World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Jagdpanzer 38(t) tank destroyers of the German Army had the designation number of SdKfz. 138/2). They were built based upon a modified pre-WW2 Czechoslovakian tank chassis. They were later unofficially nicknamed "Hetzer", which was the name of a related prototype, applied to this model by mistake, but it became common for German troops to refer to these tank destroyers as Hetzer.

ww2dbaseJagdpanzer 38(t) tank destroyers were well-armored and carried guns with ample power, but the most valuable attribute was the relative inexpensive price tag. They succeeded the Marder III design from Apr 1944. They were generally well-liked by their crews largely due to their mechanical reliability, but since they guns were loaded from the right side, and they were mounted on the right side of the vehicle, loading became difficult, leading to a slower rate of fire.

ww2dbaseProduction lasted until the end of the war. A total of about 2,584 examples were built. After the war, Czechoslovakia continued to build the type and exported 158 vehicles to Switzerland, increasing total production number since 1944 by about 250.

SPECIFICATIONS

Jagdpanzer 38(t)

Machinery	One 7.8-liter gasoline engine rated at 160hp
Suspension	Leaf spring
Armament	1x7.5cm PaK 39 L/48 gun (41 rounds), 1x7.92mm MG34 machine gun
Armor	8-60mm
Crew	4
Length	6.38 m
Width	2.63 m
Height	2.17 m
Weight	15.8 t
Speed	42 km/h
Range	177 km

Photographs

Visitor Submitted Comments

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1.  Bill says:
22 Oct 2009 06:29:21 PM

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) Tank Destroyer (Hetzer)
was based on the Czech Praga-s LT 38 light
tank. The Germans adopted the vehicle for its own use. The Army Ordnance Dept. awarded contracts for the development of a tank destroyer, based on the Panzer 38(t) The first vehicles were delivered in May 1944 the Hetzer was one of the best tank destroyers of the war. The German Army still
had 627 in operation by April 1945. During
the last month of the war, 121 Hetzers were delivered. Total production was 1,500.
After World War II, Skoda continued building
Hetzers for the Czech Army, Switzerland bought 158 which remained in service until 1970.

2.  Bill says:
28 Oct 2009 09:14:14 AM

You can see a Hetzer on display at the
Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland U.S.A.

3.  Bill says:
29 Oct 2009 06:19:45 PM

The Germans used the Panzer 38(t) chassis for different battlefield roles. One of the
best known was the light tank destroyer called the Hetzer (Hunting Dog) Panzerjaeger 38(t)or Jagdpanzer (Jgd.Pz)- Hunting Tank/
Destroyer.
Different versions,built on the Czech LT 38/ Panzer 38(t)chassis used by Germany:
Panzer 38(t) Ausf. E, Medium Tank
Bison Ausf. H Mounting the SIG 33 5.9 inch
Infantry Heavy Field Cannon.
Marder I,II,and III Tank Destroyers Armament
3 inch Pak 40 or other Anti-Tank Weapons.

4.  Bill says:
5 Nov 2009 09:18:25 PM

The E-25 and E-10 were Entwicklungsfahrzeug
or Development Vehicle designed to replace
the Hetzer, Jagdpanzer. Im not sure if any
prototype vehicles were built. Both vehicles
did share many of the same design features
Design work started in 1942, work developed
to test Engines, Suspensions, Chassis and
Transmissions.
Both were low profile the suspension could
be lowered or raised,like the Swedish S-Tank
design of the late 1960's and 70's.
The E-25 would have been armed with the 7.5
cm Pak L/70, and the E-10 the 7.5cm Pak 39
L/48.
Drawings for the vehicles were completed in
1944 However, the design was not put into
production before the war ended in 1945.
Three hulls were made at Berlin-Spandau and
were not finished vehicles when the Russians
arrived. It's possible the Russians took all
design data, along with the hulls back to the
U.S.S.R. for further inspection.

5.  Bill says:
3 Apr 2011 10:13:38 AM

Another variant of the 38(t) was the Bison
PzKpfw 15cm sIG 33(SF) self-propelled gun that mounted the 15cm L/12 gun, secondary armament was the 7.92mm MG34 plus the crews personal weapons.
Development started in late 1942 38(t)s that
returned to the factory for re-work, were converted into self-propelled guns.
372 vehicles were built, and served in Russia
Tunisia, Italy and France. Vehicles were sent
to heavy infantry companies and panzer grenadier regiments. By February 1945 about
173 were still in service