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Dave_Block · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 32

Long time AFV News readers may recall a cover photo on Issue 10 no.1 (Jan.1975!) which showed a side view of a Hetzer mounting a 2cm FlaK 38. The general verdict at the time was it was actually a bergehetzer with the 38 close behind it ie. an optical illusion. I found a great photo site which shows a different Hetzer 2cm FlaK 38 parked against a wall which pretty much precludes the possibilty of illusion. The rack of pipes on the side indicates to me that it started out as a bergehetzer and a FlaK 38 was shoe-horned in somehow. Can anyone shed more light on this?
The full address is: www.rosmus.cz/Obrazky/...ndex2.html (photo 22)
Cheers, Dave

DCCLarke · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 62

Hi Dave, well, seeing is believing! I'm wondering about the utility of such a mounting, I can't believe it has any significant taverse. Also, notice how unbalanced the chassis looks in the absence of the main gun, this seems to indicate that there weren't any modifications to the front armor plate. As I recall, the open compartment in the Bergehetzer was pretty small, so it makes me wonder what kind of mount was used for the 2.0cm.

Great picture! Thanks for finding it--proving once again that almost anything was possible with WWII German armor (and perhaps especially the T-38 chassis).

Best,
David

Dave_Block · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 32

Agreed, it was as well thought out as the Maus or E100. Both this and the orginial AFV News photo were taken in Czechoslovakia, I wonder if they used the Gerbigsager flak mounting? They should have been available in the area. Thanks to Tomas Jakl for his links on Czech battle sites, lots more to discover!
Cheers, Dave

clausb · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 25, 2006 Posts: 146

According to Spielberger, it is an "AufklÃƒÂ¤rungspanzer 38 mit 2cm FlaK 38". Also known as "GerÃƒÂ¤t 563 PanzeraufklÃƒÂ¤rungswagen 638/11 - 2cm Flak 38". It was one among a long series of vehicles on the Hetzer chassis which also included an "AufklÃƒÂ¤rungspanzer 38 mit 7,5cm K51 L/24". Of these two, only prototypes were made.
Neither has anything to do with the 2cm KwK and 7,5cm K51 armed vehicles based on the Pz38(t) tank chassis.

Source: Spielberger: "Die Panzer-Kampfwagen 35(t) und 38(t) un ihre Abarten", 1997, p.285

There's a picture showing one parked behind a Hetzer with some people
standing on it - is that the same as in AFV-News 10/1?

Claus B

Dave_Block · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 32

Hi Claus. Yes, it sounds like the same photo.
Cheers, Dave

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