Germany's 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

Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer:
Germany's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer		 Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer:
Germany's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer		 Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer:
Germany's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer		 Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer:
Germany's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer
Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer:
Germany's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer		 Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer:
Germany's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer		 Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer:
Germany's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer		 Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer:
Germany's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer
Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer:
Germany's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer		 Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer:
Germany's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer		 Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer:
Germany's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer		 Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer:
Germany's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer
Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer:
Germany's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer		 Flammpanzer 38(t):
Germany's Flammpanzer 38(t)		    

Design

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.

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

Production

Variants

Usage

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

  Hetzer Flammpanzer 38(t)
Crew 41,2,3,4,5,6 42
Radio Fu 5, FuG52, FuG Spr F2  
Radio - command Fu 8  
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, 16 tons5, 17.6 tons4 		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 		4.87 m2
Length w/o gun 15' 9"3, 15' 11"5, 16'4
4.8 m3, 4.87 m5,6 		 
Height 6' 10"5, 6' 10.7"3, 7'4, 7' 1.4"1, 7' 3"
2.1 m3,5, 2.17 m1,2,6 		2.17 m2
Width 8' 2.4"3, 8.4'4, 8' 7"5, 8' 7.5"1
2.5 m3, 2.63 m1,2,5,6 		2.63 m2
Width over tracks    
Ground clearance 16"4, 1' 4.5"
0.38 m, 0.42 m6 		 
Ground contact length 112"4
2.69 m		  
Ground pressure 0.85 kg/cm2  
Turret ring diameter    
Armament    
Main 75 mm Pak 39 L/482,5,6
75 mm1
75 mm PaK 393
75 mm Pak, L/484 		14 mm Flammenwerfer 412
Secondary    
MG 7.92 mm MG1
7.92 mm MG34 or MG422
7.92 mm MG34 or MG422
MG - roof 7.92 mm MG344,5
MG 34 or 42
MG6 		 
Side arms    
Quantity    
Main 40, 412: AP
414,5,6 		154 gallons2, 24 bursts2
Secondary    
MG 6004, 7805, 1,2002 1,2002
Side arms    
Armor Thickness (mm) Front: 2.4"@60°4, 606
Side: 0.8"@45°4, 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)4 		Praga AC/22
Bore / stroke    
Cooling Water4  
Cylinders R65, 66, I-64  
Capacity    
Net HP 150-1603, 1585, 1606
158@2,600 rpm4 		 
Power to weight ratio 11.4 psi4  
Compression ratio    
Transmission (Type) Preselective, Olvar 40 12 16
5 forward, 1 reverse2,4,6
Parge-Wilson tarpaulin power drive.6
Praga-Wilson planetary4 		5 forward, 1 reverse.2
Steering Clutch brake, two speed4  
Steering ratio    
Starter Hand and electric4  
Electrical system 12-volt4  
Ignition Magneto4  
Fuel (Type) Gasoline4  
Octane    
Quantity 84 gallons, 85 gallons5, 85 gallons in 2 tanks4
320 liters6, 386 liters5
Use per 100 km of road travel: 178 liters		  
Road consumption 100 km/178 liters
1.3 mpg4 		 
Cross country consumption 0.7 mpg4  
Performance    
Traverse 11° right, 5° left2,4
5° right, 11° left5
Hand2 		11° right, 5° left, hand2
Traverse - MG roof 360°  
Max speed 16 mph5, 23 mph, 24 mph4, 24.2 mph3, 26 mph1
26 kph5, 39 kph3, 40 kph , 42 kph1,2,6 		42 kph2
Cross country speed 9 mph5, 10 mph4
14 kph, 15 kph5, 16 kph		  
Road radius 100 miles5, 110 miles1, 111 miles4, 124 miles, 155 miles3
161 km5, 177 km1,2, 180 km, 250 km3, 260 km6 		177 km2
Cross country radius 50 miles5, 60 miles4
130 km5 , 170 km6 		 
Turning radius 4.5 m, 5 m6  
Elevation limits -8° to +20°, -6° to +12°2, -6° to +10°4,5 -6° to +12°2
Fording depth 2' 11"3,4, 2' 11.5"
0.9 m3 		 
Trench crossing 4.3'4, 4' 3.2"3
1.3 m3 		 
Vertical obstacle 2' 1.6"3,4
0.65 m3 		 
Climbing ability 37° (75%) slope4  
Suspension (Type) Christie
Two bogies with 1/2 elliptic springs4 		 
Wheels each side 45  
Return rollers each side 1  
Tracks (Type) Dry pin4  
Length 12' 10.75"
2.69 m6
98 link6 		 
Width 1' 1.75", 13.8"4
0.35 m6 		 
Diameter    
Number of links 984  
Pitch 4.1"4  
Tire tread    
Track centers/tread 6' 10.5", 7'4
2.14 m 		 

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. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
  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
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