Color Pic Hetzer

Developed from a demand for a fully armored (including overhead
armored protection) light tank destroyer the Jagdpanzer 38(t) "Hetzer"
(foxhound) was one of the Second World War's best tank destroyers.
Between April 1944 and May 1945 Skoda and BMM produced some
2,584 Hetzers for use by the Wermacht. Based upon a venerable
pre-war Czech designed and built LT Vz 38 light tank (adopted by the
German army after Hitler annexed Czechoslovakia and the German
army appropriated and renamed the Czech tank the Pz 38(t)) the
Hetzer was the latest in a series of German weapons platforms built
using the chassis of the former Czech tank.

With a low silhouette, well-sloped armor, built upon a reliable combat
tested chassis, and boasting a potent 7.5cm PaK39 L/48 gun as its
primary weapon; the Hetzer was a highly effective and cheaply built
anti-tank weapon. For close in defense against enemy infantry the
Hetzer also featured a roof mounted remote controlled machine gun.
The Hetzer's drawbacks were the same as other assault guns of the
era: the lack of a turret meant the entire vehicle needed to pivot to
acquire targets. In addition, the crew compartment was extremely
small. Nevertheless, the Hetzer represented a marked improvement
over the open topped and lightly armored Marder III self-propelled gun
it replaced. The Hetzer remained in use after World War II; most
notably with the Swiss and Czech armies.

Picture Courtesy of Steven Mercatante