Feldgrau.net

When people talk about german tanks in ww2 they mostly think about the tiger, panther, panzer IV and the tankdestroyers.

Most people dont know so much about the pz38(t) other than that it was used in france in 1940 and that the hetzer tankdestroyer was based on its chassi.

However, the pz38(t) and the many vehicles based on the chassi was a significant and important part of the german warmachine.
Look at these figures:

Pz 38(t):

1411 produced (+ those captured when germany invaded czechoslovakia)

Panzerjäger 38(t):

1561

15 cm infgeschütz, (Grille):

372

Bergepanzers:

64

reconvehicles:

50

flakpanzers:

140

munitionpanzers:

102

finally 2584 hetzers produced from April 1944-May 1945!!!! Quite amazing actually.

Source: Encyclopedia of german tanks and AFV´s in world war 2

You make very good points, but the main one is not that the Pz 38t was such a great tank (it was for its time - 1938-1940) but that the Germans were amazing in their adaptability and resourcefulness, managing to keep an obsolete vehicle useful and productive for so long. It's tough to fight a war on a poor man's budget.

I have to disagree somewhat with you comment about adapting an obsolete tank. The figure about the Grille and Panzerjäger 38(t) are misleading in that respect. The early Grille and Panzerjäger 38(t) were just conversions on the original chassis. Later versions with the setback guns and redesigned superstructure were also redesigned automotively. The engine, originally in the rear, was moved to the front to allow lower and more accessible fighting compartment. Also during production the engine were redesigned and upgraded.

As for the Hetzer, it was a totally new vehicle using only components of the 38(t) series.

It was not using an obsolete tank on a poor man's budget. It was, as you indeed said, a good tank in 1939-1940. But once it was outclassed as a battle tank the German reused the chassis and basic design for a multitude of variants and one new design because, fundamentally, it was a technically well designed vehicle on par with or exceeding the equivalent German and Allied vehicles. Look at the numbers, more than twice as many chassis were produced for varients as for the MBT, assuming some were reworked MBT chassis and not counting the new Hetzer design.

PH

PH

Mr. Hansosn, you are correct. i also believe that the this tank was very battefield surviveable and if used correctly, it was still a real threat even later in the war.

I do not know if would class it as battlefeld-survivable tank in 1944-1945; but it was a good, adapable tank chassis. And the German obviously thought the same.

The Czechs designed a fundimentaly sound AFV in 1933-36 and it's deriatives did very well in the 1940-1945 era.

PH

Hi Guys,

I think much of the credit for the development of the PzKpfw.38t during the war also belongs to Czech engineers, who became the unsung junior members of the various Protectorate design bureaux when the Germans took over. One thing is for sure - it was an almost completely Czech labour force that built them.

Cheers,

Sid.

Sebastian;

One other thing that I did not mention in my post: forgotten tank? You obviously have not been looking at any of the discussion groups on WWII AFV's. The 38(t) shows up constantly on these boards as to which kit is best, how to fix the Italeri kit, how to fix the Marder III, etc, etc, etc(as the King would say). Maybe the "serious" historians are forgetting this tank but the AFV modeler sure hasn't.

PH

I meant more in general, most people on this forum probably know more about the t38 than I do

Hello to all ; after a while a little complement..............

Pz Abt. 67 (3. Le Div) - Poland 1939.

Source: on the picture.

Cheers. Raúl M .

Hello to all ; something more..............

Pz Abt. 67 (3. Le Div) - Poland 1939.

Source: http://odkrywca.pl/panzer-1939-czesc-13 ... tml#713626.

Cheers. Raúl M .

Hello to all ; something more..............

Eastern Front 1941!.

Source: http://www.tankograd.com/cms/website.ph ... zer-38.htm#.

Cheers. Raúl M .

Hello to all ; something more..............

Pz Abt. 67 (3. Le Div) - Poland 1939.

Source: http://odkrywca.pl/panzer-1939-czesc-12,701119.html.

Cheers. Raúl M .

Hello to all ; something more..............

Eastern Front - June 1941!.

Source: Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-265-0028-03A, Wilna, Einmarsch deutscher Truppen.jpg.

Cheers. Raúl M .

Hello to all ; something more..............

Fall Gelb - May 1940!

Source: Deut Photo. Panzer mit Nr. 621 in verstopfter Vormarschstr. Frankreich Belgien. eBay Auction.

Cheers. Raúl M .

Hello to all ; something more..............

Poland 1939!

Source: Janusz Ledwoch, Panzer 38 (t) vz.38 LT, Wydawnictwo Militaria, Warszawa 1993.

Cheers. Raúl M .