The Panzerjäger I was merely a 47mm anti-tank gun mounted on top of the chaassis of the PzKpfw IB. It was a product of necessity because the early German tanks did not carry more powerful guns to fight enemy tanks.  Marder III M with 75mm Pak 40/3 L/46 The Marder family was composed of six similarly equipped vehicles that were all stopgap measures to counter enemy tanks before more powerful Germans tanks were ready. They carried a powerful gun but provided minimal protection and thus were quite vulnerable.  Marder III H with frontal fighting compartment The Sturmgeschütz III/IV family included a variety of tank destroyer/assault guns. Some served to support infantry while others were used to fight tanks. The vehicles were repeatedly upgraded and many were produced in different versions.  A camouflaged Marder III R with 76.2mm Pak 36 The Nashorn, like the Marders, was more of an improvised vehicle to fulfill battlefield needs rather than a carefully planned project. It had the good chassis of the PzKpfw IV and carried the powerful 88mm gun, but offered only nominal protection and thus was not very effective in combat.  Nashorn The Elefant (Jagdpanzer Tiger) was a product of an accident. It used the chassis of the rejected Porsche design of the Tiger to avoid waste. It mounted the dreaded 88mm gun and had very thick armor at the cost of maneuverability. It served moderately successfully as a tank destroyer.  Elefant The Jagdpanzer IV was the first real tank hunter designed specifically to kill tanks. Using the proven chassis of the PzKpfw IV, the Jagdpanzer IV presented a low profile and good protection with a powerful gun, and was very popular among crewmen.  Jagdpanzer IV The Panzerjäger 38(t) Hetzer was the tank destroyer version of the reliable PzKpfw 38(t). Small and agile but also offering good protection and hard hitting power, the Hetzer served very well in its intended role.  Hetzer The Jagdpanther was, like its tank cousin, arguably the best of its type. Using the chassis of the Panther, the Jagdpanther presented a clean structure with well-sloped armor. It combined agility with good protection and firepower but too few were built.  Jagdpanther The Jagdtiger was the last in the line of the tank hunters. It used the chassis of the Tiger II but carried a formidable 128mm gun. It had good protection and excellent tank killing capability, but suffered from the same failings of the Elefant.  |
