The Jagdpanzer 38 (Sd.Kfz. 138/2), originally the Leichter Panzerjäger 38(t), known mostly post-war as Hetzer, was a German light tank destroyer of the Second World War based on a modified Czechoslovakian Panzer 38(t) chassis.

Feb 20, 2021 · A pack of Jagdpanzer 38 tank hunters would hide in a wood or thick hedgerow and pick off enemy tanks at long range. The sloping front armor gave the crew reasonable protection from frontal attack. So long as the driver pointed the front of the vehicle at any threat, the crew could expect to survive a hit from an enemy armor-piercing shell.

Aug 2, 2018 · The production of the Hetzer ran from March 4, 1944 to May 11, 1945. Its 7.1′ height, 20.9′ length and 8.6′ width made it capable of swift ambush. For protection, the Hetzer was equipped with a 2.3″ thick, sloped armor front plate.

Production: Around 2,827 units were produced between April 1944 and May 1945. Deployment: It was used primarily on the Eastern Front and during the defense of Germany in 1944-45. Effectiveness: The Hetzer was considered one of the most effective German tank destroyers of …

Nevertheless, the first production Hetzers were delivered in March 1944, as scheduled, and accepted by the Waffenamt in early April. The first 20 were demonstrated in front of Hitler on April, 20. However, production goals were significantly hampered by the delivery of the gun mounts.

Sep 17, 2023 · Mainly used by the German Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS against the Soviets on the Eastern Front in the later years of World War II, the Hetzer is a perfect example of how sound engineering meets battlefield smarts.

Heavy gun and thick frontal plate overloaded the front but it was later corrected by the use of strengthen suspension. Hetzers were to equip tank destroyer units (Panzerjaeger Abteilung / Panzerjaeger Kompanie) of infantry divisions, panzergrenadier divisions and independent units.

Feb 15, 2025 · All in the tank weighed 17 tons, and was powered by a 160 hp 6 cylinder Praga engine, giving it a top speed of 26 mph. For its size, the Hetzer was very well protected. Its frontal plate was 60 mm thick, and sloped at 60 degrees to increase its effective thickness.

Hetzer was developed in 1943 in BMM plants in Prague, at the request of Heinz Guderian. The new German tank destroyer was supposed to be a simple design, based on elements produced in series tanks, simultaneously fulfilling the requirements of the current battlefield.

Aug 4, 2024 · A German Army after-action report from the Eastern Front detailed what Hetzers with good crews could do, even against the Soviet giants. “The 3rd Company with four Jagdpanzer 38s was in a firefight with a JS-122 at a range of 1,200 meters.