Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer

Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer stats at a glance

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer has 332 hit points , 60mm of frontal hull armor , and a top speed of 42 km/h. Its strongest gun configuration deals 350 damage per shot with 64mm of armor penetration , giving it a theoretical maximum DPM of 2142. The vehicle can equip 3 different gun configurations, allowing for varied playstyles.

Hull & survivability

The front-to-side armor ratio is 3.0:1. This pronounced angling makes the Hetzer significantly stronger when keeping its front facing the enemy.

Mobility

Forward-to-reverse speed ratio is 3.8:1. Reverse speed is limited, so pre-aim and exposure timing matter more on this vehicle.

Camouflage

Available guns (3)

With the top-tier gun, the Hetzer can theoretically output up to 2142 damage per minute at sustained fire (shot damage × rounds per minute). Lower-tier guns generally trade DPM for faster reload or better handling — see the full gun table above.

How Hetzer compares to its peers

There are 15 tier 4 tank destroyers in WoT, including the Hetzer. Its 332 HP places it in the top 43% for hit points among same-tier tank destroyers (peer average: 313). Frontal hull armor of 60mm ranks in the top 7% for the class (peer average: 38mm). Top forward speed of 42 km/h is faster than 36% of peer vehicles in this tier and class. The strongest gun deals 350 damage per shot, higher than 57% of comparable vehicles. Best penetration of 64mm puts it in the top 79% for armor-piercing capability in its class.

Direct comparisons

• Hetzer vs T40 — tier 4 tank destroyer from USA
• Hetzer vs M8A1 — tier 4 tank destroyer from USA
• Hetzer vs SU-76G FT — tier 4 tank destroyer from China
• See full tier 4 tank destroyer tier list — all 15 vehicles ranked

Related tier 4 tank destroyers

• Alecto — UK
• Type 1 Ho-Ni II — Japan, premium
• M8A1 — USA
• Marder 38T — Germany
• Pz.Sfl. IC — Germany, premium
• Somua SAu 40 — France
• Sav m/43 — Sweden
• StuG III Ausf. B — Germany
• All Germany tanks · Tier 4 premium tanks

Understand the stats

Want a deeper grasp of what these numbers actually mean in battle? Read the glossary:

• What is DPM — the most important offensive metric
• Alpha damage — single-shot damage and what it means for playstyle
• Penetration — and how it interacts with armor angling
• Hull-down position — the king of defensive plays
• View range — how spotting actually works

About this vehicle

In 1943, the Wehrmacht were experiencing a dire shortage of StuG III tank destroyers because the joint U.S.A.-U.K. air raids caused considerable damage to the Alkett company's factory that produced these vehicles. December 1943, a decision was made to utilize the working capacities of the BMM company in Prague to start production of tank destroyers. Components of the Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) tank were widely used in the new vehicle. The first prototypes were produced in March 1944. More than 2,800 vehicles were built by May 1945.

Frequently asked