The Jagdpanzer 38, also known as the Hetzer (loosely translates to Baiter or Troublemaker) was a lightweight tank destroyer used by Germany during later stages of WWII.
Built in occupied Czechoslovakia and rushed into service in 1944, the Jagdpanzer 38’s low profile made it hard to spot and its steeply-sloped armor made the vehicle difficult to destroy. A skilled Jagdpanzer 38’s crew lying in wait could make the first shot from the 7.5cm gun against a moving target from 1,000 meters away.
The Jagdpanzer 38’s size and angled armor left little room for crew and ammunition inside the vehicle. It was also hard to see oncoming threats when the Jagdpanzer 38 was concealed in a good ambush spot, particularly in environments like the Ardennes Forest during the Battle of the Bulge. The gun was offset to the right for easy loading but had limited traverse, particularly to the left. The driver would compensate by turning the vehicle toward the target during an attack.
