• Panzerstahl 88036 Jagdpanzer 38 t Hetzer mid production western front September 1944 - tank hunter
• For the german tabletop game STRATAK BATTLES PANZERSCHLACHT

When Germany conquered Czechoslovakia in 1939, they captured Panzer 38 (t) made by Praga (“t”

stands for tschechisch = czech) .

It was a very good tank model but as it was too weak at the end of 1941, the basic form became obsolete. Anyway the chassis was used for several conversions.

Equipped with captured Russian 7,62 cm guns the chassis conversion became the tank hunter Marder III from spring to autumn 1942, later equipped with German 7,5 cm anti tank guns as Marder III H until March 1943 followed by a changed model Marder III M until March 1944, which had a better balance as the engine was put from the rear to the middle of the tank body.

For a long time Marder III, especially in version M were the best German tank hunters.

Since May 1944 the best version of the tank hunter 38 (t) was built. The Jagdpanzer 38 (t) with the nickname “Hetzer”. It was one of the best tank hunter constructions in world war II.

It had heavy armour with sloped sides, wider tracks, a powerful gun and all of this with a small silhouette.

Last but not least the Flakpanzer 38 (t) was the first anti-aircraft tank in the German forces.

After world war II Panzer 38 (t) were used by other nations until the late 1960s, e.g. by Switzerland