SdKfz 138/2 JagdPanzer 38(t) [Hetzer]

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) (Sd.Kfz. 138/2) was based on a modified pre-war Czechoslovakian Panzer 38(t) chassis. It was intended to be more cost-effective than the much more ambitious Jagdpanther and Jagdtiger designs of the same period. Using a proven chassis, it avoided the mechanical problems of the larger armoured vehicles.
It was better armored than the Marder and Nashorn with a sloped armour front plate of 60 mm sloped back at 60 degrees from the vertical (equivalent in protection to about 180 mm), carried a reasonably 75mm L48 gun, was mechanically reliable and small and easily concealed, and cheap to build. Its main failings were the cramped working condition of the crew and the gun mounting, which had a more limited traverse to the left.
Production began in April 1944; with about 2584 built until the end of the war. It equipped the Panzerjägerabteilungen (tank destroyer battalions) of the infantry divisions, giving them some limited mobile anti-armour capability. About 90 were supplied to the Hungarian army.
After the war Czechoslovakia continued to build the type and exported 158 vehicles to Switzerland. It only really gained the name Hetzer after the war.