Hetzer
Sign in to saveThe 38 (Sd.Kfz. 138/2), originally the 38(t), known mostly post-war as '''''', was a German light tank destroyer of the Second World War based on a modified Czechoslovak Panzer 38(t) chassis.
Key facts
- Weapon.name
- 38
- Weapon.image
- Lešany - vojenské muzeum, Tankový den 2024, ukázky, Hetzer, obr01.jpg
- Weapon.image_size
- 300
- Weapon.caption
- 38 in museum at Lešany, Czech Republic
- Weapon.origin
- Nazi Germany, German-occupied Czechoslovakia
- Weapon.type
- Light tank destroyer
- Weapon.is_vehicle
- yes
- Weapon.service
- 1944–1945
- Weapon.wars
- World War II
- Weapon.designer
- BMM
- Weapon.design_date
- 1943
- Weapon.manufacturer
- Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik (ČKD), Škoda
- Weapon.production_date
- 4 March 1944 – 11 May 1945
- Weapon.number
- Approx. 2,827
- Weapon.variants
- See Variants
- Weapon.weight
- 15.75 tonnes (34,722 lb)
- Weapon.length
- ( excluding gun)
- Weapon.crew
- 4
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Name
- Development
- Production
- Variants
- Designs based on chassis
- Performance
- Operational history
- Survivors
- See also
- Citations
- Bibliography
- External links
The 38 (Sd.Kfz. 138/2), originally the 38(t), known mostly post-war as '''''', was a German light tank destroyer of the Second World War based on a modified Czechoslovak Panzer 38(t) chassis.
German armoured forces in World War II created a variety of vehicles by mounting anti-tank guns on the chassis of obsolete tanks. These machines performed better than expected, but were still vulnerable due to their high vehicle profiles and open-topped turrets. Allied bombings took a heavy toll on German production facilities and further increased the need for an easily produced, yet effective light tank destroyer to replace vehicles like the StuG III and Marder series (Marder I, II, and III). Prototypes of the 38 were ready by 1944, and mass production began in April of that year. The 38 was covered entirely with sloped armour and possessed a compact form and low silhouette, giving it much improved defensive ability over other self-propelled guns. Armament consisted of a 7.5 cm Pak 39 L/48 gun and a remote-controlled MG 34. It featured a wide body to accommodate the four-man crew, as well as a strengthened lower hull with enlarged wheels, guide rollers, and tracks.