Hetzer Platoon (GBX71)

Hetzer Platoon (GBX71) includes five Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer Tank Destroyers with Flammpanzer 38 option. The Jagdpanzer 38(t) was intended to provide the German infantry divisions with a tank-hunter with better survivability. It was better armored than the earlier Panzerjäger and Marder designs with a armoured front plate of 60mm sloped back at 60 degrees from the vertical. It carried a reasonably powerful gun, was mechanically reliable and small and easily concealed. It was also cheap to build utilising the Skoda factory and much of the production facilities previously used to make the Panzer 38(t) and much of the Marder III series. Check out the Hetzer Platoon in the online store here...

Nuts! Germans forces had smashed through the American 28th and 106th Infantry Divisions before approaching the key crossroads town of Bastogne on 19 December. In the meantime the veteran 101st Airborne Division had been rushed from their camp in France to Bastogne to take up the defence. Learn more about Nuts! here...

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) succeeded the Marder III in production from April 1944; about 2584 were built until the end of the war. The older Marder III Panzerjager series retained the same chassis as Panzer 38(t). The Hetzer was 5-tons heavier than the Marder III due to the enclosed fighting compartment and increased armour. To compensate for the increased weight, track width was increased from 293mm to 350mm and the overall vehicle width was also increased.  The Hetzer equipped the Panzerjägerabteilungen (tank-hunter battalions) of the infantry divisions, giving them some mobile anti-armour capability. The 7.5cm PaK39 gun of the Hetzer was the same gun fitted to StuGs and similar to those fitted to Panzer IV tanks. It could destroy nearly all Allied tanks in service at long ranges and its enclosed armour protection made it a safer vehicle to crew than the Marder II or Marder III series. The Hetzer mounted a remote-control machine-gun mount that could be fired from within the vehicle. However, to reload the crew needed to open the hatch and expose themselves to enemy fire. Design by Evan Allen Painted by Jeremy Painter & Blake Coster

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer Tank Destroyer

The Hetzer in Flames Of War
Armour     Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower   Hetzer Standard Tank 7 2 1 Hull MG, Overloaded. 7.5cm PaK39 gun 32"/80cm 2 11 3+ Hull mounted.
Overloaded Super-heavy tanks and heavily-laden assault guns often overload their engines and suspensions, making them very poor at crossing obstacles. When required to take a Bogging Check to cross Difficult Going, an Overloaded vehicle becomes Bogged Down on a roll of 1 or 2, rather than the usual 1. An Overloaded vehicle must re-roll successful Skill Tests to cross Very Difficult Going.

Hull-mounted Guns Some tanks mount weapons in the front of the hull instead of in a turret to save weight or to make them easier to produce. A hull-mounted weapon mounted in the front of a vehicle has a 180-degree Field of Fire covering everything in front of a line drawn across the front of the vehicle. If the weapon is mounted at the rear of the vehicle, the Field of Fire covers everything to the rear of a line drawn across the rear of the vehicle.

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) or Hetzer was one of the most common late-war German tank destroyers. With its powerful 75mm gun and small size it was a serious threat to enemy tankers. During Operation Nordwind the flame-throwing Flammpanzers were ideal for taking out the tough bunkers of the Maginot Line being held by the Americans.

The Flammpanzer 38 In late November 1944, Hitler demanded that a significant number of Flammpanzer were to be converted from whatever Panzer or Sturmgeschütz chassis were available. By early December, a report stated that a total of thirty five Flammpanzers were scheduled for conversion. Of which, twenty were to be converted using the chassis of the Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer.

The conversion process meant the removal the 7.5cm PaK39 gun and replacing it with a flame-thrower; a 700 litre tank provided enough fuel for 60-70 bursts. A pump provided the pressure to propel liquid and ignition was provided by cartridges. A periscope was also retro-fitted above the flame-thrower to further aid the gunner in achieving some degree of accuracy.  Secondary armament was provided by a remote-controlled MG34 mounted on the roof of the vehicle, this was arranged in a manner that the weapon could be fired from inside the vehicle while buttoned up.

New Flammpanzer 38(t) Hetzer flame-tanks were rushed into service in time for Operation Nordwind. Flame-throwing tanks were ideal for taking out the tough bunkers of the Maginot Line being held by the Americans. Two companies were ready, with Flammpanzerkompanie 352 attached to 25. Panzergrenadierdivision and Flammpanzerkompanie 353 attached to 17. SS-Panzergrenadierdivision for the operation.

On attack, the pioneers would cut through the wire and other obstacles and mark minefields under the cover of darkness. The Flammpanzer 38(t) Hetzer flame-tanks would then go into action, suppressing the bunkers with their flame projectors and allowing the pioneers to close on them with explosives to knock them out. After breaking through the Maginot Line, 25. Panzergrenadierdivision also later used their Flammpanzer 38(t) Hetzer flame-tanks in the street fighting for Rittershoffen.

The Flammpanzer Hetzer in Flames Of War
Armour     Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower   Flammpanzer Hetzer Standard Tank 7 2 1 Hull MG, Overloaded. 1.4cm Flameenwerfer 4"/10cm 3 - 5+ Hull mounted, Flame-thrower.

Hetzers Gonna Hetz!

The Contents of the Hetzer Platoon Box Set

Contact the customer service team at customerservice@battlefront.co.nz if you have any issues with any of the components.

Description of Components

a. 5x Parts sprues. b. 5x 7.5cm PaK39 gun barrel. c. 5x Flammpanzer parts sprue.

d. 5x Right-hand side tracks. e. 5x Left-hand side tracks. f. 5x Resin Hetzer hulls.

Assembling The Hetzer

Step 1. Begin assembly by attaching the tracks to the hull of the Hetzer. Note: Each track has a lugs on the back that corresponds with the recesses in the hull to aid in correct orientation.

Below: The correct alignment for the right-hand side track.	Below: The correct alignment for the left-hand side track.	Below: Attaching the right-hand side track to the hull.

Below: Attaching the left-hand side track to the hull.	Step 2. Next, attach the loader's hatch.	Step 3. Then the commander's hatch.

Step 4. Attach the remote-controlled MG.	Step 5. Then the 7.5ck PaK39 gun.	With the 7.5cm PaK39 in place, the Hetzer is ready for painting.
Assembling The Flammpanzer 38 To assemble the Flammpanzer 38 follow the step above but replace the 7.5cm PaK39 gun barrel with the flame-thrower barrel.

Step 1. Replace the 7.5cm PaK39 gun with the flame-thrower barrel.	Step 2. Next, attach the periscope to the top of the gun mantlet.	With the flame-thrower barrel and periscope in place the Flammpanzer 38 is ready for painting.
Adding a Tank Commander

Step 1. Begin by cutting the commander's hatch in half.		Step 2. Attach each half of the hatch to either side of the hatch  recess.	Step 3. Attach the remote-controlled MG on a slight angle.	Step 4. Attach the tank commander inside the hatch recess.