The Ausf. M was developed to improve upon earlier Marder III variants by relocating the engine to the center of the chassis and moving the fighting compartment to the rear. This arrangement reduced the vehicle's profile, improved ammunition storage, and provided a more practical fighting position for the crew. Although the open superstructure still offered limited protection from artillery fragments and air attack, the combination of excellent firepower, mechanical reliability, and relatively low production cost ensured the Marder III Ausf. M remained in frontline service through the final stages of the war.

Combat during the Battle of Stalingrad highlighted the need for a heavily armored assault vehicle capable of supporting infantry in urban warfare. Engineers mounted the 150 mm howitzer in a thickly armored casemate built upon the proven Panzer IV chassis. Although the massive weapon placed considerable strain on the suspension and transmission of early vehicles, later production models incorporated numerous mechanical improvements. The Brummbär proved highly effective in its intended assault role and remained in service until the end of the war.

As increasingly capable Soviet tanks entered service, Germany required a mobile platform capable of carrying the new high-velocity 88 mm anti-tank gun. Engineers combined components from the Panzer III and Panzer IV chassis to create the Geschützwagen III/IV, providing a stable platform for the formidable PaK 43/1. The resulting vehicle emphasized long-range firepower over armor protection, relying on concealment and distance rather than heavy armor for survival. The Nashorn remained an effective tank destroyer until the end of the war.

Following the selection of the Henschel design for the Tiger I, nearly one hundred completed Porsche chassis were converted into heavy tank destroyers rather than being scrapped. Engineers installed the long-barreled 88 mm PaK 43/2 gun in a fixed superstructure protected by up to 200 mm of frontal armor. Although the vehicle proved highly effective against enemy armor at long range, the absence of a hull machine gun and recurring mechanical issues reduced its battlefield effectiveness. Surviving vehicles were later upgraded with improved commander's cupolas and hull machine guns, after which they were redesignated Elefant.

Development of the P40 began in response to combat experience in North Africa and reports on the performance of the Soviet T-34. Italian engineers designed a larger, better-protected tank equipped with a 75 mm gun and torsion-bar suspension. Production delays caused by industrial limitations and the Italian Armistice of 1943 prevented large-scale deployment. Most completed vehicles were taken over by Germany and served with Wehrmacht units in northern Italy, often powered by gasoline engines due to shortages of the intended diesel powerplants.