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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) Kbely Military Museum, Prague, Czech Republic
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249
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This ST-1 saw service with the Czech army post-war. It is missing its main armament and may have been used as a recovery vehicle. It carries the number “1” and the marking “CS ROZHLAS”. It has six-hole idlers.
It was manufactured by Škoda. It took part in the Prague uprising in May 1945, and its markings are therefore probably authentic. (Source: R. Fleming).
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2) Kbely Military Museum, Prague, Czech Republic
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250
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This ST-I saw service with the Czech army post-war and carries the number “112”. It is from Škoda’s first post-war series of 20 vehicles and has the chassis number 114. It has four-hole idlers.
The armoured vehicles in the Kbely collection are no longer on display, leaving just the aircraft and vehicles relating to aviation. The ST-1s have been put into storage, apparently until the opening of a new museum. (Source: M. Shakocius).
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3) Muzeum Wojska Polskiego, Powiśle, Poland
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251
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This Hetzer was recovered from a river in Poland in 1990/91. It is marked with the number 321154/167/17 and has been fitted with a muzzle-brake at some point. It is an early production model and its right hand idler has 12 holes. Its rear left hand side has been destroyed by a mine. (Source: R. Fleming).
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4) Pansarmuseet, Axvall, Sweden
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245
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This Hetzer was built in August 1944. It has the chassis number 321364 and the tactical number “303”. It is an early production model with eight-hole idlers. It is fitted with either a new gunsight or aerial mount (source: L. Archer).
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5) U.S. Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen Proving Ground, USA
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246
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Chassis number 323814 (source: L. Archer)
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Painted overall in a three colour camouflage scheme.
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This was one of two Hetzers found by the US Army under construction in the factory in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, in May 1945. They were completed by BMM and shipped to the USA for evaluation. This one is a late production model with four-hole idlers; however it has an early-production horizontal exhaust silencer. The left side of its superstructure has been replaced by wire mesh so that the interior can be seen.
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6) Base Borden Military Museum, Canadian Forces Base Borden, Canada
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Unique ID: |
247
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321: “75 321 042/75/12” stamped into lower glacis.
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This Hetzer was recovered from Europe during or soon after the Second World War. It is an early production model with twelve-hole idlers. Its main armament has a screw thread for a muzzle brake, and appears to be jammed at full recoil. It was built in May 1944 and has the chassis number 321042 (source: L. Archer).
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7) Motor Technica Museum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
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243
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This Hetzer is in a very poor condition. (Source: K. Greenhalgh).
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8) The Tank Museum - Public Areas, Bovington, Britain
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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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This Hetzer was captured in Belgium in 1945. It is a late production vehicle with six-hole idlers. It was completed by BMM on 26 November 1944 and has the chassis number 322111 (source: L. Archer).
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9) Kubinka NIIBT Research Collection - Foreign Vehicles, Kubinka, Russia
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248
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Number “13273” painted on the nose plate.
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This is a late production Hetzer.
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10) Panzermuseum, Thun, Switzerland
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244
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Number “WH1177” previously painted on glacis plate.
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This Hetzer is a late production vehicle with six-hole idlers.
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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.
11) National Museum of Miltary History, Diekirch, Luxembourg
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269
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This G13 was a gift from the Swiss Army and is in running order. It has had its muzzle-brake removed. It has been painted in a camouflage scheme, and marked with the number “201”, to resemble a particular Hetzer photographed north of Doncals during the Battle of the Bulge. The original “201” probably belonged to 352 Volks-Grenadier Division, of 7 Armee, which started the Battle of the Bulge with about half a dozen Hetzers. The US Army liberated Diekirch in September 1944 and again in January 1945 during the offensive.
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12) Pansarmuseet, Axvall, Sweden
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Unique ID: |
270
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This G13 retains its muzzle-brake and carries the number “03” on the glacis plate. It was a gift from Switzerland. It has eight-hole idlers.
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13) Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor, Fort Knox, USA
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271
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This G13 was donated to the museum by the Swiss Army in October 1974. It is still in running order and takes part in ‘Living History’ displays. Its muzzle-brake has been removed.
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14) Private Collection, Unknown Location, USA
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272
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This example previously belonged to the Budge Military Vehicle Collection at Retford in Nottinghamshire (where it is shown). It has a four-hole idler on the left side and a six-hole idler on the right side. It is ex-Swiss Army but retains the Praga AC/2 petrol engine. It has the number “61” stamped into the glacis plate. (Source: R. Fleming).
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15) Private Collection, Saint Louis, USA
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Unique ID: |
273
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This ex-G13 is currently for sale. It is fully equipped (including radios and ammunition); the gun is in firing condition. (Source: R. Fleming).
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16) National Guard, Fredericksburg, USA
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274
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This G13 belongs to the Texas National Guard at Austin, Texas. It has an ‘ambush’ camouflage scheme and is still in working order. (Source: J.M. Holmes/CompuServe). Its muzzle brake has been removed.
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17) Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles, Dale City, USA
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275
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This is one of two G13s acquired from the Swiss Government; its current status is unknown (source: R. Fleming).
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18) Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles, Dale City, USA
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Unique ID: |
276
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19) Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Britain
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252
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Painted in a German three colour ‘ambush’ camouflage scheme. Four ‘kill rings’ painted on gun barrel.
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This G13 was presented to the IWM by the Swiss Ministry of Defence in January 1981. It had previously served in the Swiss Army. It is currently displayed in the Land Warfare Hall carrying German style camouflage.
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20) Private Collection (D. Carson), Swindon, Britain
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253
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This was a gift from the Swiss Military Attaché in 1979. It was transported across Switzerland by the Swiss then across Europe to Dover by Pickfords. It has been rebuilt to resemble a German Hetzer and now carries the number “101”. It is armed with a PaK 39 instead of a StuK 40 (source: L. Archer). It is in running order.
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21) Wheatcroft Collection, Leicester, Britain
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Unique ID: |
254
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This is an ex-Swiss example. It carries German markings but retains its muzzle brake. Its chassis number, which is marked on many components, appears to indicate that it was initially manufactured in November 1944 (source: R. Fleming).
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22) Musée Memorial, Bayeux, France
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Unique ID: |
255
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For details and a photograph of this G13 see Preserved Tanks in France: Number 15.
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23) Museé Des Blindés, Saumur, France
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256
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This G13 was acquired from the Swiss Army. It is in running order and carries an ‘ambush’ camouflage scheme. It regularly takes part in the ‘Carrousel’ dynamic displays. It retains its muzzle brake. [Preserved Tanks in France: Number 184].
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24) BWB Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung, Koblenz, Germany
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Unique ID: |
257
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This vehicle was acquired from the Swiss Army. It has had its muzzle brake removed.
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25) Panzermuseum, Munster, Germany
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Unique ID: |
258
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The Swiss Army gave this G13 to Kampftruppenschule 3 in 1971 as a gift when trials were taking place for a new tank destroyer. In 1982 it was restored to running order in the workshops of KTS 2. It has had its muzzle-brake removed and carries the number “233”. It has eight-hole idlers.
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26) Auto und Technik Museum, Sinsheim, Germany
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Unique ID: |
259
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This G13 retains its muzzle brake. It is displayed in German camouflage and markings, and has three ‘kill rings’ on the gun barrel.
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27) Auto und Technik Museum, Sinsheim, Germany
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Unique ID: |
260
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This G13 has the registration number M78112. It retains its muzzle brake.
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28) Auto und Technik Museum, Sinsheim, Germany
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Unique ID: |
261
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This example is missing its muzzle-brake.
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29) Armeemuseum, Dresden, Germany
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Unique ID: |
262
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This G13 is owned by K. Flick and was acquired from the Swiss Army (source: H. Duske, R. Fleming). It is missing its muzzle-brake and is displayed inside the museum in German Army camouflage and markings.
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30) 1st Armored Division Museum, Baumholder, Germany
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Unique ID: |
263
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This G13 is missing its muzzle-brake and appears to be displayed with its gun jammed at full recoil.
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31) Private Collection (R. Ehninger), Meppen, Germany
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Unique ID: |
264
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It is believed that this G13 is currently stored at Meppen.
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32) Brussels Tank Museum, Brussels, Belgium
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Unique ID: |
265
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This G13 was a gift from the Swiss Army.
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33) Bastogne Historical Centre, Bastogne, Belgium
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Unique ID: |
266
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This G13 was acquired from the Swiss. It is marked with the number “626” and has had its muzzle-brake removed. It has been painted in a camouflage scheme to represent a Hetzer of 26 Volks-Grenadier Division, of 5 Panzer-Armee, which took part in the Battle of the Bulge. This unit was initially equipped with fourteen Hetzers, and played a major role in the siege of Bastogne.
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34) Bevrijdende Vleugels Museum, Best, The Netherlands
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Unique ID: |
267
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This G13 is on display in a tableau with German soldier mannequins and equipment (Source: T. Royall). It retains its muzzle-brake.
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35) Armeemotorfahrzeugpark (AMP), Burgdorf, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
1039
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“M78029” painted on glacis and rear hull.
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“Z” on a white square attached to nose and rear hull.
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36) Panzermuseum, Thun, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
268
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“M78042” (previously “M78028”) painted on glacis plate.
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This G13 has an eight-hole idler on the right side and a four-hole idler on the left.
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