Customer Reviews

Jagdpanzer 38t Hetzer, 1944-45 (New Vanguard Series, 36)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an excellent overview of the Jagdpanzer 38, Hetzer. Despite its short length, a great deal of information is packed into this book. The development, production, deployment and combat history of the Hetzer are all covered, often in great detail. In addition, several interesting features add tremendously to the books value. First, many useful data tables are included. These cover: 1) Hetzer production history; 2) accuracy and penetration of the main armament firing different ammunition; 3) vehicle performance characteristics; and (perhaps most interesting) 4) direct comparisons of the ability of the Hetzer to penetrate and be penetrated by Cromwell, Churchill, Sherman A2 & A4, T-34/85 and JS-122 tanks when hit in different areas. Also included is a long section transcribed from the Hetzer training manual that details point-by-point the actions needed to be taken by all crew members during an engagement with enemy armor. The only down side to the book is the lack of photographs of Hetzers in the field. There are excellent production photos and photos detailing preserved specimens, but there is only one of a Hetzer in use (and in this case it is simply driving down a street). Still, you are unlikely to find a better overview of this little studied Jagdpanzer.

Despite its mere 48 page size this book does an extraordinary job at providing an introduction to this vehicle. It starts by giving a history as to why, exactly, this vehicle was developed to begin with, its evolution from the drawing boards through its various models and weaknesses and strengths in terms of performance. It also includes English translation of the relevant sections of the German technical/training manual for crews of this vehicle that give a very good feel for what each crewmen was supposed to do in terms of his duty. It does all of the above exclusively through the use of PRIMARY research (i.e., original German sources) as opposed to have to use any secondary sources (in English or any other language). This is what gives this book its trully unique element. Even the majority of photographs were taken by the authors. The photographs, taken at a variety of museums worldwide, show not only various angles of the vehicle along with different variants, but also have excellent interior shots. They also provide good coverage of very minor details (i.e., development of placement of loops for towing vehicle, etc.) Excellent reference or model builders or those very curious about this vehicle.

With respect to color plates has many camoflauge schemes hence for model builders an excellent reference. All plates based on real vehicles currently at museums worldwide. Very very well researched. There are also a few photos of the vehicle being built, tested and in prototype (including wooden mock-ups). The only weakness of the book is that it has no photos/illustrates of the vehicle at the front or in combat (as another reviewer has already pointed out).

All and all an excellent introduction to this vehicle for a 48 page book that should require a mere hour or so to read. It does a better job than many books two to three times its length. One of Osprey's best "New Vanguard" series.

Excellent book, well researched and put together. Super artwork, just what you can expect from an Osprey book!

Ok , technically the Hetzer was not a tank (it doesn't had a turret) but as tank destroyers go they were quite good and good looking. The book is quite complete even when is short but it gives you a good idea in general about the development and combat history. But the one from the Spielberger series is a hundred times better.

I received and read "Jagdpanzer 38t Hetzer, 1944-45 (New Vanguard Series, 36)" and, as with other reviewers, I was very happy with the book. As other reviewers have pointed out, at 48 pages it's on the short and concise side, but it packs a lot of content into the small size. The book covers design, construction, production and some variants in surprising detail (the authors are concise and to the point, they don't waffle) and, as other reviewers have also pointed out, there's some great data tables as well as direct comparisons of the ability of the Hetzer to penetrate and be penetrated by Cromwell, Churchill, Sherman A2 & A4, T-34/85 and JS-122 tanks when hit in different areas. There's a good collection of photo's, mostly during production, sadly, no combat photos. Also good analysis of strengths and weaknesses.

The authors make a very good point at the start - in researching for the book, they went back to original German documentation and to existing Hetzers in museums and collections, they did not use any post-war British/American analysis, which was apparently often inaccurate. So you can be sure that the information in here is about as accurate as it gets, coming from source documents and the remaining Hetzer's themselves. In researching the old German docs, they found a German Training Manual, part of which is reproduced in the book and which gives you a very good picture of crew duties and responsibilities.

Only flaws for me were that I would have liked to have seen at last a little more information on tank the Hetzer was derived from (the Czech P38t) and a good schematic of the interior showing the layout, including seating positions and locations of major components. The 2 page cutout illustration did this, but it was a bit of work to figure out where everything was due to the complexity of the illustration.

All in all, an excellent book at a reasonable price. I've just ordered Panzers 35(t) and 38(t) and their Variants 1920-1945 by Walter Speilberger, at 400 pages a rather more sizable tome, and I'll be interested to see how they compare in their treatment of the Hetzer.

BTW, thx for the comment Jason, you are so right. Meant to give it 5 stars, indeed a surfeit of Alphascript reviews :)