The development of this vehicle began in the summer 1943. Unlike the Marder I, II, III Pak.40 on RSO had 360 degrees traverse on the open platform but a vehicle was more a weapons carrier than a self-propelled gun. Although the drop sides were lowered to a horizontal position when fighting to increase fighting space, the area was very cramped for a crew of four. They had no kind of protection expect of a gun shield of the Pak itself. Crews nicknamed the vehicle in accordance with it's abbreviation RSO ??“ Rollender Sarg Ost (Rolling Coffin East). |
