Chapter 126 Tank Destroyer (2)

The type 38 tank destroyer, also known as the "Hetzer," was one of the German army's most outstanding armored combat vehicles during World War II.

To what extent was this tank destroyer excellent?

The first unit equipped with the Hetzer, the 731 Tank Destroyer Battalion, reported the following combat experience to the German high command.

"The Hetzer has passed the test of actual combat, and its crew takes pride in it, while the infantry has full confidence in it. The reliability of the MG34 machine gun is particularly commendable. The Hetzer's powerful 75mm main gun, low profile, and greatly angled armor not only qualify it for engaging enemy tanks but also provide support for infantry in both offensive and defensive actions."

"After a period of adaptation, our battalion achieved confirmed destruction of 57 Soviet tanks in the first large-scale defensive battle on the Eastern Front. We repelled an enemy tank brigade attempting to infiltrate our defenses, with one platoon cleanly eliminating nearly 20 Soviet tanks within a single day, successfully destroying two IS-2 tanks at a distance of 800 meters. During this time, not a single Hetzer in our battalion was penetrated by enemy artillery fire. To reach the designated combat position of the army command, our battalion advanced 160 kilometers in one day without any Hetzer experiencing mechanical failure, despite continuous intense battles."

In addition to the full affirmation of combat and mechanical performance, the report emphasizes the importance of vehicle camouflage. "During the march to the assembly point, we camouflaged all armored vehicles with colors resembling bushes to fully utilize the surrounding terrain for cover. It is this 'magical' disguise that enables our tanks to move quickly and take advantageous positions for observation and firing without attracting enemy attention."

The most attention-grabbing aspect of this report is the combat experience and lessons learned from the Hetzer. Subsequently, the German military used the practical conclusions drawn by this battalion as doctrines when training other units. "In combat with enemy tanks, the low profile of the type 38 tank destroyer allows it to ambush enemy tanks within the effective range of its cannon, using direct fire. After the first round of firing, it can quickly relocate and fire again while the enemy is still in disarray."

"The reassuring frontal armor can fully withstand attacks from Soviet 76.2mm caliber tank guns and will not be penetrated. So far, all losses in our battalion have been caused by penetrations from the side or rear of the vehicle. Therefore, it is crucial to expose the sturdy front armor to withstand enemy tank gun attacks."

"To counterattack against enemy tanks or self-propelled artillery accompanied by a large number of infantry, the 'Hetzer' should at least conceal itself near the front line with a force equivalent to a platoon. However, it must avoid assaulting directly into the prepared artillery coverage direction. Villages, key transportation points, and other targets commonly chosen by the enemy should be constantly monitored. Once the enemy forms a breakthrough, it is essential to deliver a decisive blow from the flanks to the infiltrating enemy. This is the fastest way to repel the enemy and often results in substantial losses for them."

Certainly, during the use of the Hetzer, the German forces also discovered many inherent shortcomings that can perhaps only be compensated for through tactical advantages and coordinated cooperation among the crew. "It should be noted that the Hunter is not designed for tasks in swampy areas because once it leaves well-maintained roads or favorable terrain, it becomes stuck like a tiger in a quagmire. Continuously operating on roads is also unwise due to the extremely limited rotation angle of its 75mm Pak39 tank gun, preventing it from attacking the flanks of enemy tanks. Moreover, the Hetzer's side armor is quite weak, making it vulnerable to penetration by enemy anti-tank guns."

"Due to the relatively slow speed of the Hetzer, it cannot be integrated into motorized or reconnaissance units. Even if forced into such roles, it will only lead to mechanical failures due to motor overuse, causing unnecessary losses."

In fact, not only in field battles, but during the suppression of the Polish uprising in Warsaw, the 731st Battalion's Hetzers played a crucial role, likely attributed to their maneuverability and the remote-controlled MG34 machine gun they were equipped with.

Although reloading the machine gun required opening the hatch to replenish ammunition, clever Hetzer crews would use radio communication to notify another accompanying friendly vehicle to provide covering fire.

As the prototype unit for the Hetzer, the 731st Tank Destroyer Battalion began its deployment on the Eastern Front at the end of July 1944 and continued to fight until the end of the war. Despite bringing 45 brand-new Hetzers to the battlefield, the bloody battles exacted a heavy toll, with 12 vehicles decommissioned within just one month, and three needing to be sent for major repairs. By October 1st, an additional eight were lost, leaving only 18 out of the remaining 25 operational. However, in November, the high command delivered 10 newly manufactured Hetzers to the 731st Battalion, followed by an additional 20 at the end of December, with no further replenishments afterward.

So, by December 1st, despite continuous fierce battles, the number of Hetzers in the 731st Battalion increased rather than decreased, with a total of 26, of which 11 were operational. With a significant replenishment at the end of 1944, by February 1st, 1945, the number of Hetzers skyrocketed to 41, with 27 in operational condition. In the battalion's last occupation report on March 1st, out of the total force of 28 Hetzer tank destroyers, 13 were in working condition. Perhaps from a combat effectiveness perspective, calling it a company might be more appropriate, but such an equipment situation was already considered quite good in the German army at that time.

In later years, it was referred to as the last straw for Germany in World War II, and some even claim that if the German army had equipped this weapon earlier, it might have altered the course of the war.

The true birth of the "Hetzer" in the original timeline was, ironically, facilitated by the Royal Air Force. At that time, the British air force launched a new round of large-scale air raids on German territory, and their heavy bombs hit the production facility located in the suburbs of Berlin under the Alkett company. This factory was responsible for producing the 75mm Sturmgeschütz III assault guns, and production was forced to halt for a period.

The inability to promptly replace the Sturmgeschütz III was a disaster for the frontline units. In response, the German High Command decided to have the Czech BMM company, which had already been absorbed by Germany, produce light tank destroyers weighing around 13 tons. Since the chassis was based on the LT-38 tank, utilizing mature technologies, Czech engineers managed to complete the entire design of the Hetzer in just four months.

Its main weapon was a 48-caliber Pak39 75mm gun (with 41 rounds of ammunition). When firing armor-piercing Pzgr.39 rounds, it could penetrate a horizontally placed 91mm thick armor at a 60-degree angle at a distance of 500 meters, and at 1000 meters, it could penetrate 82mm thick armor at the same angle. It was fully capable of dealing with most of the Allied main armored vehicles at the time.

Moreover, the Hetzer had a high accuracy rate. It could fire within 15 seconds of spotting an enemy and exhibited excellent accuracy and destructive power, especially at distances of 1500 meters and, notably, 1000 meters.

Maintenance of the Hetzer was very convenient, and its production was equally uncomplicated. It's worth noting that the working hours for the German Panzer IV tank were reduced to a minimum of 30,000 hours, while the Tiger tank required 250,000 hours. In contrast, the Soviet KV series heavy tanks and T-34 medium tanks had around 100,000 hours of work during peacetime, further reduced during wartime. The T-34, in particular, had only about 8,000 hours of work. Therefore, on the battlefield, Soviet tanks outnumbered German tanks.

In contrast, the Hetzer's working hours were within 3,000 hours, meaning it could be mass-produced in a short period, making it very suitable for filling gaps on the front lines. In the final months of World War II, the Hetzer tank destroyer resisted the armored onslaughts of both the Allies and the Soviets. While it couldn't reverse the tide of the war, it significantly impeded the offensives of the Allies and the Soviets.

Many Western military historians hold the view that only the "Hetzer" was the German army's sole method to contend with the large numbers of American M4 Sherman tanks and Soviet T-34 tanks.