Hetzer

Hetzer
Country	Nazi Germany
Role	Light tank destroyer
In service	1944–1945
Built	2850+

The Jagdpanzer 38 (Sd.Kfz. 138/2), was a German light tank destroyer of the Second World War based on a modified Czechoslovakian Panzer 38(t) chassis.

Source: Hetzer on Wikipedia

Hetzer
Photographer	Unknow
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	90

Hetzer 02

Hetzer 01

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Hetzer 04

Hetzer 05

Hetzer 06

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Hetzer 08

Hetzer 11

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Hetzer Jagdpanzer 38(F)
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Photos	85

Hetzer Jagdpanzer 38(F)

Hetzer Jagdpanzer 38(t) Walk Around
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Hetzer Jagdpanzer 38(t)

Development and Design

The Jagdpanzer 38 was developed in 1944 to fulfill the urgent need for a cost-effective and easily produced tank destroyer, especially after Allied bombing raids crippled production of the StuG III. Its design prioritized defensive capabilities over comfort or complexity.

**Chassis:** It was based on a modified version of the reliable Czechoslovakian **Panzer 38(t) light tank chassis**. This lineage allowed for rapid design and deployment.
**Armor:** It featured heavily **sloped armor**, with the frontal plate being 60 mm thick and angled at 60°. This angle significantly increased its effective protection against many Allied anti-tank guns.
**Low Profile:** Its most significant tactical feature was its extremely **low silhouette** (only 2.10 m high), making it a formidable weapon when employed in ambush tactics.
**Main Gun:** It was armed with the powerful **7.5 cm PaK 39 L/48 anti-tank gun** mounted in a fixed casemate structure.
**Design Flaw:** To fit the large gun, it was mounted far to the right of the center line. This resulted in a very **cramped fighting compartment** and poor visibility for the gunner and commander, particularly to the right and rear.

Combat History and Legacy

The Hetzer was distributed to tank destroyer detachments and infantry units starting in mid-1944. It proved highly effective in its intended role as an ambush predator on both the Eastern and Western Fronts.

**Effectiveness:** Its combination of powerful armament and excellent frontal protection allowed it to engage and destroy heavier Allied and Soviet tanks from concealed positions.
**Production and Deployment:** The simple, efficient design enabled the factories (primarily in Czechoslovakia) to maintain high production, with **over 2,800 units built** by May 1945, ensuring its widespread use in the final year of the war.
**Post-War Service:** The vehicle’s utility was so high that Czechoslovakia continued to produce a version of it (known as the **G-13**) after the war. This version was widely exported and used by the Swiss Army until the late 1960s.

Specifications (Jagdpanzer 38)

Characteristic	Specification
Country of Origin	Nazi Germany (produced in Czechoslovakia)
Type	Tank Destroyer (Jagdpanzer)
Mass	16 tonnes (15.7 long tons)
Height	2.10 m (6 ft 10.6 in)
Armament (Main)	7.5 cm PaK 39 L/48 Gun
Armament (Secondary)	1 x 7.92 mm MG 34 or MG 42 (Remote-controlled)
Crew	4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver)
Max Speed (Road)	42 km/h (26 mph)
Production Total	Over 2,800