the companies hoped for, and it was not ordered by anyone. But a second attempt was made in 2016 after Indonesia showed interest in the platform. A new version was made. This version had the OTO’s-made Hitfact 120 (same turret as the B1 Centauro 120) equipped with a 105/52 mm gun. Even though Indonesia was initially interested, no orders were signed, and the project was abandoned some time later. The fate of the prototypes is unknown.
Why it should be in the game: It could be a good addition to both Italian and German tt as a light tank for the main tt of both countries.
Specifications
Riepilogo
Lenght: 6.9 m
Width: 3.6 m
Height: 3 m
Engine: MTU MB 883 with a total of 700 hp
Armour: Capable of withstand 30 mm rounds, RPG
Max speed: 70 km/h
Weight: 43 tons
Mebers: 4 (driver, gunner, loader, commander)
wade capability: 1.5 m
Armaments:
a 105/52 mm cannon capable of shoot all nato standard 105 mm ammunitions
two 7.62 beretta MG42/59 machinegun
i voted Both, having said that i feel that the only viable option would be the variant with the 120.
since GER already has the TAM2C, and ITA has the Centauro series armed with both 105 & 120.
The Marder with 120mm would add an upgrade to the GER line to the TAM 2C, while adding a side grade to the Centauro 120mm.
This would give GER a T7/8 light tank and give the option to choose between a wheeled or tracked light in the ITA tree.
I love the Centauro’s, but in a closed environment they handle worse then a tracked vehicle.
PS: or just also give the 105 to ITA, more flavor to the TT ;P
A Centauro-Marder fusion tank would be interesting to see, especially with an Italian co-designed tank in another tech tree (which there aren’t many of)
I dont really see how this would go into Italian tree.
I cant find any source stating any involvement by OTO, beyond selling the turret to Rheinmetall.
All sources just state that its a Rheinmetall program with it also modifying the gun.
Oto melara most definitely sells turrets.
When a country like Italy or Germany signs a contract with Oto Melara for x amount of hitrole light turrets in exchange of money, thats selling.
Honestly every source talks about Rheinmetall program, never is oto melara or italy mentioned as a partner beyond the fact that, they are the origin of the turret.
Tldr, sales contract is still a sale no matter how you twist it. There is no collaboration, purely German project. Feel free to provide sources about a “collaboration”.
Then you should know why they chose OTO-Melara and not another company.
You should also know that two years ago Rheinmetall had made a proposal to purchase 49% of OTO-Melara. The Rheinmetall program, what would it consist of? Adding an OTO-Melara turret to an existing Marder hull?
