Jagdpanzer

Jagdpanzer (JgPz), German: "Hunting tank", is a name for German tank destroyers.

It typically refers to anti-tank variants of existing tank chassis with a well-armoured fixed superstructure, mounting an anti-tank gun with limited traverse in the front. The Jagdpanzer designs followed on from the more lightly armoured "Panzerjäger" designs which took an anti-tank gun and mounted it on top of a tank chassis with supplementary armour fitted around the gun crew. Also a lot of experience was gained from the Sturmgeschütz series Assault guns, although they were associated to the Artillery they were very often used in the anti-tank role. While the less complex design meant savings in resources and construction time could be made, this was not the prime motivation for its use. The Jagdpanzer actually had a specific role in the German doctrine and was not a cheaper substitute for tanks.

On the battlefield, the Germans sometimes had to retreat, or try to feign one. Their line of retreat would then preferably pass the location of their anti-tank units who would use their superior firepower to stop the enemy, perhaps even make possible a counter-attack. Therefore the ideal and only valid 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.

In 1945 the "Panzerjäger" term was applied to all the Jagdpanzers and the earlier Panzerjägers were reclassified as self-propelled guns.

Types

Notable tank destroyers of World War II in the Jagdpanzer classification include:

* Jagdpanzer 38(t) - based on the Panzer 38(t)
* Jagdpanzer IV - based on the Panzer IV
* Jagdpanther - based on the Panther tank
*Ferdinand/Elefant - 88mm PaK on Porsche Tiger I chassis
* Jagdtiger - based on the Tiger II

Post-war

After the war the name "Jagdpanzer" was kept in use in the Bundeswehr.

ee also

* Kanonenjagdpanzer
* Raketenjagdpanzer 1
* Raketenjagdpanzer 2 (SS11)
* Jaguar 1 HOT
* Jaguar 2 TOW