Jagdpanzer
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Short description|German armoured self-propelled anti-tank gun designation}}
{{about|German tank destroyers|the American metal band|Jag Panzer}}
{{italic title}}
File:Panzermuseum Munster 2010 0449.JPG
Jagdpanzer ("tank destroyer") (JgPz) is the name given in German to an armored, tracked tank destroyer, although it may also be used for other kinds of self-propelled guns. Translated from German, Jagdpanzer meaning "hunting tank".
It typically refers to anti-tank variants of existing tank chassis with a well-armored casemate superstructure that mount an anti-tank gun with limited traverse in the front.{{Cite web |last=Roblin |first=Sebastien |date=2018-04-06 |title=Hitler's Monstrous 'Jagdtiger' Tank Destroyers Were a Colossal Failure |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/hitlers-monstrous-jagdtiger-tank-destroyers-were-colossal-25256 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=The National Interest |language=en}} These vehicles were classified by the western Allies of World War II as a tank destroyer.{{Cite book |url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199891580.001.0001/acref-9780199891580 |title=The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military |date=2001-01-01 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-989158-0 |edition=1 |language=en |doi=10.1093/acref/9780199891580.001.0001}}
History
The Jagdpanzer designs followed on from the more lightly armored Panzerjäger ("tank hunter") designs, which took an anti-tank gun and mounted it on top of a tank chassis with supplementary armor fitted around the gun crew. However, the armor typically had an open rear and top, almost never providing the crew with full protection from the elements. In addition, much experience was gained from the Sturmgeschütz series of assault guns for infantry support, which already used heavily armored casemates, completely enclosing the vehicle's crew. Although they were associated with artillery and infantry support, they were often used in the anti-tank role.{{Cite book |last=Tiquet |first=Pierre |title=German Tank Destroyers (Casemate Illustrated Special) |date=2021-08-02 |publisher=Casemate |isbn=9781612009063 |language=en}}
Tactical use
On the battlefield when the Germans had to retreat, their line of retreat would preferably pass the location of their anti-tank units, who would use their superior firepower to stop the enemy, perhaps even open the possibility of a counter-attack. Due to the lack of a turret and the armor being concentrated at the front, the ideal combat situation for Jagdpanzer units was in the planned ambush, and the skill of the commander of such units lay in correctly choosing and preparing such places long before needed.
Types
The list below comprises some of the Jagdpanzer-type tank destroyers made by Germany.
| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align: left;"|Name ! style="text-align: left;"|Production start ! style="text-align: left;"|Country of origin ! style="text-align: left;"|Quantity |
| Elefant/Ferdinand, officially 'Panzerjäger Tiger (P)'
| March 1943 | {{flag|Nazi Germany}} | 91 |
| Mareșal tank destroyer
| July 1943 | {{flag|Kingdom of Romania}} | 6–17 |
| Jagdpanther
| January 1944 | {{flag|Nazi Germany}} | 415 |
| Jagdpanzer IV
| December 1943 | {{flag|Nazi Germany}} | 2,000 |
| Jagdtiger
| February 1944 | {{flag|Nazi Germany}} | 70–88 |
| Jagdpanzer 38(t){{efn|Post-war popularly named "Hetzer"}}{{Cite news |last=Power |first=Shannon |date=2015-03-16 |title=Rare Jagdpanzer 38 tank now on display at Australian Armour and Artillery Museum after delivery by Bruce Crompton |url=https://cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/rare-jagdpanzer-38-tank-now-on-display-at-australian-armour-and-artillery-museum-after-delivery-by-bruce-crompton/news-story/fbdfeccffa684fb58f517b46013b0d23 |access-date=2024-02-01 |work=The Cairns Post}}
| March 1944 | {{flag|Nazi Germany}} {{flag|Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia}} | 2,827 |
Post-war usage
After the war, the name Jagdpanzer was kept in use in the Bundeswehr for a number of armored vehicles used for anti-tank duties. This included the Kanonenjagdpanzer, a casemate vehicle intended for infantry support.{{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=Thomas |title=Tanks of the Second World War |date=2017-01-31 |publisher=Pen and Sword |isbn=9781473859340 |language=en}} and the Raketenjagdpanzer series.{{Cite book |last=Huettel |first=Rolf |title=Armor |publisher=U.S. Armor Association |year=1970 |location=Ohio State University |pages=39 |language=en}} The first Raketenjagdpanzer was the Raketenjagdpanzer 1 built on the chassis of the SPz Lang HS.30 and armed with SS.11 missiles. The Raketenjagdpanzer 2 was built on the same chassis as the Kanonenjagdpanzer, but was equipped with two SS.11 launch-rails instead of carrying a gun.
Later, the Raketenjagdpanzer 2 and the Kanonenjagdpanzer were upgraded to Jaguar 1 and Jaguar 2 tank destroyers, armed with HOT or TOW missiles.{{Cite book |last=Phillips |first=Russell |title=AFV Alphabet |date=2022-11-28 |publisher=Shilka Publishing |isbn=9781804430163 |language=en}}