Panzerjager 38(t) Hetzer

Overview
The Panzerjager 38(t) Hetzer (Hunter) was a German light tank destroyer of the Second World War! It first entered service in 1944. The vehicle was created on the chassis of the Czechoslovakian Panzer 38(t) tank. Despite its small size, it carried a 75 mm gun.

Design
The Hetzer was designed as a light and cost effective tank hunter, more so than Germany's current Tank Destroyers, the Jagdpanther, the Jagdtiger, and the Elefant. The light chassis and the vehicles reliability allowed it to avoid many mechanical failings that plagued the larger German tank destroyers. The Hetzer's superstructure was added to an enlarged Panzer 38(t) chassis, and a 75mm Pak 39 L/48 gun was installed in a limited-traverse mounting at the front left of the superstructure. The Armor was 60mm thick, and angled at around 60 degrees, resulting in 120mm of protection, which, compared to the Tiger I heavy tank's 100mm, was outstanding.

On the original Jagdpanzer 38(t) model, the front of the tank hung down do the the fact that the vehicle was unbalanced. Modifications to the armor and suspension as well as the mantlet remedied these problems in 1944.

Distribution
The Hetzer served mainly in Panzerjagerabteilungen (tank destroyer) battalions of infantry divisions. The German armored doctrines of the time gave the Hetzer a certain amount of anti-armor usage in this role. In 1944 Hitler decided to refit Hetzer tank destroyers as flame thrower tanks, however this project was stopped when deficiencies showed. About 50 such vehicles were produced. Another 30 Hetzers carried 150mm SIG 33/2 Howitzer, and 170 were produced as light recovery vehicles.

Action
The Hetzer was first used in combat in 1944 on the Eastern front. It was used up until the very end of the war, and proved to be powerful and reliable. It became very common, and its small size made it easy to transport and conceal. It's only real drawbacks were the limited-traverse gun and the fact that not much ammunition could be carried.