Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer

History

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) "Hetzer" was developed from the PzKpfW 38(t) light tank, which in turn was derived from the original Czech LT vz 38 light tank and participated in the final phase of World War II . Its place in history, the Jagdpanzer 38(t), remains the best of all tank destroyers available to the German Army at the time. Its small size (no taller than a man) and effective main gun ensured a successful ambush against any armored target except heavy tanks. The Jagdpanzer 38(t) was so effective that thousands of units were produced, completely replacing the makeshift Panzerjager I model.

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) is also intended to replace the Marder series, but delays and lack of available quantities dictate otherwise. During the Cold War, she was put back into mass production for service in European armies.

In addition to the valuable StuG series assault guns, the Hetzer became one of the more important SPGs of the German war.

Hetzer Name

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) is widely known by its casual nickname "Hetzer". In translation, Hetzer means "bait," as in "bull bait." The Hetzer name was not originally associated with the Jagdpanzer 38(t), but with another related Skoda Works prototype, the "E-10". Internal documentation often confuses the two with names that appear to be interchangeable, leading to confusion in the long run.

The German army reportedly started the Hetzer name association with the Jagdpanzer 38(t), and historians continued the name association after the war. While the E-10 is mired in forgotten history, the Jagdpanzer 38(t) still bears the Hetzer name as its common identifier.

What do you think of my StuGs?

In the early 1940s, the German army relied on the tank-killing capabilities of modified systems such as the "Marder" series of self-propelled assault guns when engaging enemy tanks head-on. Marders were nothing more than a modification of an existing but outdated tank hull with a proven anti-tank gun in a temporary open-air superstructure. Marder exists in three more successful key forms in Marder I, Marder II and Marder III.

Another such weapon is the specially developed Sturmgeschutz (better known as "StuG") series of self-propelled guns. Originally designed for infantry support, these vehicles quickly proved capable of attacking enemy tanks. These systems are also based on the chassis of the upcoming Panzer III series of medium tanks and house a powerful 75mm main gun in a solid superstructure, while retaining all the capabilities of the original tank. The StuG IV soon appeared, based on the Panzer IV medium tank, also armed with a 75mm main gun. According to reports, the StuG destroyed approximately 20,000 enemy tanks while on the front line.

They served until the end of the war in 1945, and many were even captured by the Soviet Union and switched to their 76.2mm guns.

Demand is growing

However, confidence in the assault gun was threatened when the Arkt factory in Berlin, which produced the assault gun, became the target of Allied airstrikes. In December 1943, German authorities, led by renowned German tank tactician Heinz Guderian, now the Attorney General of the Armed Forces, were looking for a light, fully enclosed armored tank kill alternative to meet the growing demands of the battlefield . Since many of the available existing facilities could not continue to produce heavier specialized mobile weapon systems, alternatives were explored to find a compromise. The BMM factory (Bomisch-Marische Maschinenfabrik) in Prague seems to offer hope for building a light attack platform and is attracting the attention of the German high command.

A committee revealed to Hitler that the focus should be on these lighter conversion solutions, and work soon began to deliver a suitable and viable end product.

New Tank Destroyer

PzKpfW 38(t) was chosen as the chassis for the new weapon system. The PzKpfW 38(t) was nothing more than a mobile light tank of Czech origin (then named LT wz 38 in the Czech army). This light tank features a proven undercarriage, reliable mechanics and maneuverability on two tracks with four large wheels.

Since the PzKpfW 38(t) has proven itself to be an effective main battle tank (its armor is too thin to be upgraded, and its 37mm weapons are outdated compared to heavy armored tanks), its hull was deemed suitable for conversion to Other battlefield roles are the same as the Assault Pistol. Furthermore, this modification is a cost-reduction measure, combining an existing powertrain with a proven artillery system - as the Marder and StuG series have demonstrated.

As the draft of the new car has been completed, the tank received the rather long official name "New assault gun with 7.5cm PaK 39 L/40 on PzKpfW 38(t) chassis". Deciphering the name quickly revealed that the vehicle would be armed with the same 75mm gun as the Jagdpanzer IV. Since this special version of the anti-tank gun had an advanced recoil braking system, no muzzle brake was installed. The gun was installed in a fixed superstructure (obviously shifted to the right of the centerline). 41 rounds of 75mm shells are housed in the hull and 600 rounds of 7.92mm ammunition are allocated to the remote-controlled defensive machine gun (mounted on the left side of the superstructure roof).

The superstructure features heavy sloping armour for excellent ballistic protection, and the original working gear and lower hull of the original PzKpfW 38(t) remain largely intact. Frontal armor is an important defensive point, although the sides and rear of the vehicle are still relatively thin by comparison.

With its low profile and small size, the vehicle is ideal for ambushing unsuspecting enemy tanks and armored vehicles. Stronger, wider rails were installed to improve maneuverability.

Crew accommodation for four persons including a driver, commander, loader and gunner. The captain is located in the rear right position of the fuselage superstructure and has access to the binocular rangefinder on the top of the fuselage. The gunner and loader occupy positions on the left side of the fighting compartment.

The driver sits on the right front of the fuselage.

January 26, 1944 In typical German development, the wooden model was attached to the drawings and the vehicle was submitted to the German authorities for inspection. The leaders liked what they saw and immediately ordered the model for mass production.

BMM was able to deliver its first three production tanks in March 1944, with an additional 20 in April. The new tank killer was soon in service with the Bundeswehr.

In July 1944, the Czech Skoda factory (the same company responsible for the production of the early LT vz 35 series light tanks) joined production and made the first deliveries to the German Army. Other plants in Pilsen, Koniggratz, Bohm and Breslau soon started producing the small machines.

In November 1944, the official name of the new assault gun with the 7.5 cm PaK 39 L/40 on the PzKpfW 38(t) chassis was dropped and replaced by "Jagdpanzer 38(t), SdKfz 138/2". [ /p]

Jagdpanzer 38(t) walking

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) has a barrel length of 6.27 meters, a width of 2.63 meters and a height of 2.10 meters. The vehicle weighs only 16 to 17 tons. Power is provided by a liquid-cooled 6-cylinder Praga engine that produces 150 hp at 2,600 rpm - roughly the same specification as the original Czech LT vz 38 / German PzKpfW 38(t).

This gives the vehicle a top speed of 24.8 mph and a range of up to 111.6 miles. Off-road range is reduced to 80.6 miles.

Initially, it was envisaged that these new tank killers would form entire units, attached to infantry divisions for maximum support. However, production delays and parts shortages soon played a significant role in limiting the vehicle's effectiveness as a battlefield.

Allied bombing raids destroyed production facilities and logistics throughout Europe. This composite resource was needed throughout the Third Reich, which was increasingly involved in defensive struggles on multiple fronts.

Examples of the PaK 39 anti-tank gun system were deployed elsewhere, and if the German manufacturing plants had not been bombed, Allied ground forces would have captured them.

Production Changes

After October 1944, a new silencer arrangement was introduced into the series. Also, a reinforced chain idler has been added to the list of minor changes. Various wheel and track roller system arrangements were used throughout the production of the vehicle.

One attempt to speed up mass production of the Jagdpanzer 38(t) was to remove the weapon's internal recoil system and instead rely on the vehicle's body to absorb blows. Tanks of this design (Jagdpanther 38(t) "rigid") are identified by a different gun mount compared to the original.

Later production forms introduced a lighter hood - often referred to as a "pig's head" due to its general shape - and an improved mount. Despite these changes, the Jagdpanzer 38(t) has retained its original form for the remainder of its tenure on the battlefield.

A command car version was added to the assembly line mix, these versions are identified by the antenna logo aft of the left rear of the hull superstructure. Only in later production models did the Jagdpanzer 38(t) get camouflaged at the factory level - initially these were painted by German soldiers after receiving their new mounts.

The vehicles are painted with an "Ambush" forest pattern to suit the role of the Jagdpanzer 38(t) on the battlefield.

Jagdpanzer 39(t) in battle

In operational practice, the Jagdpanzer 38(t) performed so well in its given role - so much so that all subsequent production base PzKpfW 38(t) light tanks were discontinued and their chassis switched to producing more Jagdpanzers 38(t) is transferred. s. Their low profile makes them a harder target to identifymaybe even harder to identify. The German version of the 75mm main gun was a proven tank killer, effective against all Allied light and medium tanks. Mechanically, the Czech ingenuity that dominated the series proved highly reliable in harsh battlefield conditions. A major drawback of their design - which fell under German interference - was the vehicle's cramped fighting compartment, which was undesirable for a weapons breech system that required constant attention.

In fact, due to the internal layout of the crew compartment, all movements affecting the operation of the gun became right-hand movements. The view of the commander outside the vehicle is questionable, the protection offered by the remote-controlled machine gun is limited at best - it turns out that the Jagdpanzer 38(t) is particularly vulnerable to infantry attack from anti-tank guns, anti-tank grenades or rockets on weaker side walls and back wall. Since the Jagdpanzer 38(t) has no moving turret, the entire vehicle must be positioned facing the target in order to fire with any precision - so the tank can't really "follow" a moving target without doing some work.

By United Crew.

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) itself was further developed into two other different production models. One of these forms became the Flammpanzer 38(t), in which the 75mm main gun was replaced with a combustible fuel injector to make room. The hull provides a 154-gallon fuel supply for the projector, and the gun itself can hit targets up to 190 feet away. The Bergepanzer 38(t) is nothing more than an Armored Rescue Vehicle (ARV) without a main gun and proper ammunition.

These vehicles perform well in towing damaged or disabled vehicles off main roads or away from unresolved fronts and back to repair facilities.

Try the Jagdpanzer 38(t) base form to continue the series. One attempt involved installing a 150mm field gun as an assault howitzer system. Another attempt to simplify the manufacturing process by switching the original liquid-cooled petrol engine to an air-cooled diesel engine - which required an overhaul of the rear engine bay and assembly line strategy.

This time-consuming and resource-intensive measure was eventually abandoned due to the greater need to bring the basic Jagdpanzer 38(t) to the front.