Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer ("Baiter"),
Jagdpanzer 38(t) für 7.5cm PaK 39 (L/48),
7.5cm Pak 39 L/48 auf PzJäg 38(t) Hetzer (SdKfz 138/2),
Jagdpanzer 38(t),
JagdPz 38 fuer 7.5cm Pak 39 L/48:

The Army Weapons Department in 1943 chose the PzKpfw 38(t) chassis to be developed into a tank destroyer to replace the Marders.⁵

In March 1943, Colonel General Heinz Guderian, wanted a light tank destroyer. First prototype appeared in December 1943. Production started at BMM⁵ in April 1944, and by Skoda in September 1944⁵. Produced in Prague, Pilsen, Königgrätz, Böhm, and Breslau.

In 1945 a few had the 75 mm KwK 42 L/70 gun installed.⁶ It was too heavy in the front and was discontinued.⁶

Fighting space was very cramped inside due to low silhouette and sloped armor.⁶ Gunner and loader were on left hand side of a gun designed to be right handed operation. Same gun as in PzKpfw IV but with muzzle brake removed as it had a better recoil mechanism.⁵ The gun was 380 mm (15") to the right of center.⁵ The mantlet was the Saukopf (Pig's Head)⁵

The 7.92 mm MG34 was remotely controlled by the commander from inside the vehicle, who had a periscope and extended trigger.⁵

Drive wheel was in the front, and the idler in the back.⁶

There were two fuel tanks installed.⁵

It had a Fu 5 radio set installed, and command vehicles had the Fu 8 radio installed. It had a FuG5 and a FuG Spr F radio installed.²

Entered service in May 1944 with infantry anti-tank battalions.⁵ The infantry division organization of 1944 included 10 Hetzers.⁵ The 1945 infantry division was to have 14.⁵ By 1945, only about 1/4 of the 100 remaining infantry divisions had Hetzers.⁵

In July 1944, the Panzerjägerabteilungen 731 and 743, and the 15th and 76th Infantry Divisions were the first to receive them.

The 2nd SS Panzer, 10th SS Panzer, 8th Panzer, 16th Panzer, 18th Panzergrenadier, 25th Panzergrenadier, and Kurmark Panzergrenadier divisions had Hetzer anti-tank batallions.⁵ Five assault gun brigades and seven independent tank destroyer battalions also were supplied.⁵ The V SS Mountain Corps had two independent companies attached.⁵ Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler's escort battalion contained Hetzers as well.⁵

100 were sold to Hungary.⁵ At least one battalion was formed in the southern sector and were used.⁵

At the End

On April 1, 1945, there were 627 Hetzers still in the Germany Army.⁵ Production continued to the end, with 121 being built and issued in the last month of the war.⁵

Flammpanzer 38(t):

During the design phases of the Ardennes offensive it was decided that there was a need for flamethrower equipped tanks. 20⁵ Hetzer's were converted to carry 14 mm Flammenwerfer in place of 75 mm. The projector was fitted inside the 75 mm barrel to help disguise it's function.^5,6 154 gallons (700 liters) of flame fuel carried with a range of 60 m/197'.⁵

Hitler wanted them to be used in the Ardennes offensive, but they were finished in time.⁵ They were first encountered in Operation Nordwind, which was in Alsace in January 1945.⁵

Used by the 352nd and 353rd Flame Tank Companies.⁵ The 352nd Company lost 6 of it's compliment of 10 during Operation Nordwind.⁵ The rest were lost in fighting from January to March 1945.⁵

Bergepanzer 38(t) Hetzer:

Armored recovery vehicles.⁵ 64 were converted and 106 were produced.⁵ Gun was removed and winch fitted.⁵ Was open on the top. The superstructure was removed and a large wooden box was put in it's place.⁵ It weighed 14.5 tons.⁵

It wasn't a success as it was too weak to tow the heavy tanks that made up most of the German Army's inventory.⁵

150 Schwere Infanteriegeschütz 33/2 (Sf) auf Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer
Bison⁵:

6 converted and 24 produced.⁵ First models were available December 1944. Based on the Bergepanzer 38(t) chassis. Had additional raised superstructure installed with 150 mm sIG 33/2. Were issued to the schwere Infanteriegeschütz company in armored infantry regiments.⁵

Jagdpanzer 38(t) Starr:

10 prototypes were made⁵, and production was to start in May 1945. Was to have a 75 mm PaK 39/1 Starr L/48 or a 105 mm StuH42 Starr as main armament.

	Hetzer	Flammpanzer 38(t)
Crew	41,2,3,5,6,7	42
Physical Characteristics
Weight	31,967 lb3, 35,300 lb, 34,723 lb 14,500 kg3, 15,750 kg1, 16,000 kg6 15.5 tons1, 15.75 tons2,4, 16 tons5, 17.6 tons7 Flammpanzer: 34,171 lb	15.5 tons2
Length w/gun	20' 4.1"3, 20' 7"5, 20' 11", 20' 11.1"1 6.2 m3, 6.27 m5, 6.38 m1,2,4	4.87 m2
Length w/o gun	15' 9"3, 15' 11"5, 16'7 4.8 m3, 4.87 m5,6
Height	6' 10"5, 6' 10.7"3, 7'7, 7' 1.4"1, 7' 3" 2.1 m3,5, 2.17 m1,2,4,6	2.17 m2
Width	8' 2.4"3, 8.4'7, 8' 7"5, 8' 7.5"1 2.5 m3, 2.63 m1,2,4,5,6	2.63 m2
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	16"7, 1' 4.5" 0.38 m, 0.42 m6
Ground contact length	112"7 2.69 m
Ground pressure	0.85 kg/cm2
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	75 mm Pak 39 L/482,4,5,6 75 mm1 75 mm PaK 393 75 mm Pak, L/487	14 mm Flammenwerfer 412
Secondary
MG	7.92 mm MG1 7.92 mm MG34, roof5,7 7.92 mm MG34 or MG422 MG 34 or 42, roof (360° traverse) MG, roof6	7.92 mm MG34 or MG422
Side arms
Quantity
Main	40, 412: AP 415,6,7	154 gallons2, 24 bursts2
Secondary
MG	6007, 7805, 1,2002	1,2002
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	Front: 2.4"@60°7, 604,6 Side: 0.8"@45°7, 204, 606 Rear: 206 601
Hull Front, Upper	60@60°2, 60@30°5	60@60°2
Hull Front, Lower	60@60°, 60@40°2,5	60@40°2
Hull Sides, Upper	20@40°2, 20@60°5	20@40°2
Hull Sides, Lower	20@15°2	20@15°2
Hull Rear	20@15°2 & 8@70°2,5	20@15°2 & 8@70°2
Hull Top	8@90°2	8@90°2
Hull Bottom	10@90°2	10@90°2
Superstructure Front	Gun Mantlet: 60 Soukopfblende2 60@30°5
Superstructure Sides	20@75°5
Superstructure Rear	20@75°5
Superstructure Top	8@0°5
Engine (Make / Model)	Praga AC/21,2 Praga AC/28003,6 Praga EPA TZj5 EPA (type T2)7	Praga AC/22
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water7
Cylinders	R65, 66, I-67
Capacity
Net HP	150-1603, 1585, 1604,6 158@2,600 rpm7
Power to weight ratio	11.4 psi7
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	Preselective, Olvar 40 12 16 5 forward, 1 reverse2,6,7 Parge-Wilson tarpaulin power drive.6 Praga-Wilson planetary7	5 forward, 1 reverse.2
Steering	Clutch brake, two speed7
Steering ratio
Starter	Hand and electric7
Electrical system	12-volt7
Ignition	Magneto7
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline7
Octane
Quantity	84 gallons, 85 gallons5, 85 gallons in 2 tanks7 320 liters6, 386 liters5 Use per 100 km of road travel: 178 liters
Road consumption	100 km/178 liters 1.3 mpg7
Cross country consumption	0.7 mpg7
Performance
Traverse	11° right, 5° left2,7 10° right, 5° left4 5° right, 11° left5 Hand2	11° right, 5° left, hand2
Max speed	16 mph5, 23 mph, 24 mph7, 24.2 mph3, 26 mph1 26 kph5, 39 kph3, 40 kph , 42 kph1,2,6, 43 kph4	42 kph2
Cross country speed	9 mph5, 10 mph7 14 kph, 15 kph5, 16 kph
Road radius	100 miles5, 110 miles1, 111 miles7, 124 miles, 155 miles3 161 km5, 177 km1,2, 180 km, 250 km3, 260 km6	177 km2
Cross country radius	50 miles5, 60 miles7 130 km5 , 170 km6
Turning radius	4.5 m, 5 m6
Elevation limits	-8° to +20°, -6° to +12°2, -6° to +10°5,7	-6° to +12°2
Fording depth	2' 11"3,7, 2' 11.5" 0.9 m3
Trench crossing	4.3'7, 4' 3.2"3 1.3 m3
Vertical obstacle	2' 1.6"3,7 0.65 m3
Climbing ability	37° (75%) slope7
Suspension (Type)	Christie Two bogies with 1/2 elliptic springs7
Wheels each side	45
Return rollers each side	1
Tracks (Type)	Dry pin7
Length	12' 10.75" 2.69 m6 98 link6
Width	1' 1.75", 13.8"7 0.35 m6
Diameter
Number of links	987
Pitch	4.1"7
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	6' 10.5", 7'7 2.14 m
Production	Manufacturer Chassis nos. BMM2,5 321001-3230002 Skoda2,5 323001-2 2,5481, 2,5845 -5/1944: 1,5773 4/1944-5/1945: 2,5842 July 1944-45: 1,577 Pilsen, Königgrätz, Böhm, Breslau.3 1,6006 Skoda, Pilsen7	12/1944: 20 converted 2 BMM2

Sources:

1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
2. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
3. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
4. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
5. German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
6. Hetzer Jagdpanzer 38(t) and G-13, Horst Scheibert, 1990
7. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?

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