The Jagdpanzer 38 (T) , (Sd.Kfz. 138/2) known under the name of Hetzer ( German badger in ), is a hunter of German tank of the Second world war, built on the basis of the Châssis of the Panzer 38 (T) Czech.

History of the name

The name of Hetzer is not at the beginning used to indicate this vehicle, but its prototype, the E-10 . The factory Skoda mixed the two names for one short period of time in its documentation and the first unit equipped with this model used the bad name during a few weeks, time that the correction is made. For the history, one found a note of Heinz Guderian addressed to Adolf Hitler in which he claims that the name was spontaneously given by the troops. This false assertion was taken again later by the historians, thus making the name popular. However, the name of Hetzer forever be an official name, like the names of animals used on other tanks.

Development

The Jagdpanzer 38 (T) is conceived to obtain a better quality-price ratio than the ambitious programs of the jagdpanther S and jagdtiger S of the same period. Based on an existing and reliable frame, it thus avoids the mechanical problems inherent in the heavier armoured tanks.

It is armoured better than these predecessors Marder and Nashorn with a leaning Blindage of 60mm, is equipped with a reasonable gun of quality, is small, easy to transport, mechanically reliable and little expensive with manufacture.

It succeeds directly the model Marder III (which is based on the same frame) and its production begins in April 1944. Approximately 2580 units are produced until the end of the war after which Czechoslovakia continues the production and exports 158 vehicles intended for the army Suisse, from which come the majority from the models of current collections.

On a special order of Hitler gone back to November 1944, about fifty Jagdpanzers 38 (T) are equipped at their exit with the factory, of a Lance-flammes Keobe instead of the standard gun. These vehicles, named Flammpanzer 38 only will be little used.

Performances

Jagdpanzer 38 (T) is arranged in the category of the German light tanks, category which begins with the Panzerjäger I, continues with the series of Marder and finishes with this model. Its gun of 75mm can destroy the majority of its opponents remotely average and its complete shielding makes it much surer than these predecessors.

It is one of more running anti-tank vehicle German of the end of the war, available of sufficient and generally reliable number. Moreover, its small size in fact a difficult target, facilitating its camouflage for its use in ambush.

Its principal defects are the lack of place available for the crew, the lack of visibility as well as the weak operating range of the gun.

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