| Hetzer |
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| Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer |
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- "Those who drive the Hetzer, come out!!"
- ―Panther and Jagdpanther Commander
The Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer (ordnance inventory designation Sd.Kfz. 138/2) was a German 4 member crew, tank destroyer based on the chassis of the Panzer 38(t), which was produced in large numbers during the last phase of WWII, and been mannaged by four member crew. Hetzer fit into the lighter category of German tank destroyers.
History
Development
The program that would eventually lead to the Jagdpanzer 38t was started in March 1943, it was intended as a more cost-effective and effective tank destroyer than others heavier designs, as are for example Gepard, Grille, StuG III or namely tentative Marder III. Hetzer been constructed as a tank suitable for hiding in the field. On 17 December the design drawings for the new vehicle was presented and by January 24 1944 a wooden mock up was ready. Its design came to be by combining a brand new chassis utilizing components of the Czech-built Panzer 38(t) and Panzer 38t N.a. with a 7.5 cm Pak 39 L/48 gun (a modification of the StuK 40 used on the StuG III ausf. F and G). The frontal armor was not very thick (60-80 mm) but heavily sloped, since side walls do not had more then 20 mm. Tank used leaf spring and Praga engine with Praga Wilson transimisson.
Althought on begening Hetzer can successfully shoot through tanks armor, but since later tanks been rleased, its abilty go down.
Flaws included absence of periscope on right side of tank strained mechanics and suspension (due to the heavier load), thin side armor and limited ammo load also cannon had to be recharged from outside and its mobility was limited. A machine gun (MG 34 or 42) can be equipped above the right side of the hull for defense against infantry. Almost 3,000 were built until 1945.
Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer
Operational history
The Hetzer proved to be a success: its small dimension made it perfectly suitable for defensive warfare, namely ambushes, where its good firepower and frontal armor enable it to damage or destroy bigger opponents but it also reduce the crew's comfort inside for it is a less spacious vehicle and they were sometimes cramped. Since this tank had small size, German army on time needed trainig for new tactics before tank been used on field.
Tank been used on both, Eastern but also Western front but at first been used on Eastern front mainly by infantry divisions. After WWII some un-finnished or demaged Hetzers been developed in ČKD and Škoda manufactures, and later owned by post-war Czechoslovakian army under name ST-1. Some of Hetzers been also bring to Switzerland. In post-war Czechoslovakia also been intended some another modifications, but none of them been finally used.
In Girls Und Panzer
Anime
Ooarai Girls Academy has a Hetzer in their team, operated by Turtle Team, as an active ambush tank and dedicated tank destroyer along with Hippo Team's StuG III. Since Ooarai didn't have enough money to bolster its lineup with new tanks, it was decided to employ the funds available to improve the available tanks; most importantly, it was chosen to convert with a kit their Panzer 38(t) into a more powerful and useful Hetzer.
In the finals against Kuromorimine it performed very well (also thanks to the fact that Anzu had taken over the gunner position from Momo); operating alone, it immobilized two enemy tanks with an ambush (especially the fearsome Jagdpanther), then (after immobilizing the Jagdpanther again) by driving among Kuromorimine's line it destroyed its formation, allowing the other Ooarai tanks to break through and regroup. When faced with the super-heavy Maus tank, the Hetzer proved critical for taking it down, by driving itself under its frontal plate and serving as a ramp for Duck Team's Type 89B. After that, such a huge strain proved too much for its structures, and it broke down, unable to continue the match. Therefore, while not taking out any tanks, it made quite a contribution to Ooarai's victory.
Gekkan Senshado Magazine
Yogurt Academy fielded one Hetzer during the tournament first round match against Waffle Academy. Their role during the battle is unknown.
Kuromorimine Girls' Academy also operates a Hetzer, but it was not used during the tournament.
Bonple High School owns some of them under the designation Chwat.
Ribbon Warrior
Gregor High School, according to commander Kafka, installed a Hetzer modification kit on an LT vz. 38, to be used in the match against Ooarai Girls Academy, but they were not confident that they could handle it properly. Due to budget constraints only one tank was modified.
More about the Hetzer
Trivia
- While it is still uncertain the degree with which the Hetzer with means "agitator" was called as such during the war, the name was popularized during the post war years.
- Despite seemingly requiring only a change of the superstructure in the anime, the Hetzer actually employed a somewhat different chassis than the Panzer 38(t), meaning that it wouldn't be possible in real life to convert a Panzer 38(t) into a Hetzer without at least major modifications.
- Turtle Team's Hetzer was featured as one of the special collaboration skin mods/vehicles in the World of Tanks.
- Turtle Team's Hetzer was also featured in World of Tank Blitz as a Premium Tier IV Japanese tank named Hetzer Kame SP while the regular Hetzer is a Tier IV German tank.
- Due to their manner of battle, Turtle Team, and in turn the Hetzer, is despised among some commanders of Kuromorimine.
- The conversion of the Panzer 38(t) to the Hetzer marked the end of Ooarai's use of light tanks.
- In the Ooarai matches, the Hetzer is the tank still in use that was most used as a flag tank, having fought as such in two matches (against BC Freedom and Chi-Ha-Tan).
- If you take the Panzer 38(t) into account, both are tied, as it was used as a flag tank in the matches against Saunders and Anzio.
- During construction of tank by mainly German constructers in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, Czech constructers try to sabotage project by intentional mistakes.
- The Hetzer is probably the most abundant World War II German tank destroyer remaining today.
Gallery
Main article: Hetzer/Gallery
