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The Marder III tank destroyer provided a short-term solution to the problem of using the PzKpfw 38(t) chassis to mount a large calibre anti-tank gun. It was apparent, however, that it had a number of shortcomings. These included the open superstructure, poor armour protection and high silhouette. In March 1943 it was decided, therefore, to design a purpose-built tank destroyer using just the basic chassis of the PzKpfw 38(t). Onto this was built a fully enclosed fighting compartment utilising steeply sloped armour plates. The glacis plate was 60mm thick and mounted the main armament. This was protected by a Saukopf mantlet, also 60mm thick. The gun, adapted from that used in the PzKpfw IV, was offset to the right to allow sufficient room on the left for the driver. This meant that traverse to the right was 11 degrees but only 5 degrees to the left as the breech would strike the right-hand wall. To support the heavier armour and armament the 38(t) suspension components, including roadwheels and tracks, were made slightly larger.
The first three prototypes of the Hetzer (Baiter or Agitator) appeared in April 1944, with production starting the following month. Production vehicles had new main gun and MG mounts, towing mounts made from extensions of the hull side armour, and the driver’s machine pistol port plugged (source: L. Archer). All PzKpfw 38(t) production was turned over to building Hetzers. Construction was by BMM in Prague and Škoda in Königgrätz, while the armour plate was supplied by BMM, Poldihutte of Komotau, Linke-Hoffmann-Werke of Breslau and Škoda of Pilsen. A total of 1577 vehicles was produced by BMM during 1944, and Škoda completed another 750 between September 1944 and May 1945.
A roof-mounted machine gun on the Hetzer was provided for local defence. This could be traversed through 360 degrees and fired from inside the vehicle without exposing the crew. Fu 5 radio sets were installed as standard but command vehicles also received the Fu 8 set. Early production vehicles had a narrow gun mantlet with a square profile at the front. They also had a horizontal exhaust silencer with a perforated cover, and idlers with twelve small holes as used on the original 38(t) chassis.
All Hetzers were equipped with Schürzen side skirting plates from May 1944. At the same time a heavy duty towing pintle was added to the rear and a slightly different gun mount was introduced. From June three Befehlskran mounts were added to the roof and the aerial stowage was changed. An extra rear opening hatch was added for the commander from July, the gun mount was changed, and the perforated cover on the exhaust was deleted. The gun mount was changed again in August and a lightened idler with 8 holes was introduced.
Mid-production vehicles, from September 1944, had a new, wider, curved mantlet and the exhaust silencer was angled to prevent thrown hand grenades being caught on the engine deck. Other changes included an improved roadwheel design, and the addition of two new hatches to the engine deck rear for fuel and water fillers. From October a new driver’s visor and flame trap exhausts were introduced and the number of roadwheel bolts was reduced from 32 to 16.
Late production vehicles, from November 1944, had new tracks and a lightened idler with initially six holes and later four holes. They also had strengthened front and rear towing points, a modified engine deck, camouflage rings welded to the sides, and extra pioneer tools. (Source: L. Archer). Wartime production vehicles had a steel strip welded to the bottom centre of the glacis plate marked with their chassis number; those built by BMM were prefixed with 321 while those from Škoda were prefixed with 323 (source: R. Fleming).
1) Muzeum Wojska Polskiego, Powiśle, Poland
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Unique ID: |
251
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This Hetzer is missing its left-hand track and much of its rear left superstructure. Its label reads: “One Hetzer was captured on 2nd August 1944 by Warsaw Uprising insurgent fighters of the ‘Kiliński’ Battalion, Home Army, who co-operated with the Protecting Unit of the Military Printing House (insurgent printing plant). The captured Hetzer was initially incorporated into the barricade in Szpitalna Street. Nevertheless, it was repaired later and under the name of “Chwat” it guarded the court of the Main Post Office. However, the vehicle on display, which probably belonged to the German 73rd Infantry Division, was blown up by its crew on 17th January 1945 near Blonie during the Nazi retreat.”
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2) Crompton Military Vehicle Collection, , Britain
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Unique ID: |
1681
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Painted overall in a green, brown and sand ‘ambush’ camouflage scheme.
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This Hetzer was dug up in 1987 (along with a PzKpfw IV tank) during a construction project at Rose Barracks, near Vilseck in Germany (source: Geoff Walden). It is believed that they had lain there since they were buried at the end of the Second World War.
This Hetzer was discovered in 1981 during road construction works. The hull was broken into five main parts with a total weight of 16 tonnes. It underwent several years of restoration in Germany. It was restored to running order before changing ownership and being transferred to England. (Source: Warbirds.de).
It is an original 1944 early production vehicle with most of the features found on such vehicles including the exhaust route, early pattern roadwheels and first pattern drive sprockets. It has battle damage, mainly on the right side, from small-arms fire and shrapnel. (Source: earlymb/AFVNDB). It underwent a rebuild and repainting in England and remains in running order. It took part in the Militracks event at Overloon in May 2010.
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3) Armour and Softskin (A+S), East Harling, Britain
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Unique ID: |
2178
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Wreck.
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New entry. This Hetzer is little more than a partially complete wreck, consisting of a damaged hull into which many external parts such as the roadwheels have been loaded. It is currently an on-going restoration project at A+S.
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4) The Tank Museum - Public Areas, Bovington, Britain
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Unique ID: |
242
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322111: chassis number, “322111” painted on glacis.
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“max” painted on right side of mantlet.
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“111??” or similar stamped into plate on glacis. Painted overall in a green, brown, cream and grey camouflage scheme.
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It was put on the museum’s books in 1951.
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5) Kubinka NIIBT Research Collection - Foreign Vehicles, Kubinka, Russia
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Unique ID: |
248
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Number “13273” painted on the nose plate.
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Although marked with a Czech armoured vehicle registration number (which all began with a 13) the number 273 is lower than would be expected for a Hetzer and is almost certainly fake.
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Panzerjäger G13
During 1946 and 1947 the Swiss Army ordered 158 Hetzers for its own army. These were designated Panzerjäger G13 and incorporated a number of improvements compared to the standard Hetzer. They were armed with the StuK 40, as used on the Sturmgeschütz III assault gun, fitted with a muzzle brake. The commander’s position was moved to the left hand side, behind the driver, and he was provided with a small cupola and an anti-aircraft machine gun. Later, during overhaul, they were fitted with Swiss Saurer diesel engines.
In 1970 the Swiss Army took its G13s out of service and large numbers have since found their way into museums and into the hands of enthusiasts. To make these vehicles resemble the original Hetzer they frequently have the muzzle brake removed and other changes made. The majority of examples have four-hole idlers as used on late production Hetzers. It is possible that a number of G13s consisted of vehicles partly completed during the war, and others abandoned at the end of the war and refurbished. In this case it is likely that they contain parts from different production models.
6) Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles, Dale City, USA
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Unique ID: |
275
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The A. Cors collection is named the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles.
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7) Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles, Dale City, USA
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Unique ID: |
276
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The A. Cors collection is named the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles. However, this vehicle is not listed amongst its exhibits so currently its status is unconfirmed.
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8) Museé Des Blindés, Saumur, France
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Unique ID: |
1005
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New entry.
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9) Museé Des Blindés, Saumur, France
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Unique ID: |
1006
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New entry.
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10) Panzer Farm, Chrcynno, Poland
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Unique ID: |
2276
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New entry. This G13 is rusty and in poor condition. It appears to be largely complete, and is awaiting restoration.
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11) Liberty Park Oorlogsmuseum, Overloon, The Netherlands
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Unique ID: |
1706
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German crosses painted on superstructure sides and rear. Painted overall in a green, sand and brown camouflage scheme.
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This G13 underwent restoration in 2007-2008; before that it was on display in poor condition, missing its mantlet and other external parts. Its engine was stored in the basement of the museum. Its gun had no muzzle brake, but the screw thread was visible from where it had been removed. It is now fully restored and is displayed in a German Army tableau.
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12) Armeemotorfahrzeugpark (AMP), Burgdorf, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
1225
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“M78003” painted on nose.
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New entry.
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13) Panzermuseum, Thun, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
1213
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“M78007” originally (source: M. Haudenschild via M. Foti) but “M78809” currently painted on glacis.
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“DRG” painted on plates on nose and hull rear.
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New entry.
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14) Schweizerische Militärmuseum, Full, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
842
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“M78011” painted on glacis and left rear hull.
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“DLM1” painted on lower nose and left rear hull.
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New entry.
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15) Firing Range, Vugelles-La Mothe, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
1254
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“M78012” (source: M. Foti)
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New entry.
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16) Armeemotorfahrzeugpark (AMP), Burgdorf, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
1226
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“M78022”.
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New entry.
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17) Panzermuseum, Thun, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
1207
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“M78039” painted on glacis plate.
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New entry.
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18) Armeemotorfahrzeugpark (AMP), Burgdorf, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
1227
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“M78054” painted on glacis plate.
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White plate attached to nose.
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New entry.
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19) Fort De Pré-Giroud, Vallorbe, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
1252
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“M78121” painted on glacis and rear hull.
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New entry.
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20) Schweizerische Militärmuseum, Full, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
843
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“M78125” painted on glacis plate and left rear hull.
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“T” painted on signal telephone. Painted overall grey.
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New entry.
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21) Hagenbuch Collection, Hilfikon, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
1250
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“M78126” painted on glacis and rear hull.
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“AHH” painted on white square on nose and rear hull.
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New entry. This G13 is in running order. It took part in the Militär-Oldtimer-Ausstellung in Eptingen on 8 August 2009, the Armeetreff Ostschweiz in Kradolf on 25 June 2010, and Convoy to Remember in Birmenstorf on 7 August 2010.
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22) Armeemotorfahrzeugpark (AMP), Burgdorf, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
1228
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“M78192”.
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New entry.
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23) Royal Tank Museum, Aqaba, Jordan
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Unique ID: |
1229
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Chassis number 64 (source: R. Jongeling/SHG13R).
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“M78196” previously painted on glacis plate. Before that it carried the number 78071 (source: R. Jongeling/T.Haudenschild/SHG13R).
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Wehrmacht crosses painted on superstructure sides. Painted overall in a German ambush-style late war sand, brown and green camouflage scheme. (Previously had a white plate attached to nose).
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New entry. This G13 is in running order (source: M. Haudenschild via M. Foti). It was seen at Thun in 2004.
This G13 was donated from Switzerland to the Royal Tank Museum (source: P.-O. Buan/SHG13R). It was previously part of the AMP Burgdorf collection. It has been painted to depict a German Second World War Hetzer.
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24) Armeemotorfahrzeugpark (AMP), Burgdorf, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
828
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“M78198” painted on glacis plate.
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White plate attached to nose.
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New entry.
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25) Fort De Pré-Giroud, Vallorbe, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
1251
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“WH190260” painted on lower nose.
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“412” painted on superstructure sides. German cross painted on glacis. Painted overall in a green, brown and sand ‘ambush’ camouflage scheme.
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New entry.
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26) Waffenplatz, Bure, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
1260
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M78002 (source: M. Foti).
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New entry. This G13 is displayed on a concrete ramp (it was previously on a stone ramp)..
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