In March 1943, Heinz Guderian suggested the replacement of all the old models of Panzerjägers with open superstructure and light shielding which were used as temporary solution by a very new race of tank destroyers better protected by a thicker shielding and especially a structure completely armoured more suited to realities of the combat. It in result Panzerjägerprogram (G-13) intended to develop a whole series of vehicle having to equip the units of tank destroyers. The chassis of Pz.Kpfw 38(t) was initially selected to carry out the first model of this series called Jagdpanzer or super tank destroyers. This machine was initially known under the name of Leichtes Sturmgeschüte 38(t) then like Jagdpanzer 38(t) für 7.5 cm Pak 39 L/48, then finally like Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer. December 17, 1943, the plans were ready and on January 24, 1944, a model out of wooden was produced. In March 1944, the first of 3 three prototypes left the assembly lines of BMM and the project were accepted for the great production. Intensive tests will be carried out from March to April of the same year while the production lines are adapted at BMM and Skoda. April 20, 1944, the prototype is presented to Hitler at Arys in Eastern Prussia. It is at that time that the new tank destroyer is definitively baptized Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer (Troublemaker) and receives its Sd.Kfz.138/2 number. The production directly begins the same month at BMM and 5 months later at Skoda. A total of 2584 specimens, which is enormous considering the German capacities, was produced in three series until the end of the war. The average of original production of Hetzer were 20 units per month, this rate did not cease increasing in continuation. It was even envisaged a rate of 1000 units per month towards the end of the war what was completely unrealistic considering the situation.

Last prototype du Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer

src: Osprey Military - New Vanguard n°36

Hetzer as above mentioned was based on the chassis of Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) with however a suspension modified with broader road wheels (and only one return roller) coming from the prototype Praga TNH Na and an increased horse-power. The new engine was the 6 cylinders Praga AC/2 developing 160 HP coupled to a gear box Praga-Wilson (5 forward speeds and a reverse speed). The chassis itself was modified to accomodate a gun of large gauge and a more consequent shielding. Two fuel tanks of a total capacity of 320 liters allowed it an autonomy of 177 km on its characteristic carburizing. The total weight was approximately 16 tons, which did not limit thanks to the new more powerful engine, the maximum speed on road which was always of 42 km/h. The tracks of Hetzer were made up each of 96 links of 350 mm for a contact on the ground of 2.72 m. The silhouette of Hetzer was really low thanks to a superstructure with the very tilted walls (welded). The shielding was in front of 60 mm, on the roof and on the back of 8 mm and 20 mm on the sides. Short armoured skirts of 5 mm will be also installed on the sides.

Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer. The 75 mm Pak 39 was a formidable anti-tank weapon at long distance.

src: Germany's Vehicle History

The principal armament was consisted of the anti-tank 75 mm Pak 39 L/48 which was equipped with a limited traverse of 5° on the left and 11° on the right. It is after-all a tank of ambush and combat at long distance. In situation of close combat the effectiveness of the weapon depended on the dexterity whose proof the pilot to made in good fire position his tank. The pointing in height lay between -6° and + 10°. The gun was equipped with the sight SflZF 1a. The mantlet protecting the gun was in the shape of face mask of pig (Saukopf) and had a thickness of shielding of 60 mm. Let note us that the gun was assembled on the right part of the glacis (38 cm of the center). This provision was hardly happy, considering canon was designed to be loaded by the right side, which strongly reduced the rate of shooting. The gun of 75 mm had a loading of 40-41 shell of 75 mm. Late space of storage will be increased and a total of 45 projectiles of 75 mm could be embarked. The first models suffered from an overload on the nose due to the heavy gun of 75 mm and the shielding of 60 mm and tended to prick on the nose. This defect will be to correct thanks a reinforced suspension. The 75 mm Pak 39 had an effective range of shooting of 1000 m what enabled it to destroy all its opponents at good distance whereas those were to often make fire more closely with the risks which one knows. These characteristics are well those of a tank destroyer suited for the combat at long distance, it is true that the side shielding of 20 mm was too light to face direct blows at short distance. Like secondary armament, Hetzer transported a MG 34/42 mounted on the roof, and rare fact, controlled from the interior of the compartment of combat. This weapon had a possibility of overall shooting. The loader however was exposed during recharging. A stock of 600 cartridges was planned for the use of this weapon.

Inside view of Hetzer.

src: Osprey Military - New Vanguard n°36

The station of combat which also included front compartment, accomodated the entirety of the 4 crewmen: the commander, the gunner, the loaer and the pilot. The gunner and the loader had sat to the left of the gun whereas the commander had sat the right of the gun, near the back walls of the superstructure. The post of the pilot was located in front of the compartment on the left. To communicate, the crew used a system of intercoms and a radio station of type FuG 5 (10 W). The versions of command will be equipped with an additional radio station more powerful of type FuG 8 (30 W). To observe the neighbourhoods, the commander had a binocular periscope used via a trap door on the roof but its field of vision remained however very limited. Nevertheless thanks to its very low silhouette, Hetzer was not a target easy to see and destroy.

Late production model.
SRC: Panzer Page bon Retissa

During the production Hetzer will constantly be modified creating notable differences between the models of beginning, medium and end of production. The purpose of the majority of these changes were to simplify the production. These modifications were in particular: modifications on the trap door of access of the commander, adoption of a mantlet with lighter shielding (30 mm), adoption of new road wheels, adoption of several types of pulleys of tensions and a reinforced suspension or of a muzzle brake...

Bastogne Historical Center (Belgique)

Hetzers were gone from there to equip the units with tank destroyers (Panzerjäger Abteilung/Kompanie) of divisions of infantry, Panzergrenadier and various independent units. Hetzers will be used thereafter for the replacement of Marders and other Jagdpanzers in all kinds of units of tank destroyers. In the last months they will fill even the role of battle tank because the increasingly significant holes in strenght of (true) tanks of battle. They will be also versed in the famous heteroclite groups of combat (Kampfgruppen) assembled of all parts at the end of the war. Hetzers equipped all the types of units of Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS within a total of 10 divisions. But they will be also versed in a division of Lutwaffe, in two divisions of Kriegsmarine, 3 divisions of the RAD and ROA (voluntary Russian of Heer). It will foam all the battle fields on all fronts (since 1944). They will be in particular largely used during the offensive in the Belgian Ardennes during the winter 1944-1945. The first units equipped with Hetzers were the 731st and 743rd Heeres Panzerjäger Abteilungen in May-June 1944 with an identical strenght of 45 unit, on the Eastern front. By after they equipped 3 independent units, the 741st, 561st and 744th Heeres Panzerjäger Abteilungen in 1945. Waffen-SS will be equipped little in Hetzers. First unit SS equipped with this Jagdpanzer was the 3rd Division SS of Cavalry "Florian Geyer" in September 1944. A total of 200 specimens maximum will be allocated with units SS, especially units of Panzergrenadier.

Hetzer out of combat in Italy.

src: Germany's Vehicle History

Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer will be also modified to carry out a whole series of conversions. First of all let us note creation in December 1944 of 20 Flammpanzer 38(t) auf Hetzer for the offensive of the Ardennes. They were equipped with a projector of 14 mm Flammenwerfer installed in the standard tube of the gun to camouflage its role of flame thrower tank. These conversions were incorporated in the 352nd and will be 353rd Panzer-Flamm-Kompanies within the group of armies G.

At the beginning of 1945, some Hetzers will be rearmed with the gun of 75 mm of the Panther, KwK 42 L/70 to increase their power of perforation. After some tests, the idea will be finally rejected because of the overload of the nose caused by the long gun of 75 mm. Krupp also proposed to mount the gun of 75 mm in a widened superstructure installed to the back to cancel the overload of the nose. This idea was not retained.

Hetzer will be also equipped with the howitzer of 150 mm sIG 33/2 in a modified superstructure as from December 1944. See 150 mm sIG 33/2 auf Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer.

A total of 64 Hetzers will be also reconverted in the armoured vehicle of recovery, Bergepanzer 38(t).

In order to simplify the production, a version of Hetzer with fixed gun, without recoil baptized Starr will be developed as from December 1944.

An assault gun (belonging to E-Serien) armed with the 105 mm StuH 42/2 L/28 will be also developed on the basis of Pz.kpfw 38(d). This conversion was propelled by a diesel Tatra 103 and weighed approximately 14 tons. A pre-series of 10 specimens was put in production as from May 1944, until February 1945, which will be followed of an order of 100 additional specimens. At the end of April 1945, a plan of production of 500 units will be launched and the beginning of the full production planned for May 1945 but the end of the war to put a term at it.

In November 1944, it was also a question of using Hetzer to carry out Flakpanzer 38(t) Hetzer (Kleiner Kugelblitz) equipped with the turret initially planned for Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz. This idea was not finally concretized.

Krupp also proposed to mount the turret of Pz.Kpfw IV on Hetzer, but conversion was not realizable. Krupp also proposed to install the standard turret of Pz.Kpfw IV armed with the PAW 600 (Panzerabwehwerfer 600 - anti-tank weapon with unrifled bore of 80 mm). A total of 20 specimens will be manufactured between December 1944 and March 1945. This weapon not weighing that 640 kg could bore a shielding of 140 mm to 750 m.

At the the beginning of 1945 BMM put with the point the prototype of a entirely tracked personnel carrier on the basis of Hetzer, Vollkettenaufklarer 38(t) Katzchen who never exceeded the stage of prototype.

The chassis of Pz.Kpfw 38(d) was also designed to realize Jagdpanzer 38(d) armed with the gun of 75 mm Pak 39 L/48 or with the 75 mm PzJagK 42 L/70, intended to replace Hetzer in the long term. This version was to be propelled by the diesel engine Tatra 103 or the gasoline (with injection) engine Maybach HL64. An order 1250 specimens will be carried out and the production planned for the beginning of the summer 1945 but the German defeat in May will put a term at it.

Mudded and given up Hetzer examined by US soldiers.

src: Panzer Page von Reitsch.

Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer was one of best the tank destroyer of all the second world war and was very popular near its crews. It gained an excellent reputation as defensive weapon and served of model for all modern German tank destroyers (Jagdpanzers) of the end of the conflict.