Hetzer vs SU-76M

Hungary 1945

Book Specifics

Author: Peter Samsonov

ISBN:978-1-4728-6610-3

Softcover: 9.75 x 7.5 with 80 pages with pictures, color plates or maps on most pages

This book, as the title indicates, is a comparison of the German Hetzer and Soviet SU-76M as they were used in 1945 Hungarian battles.  The author does a good job of listing the qualities and specifications of each vehicle, however there is little direct Hetzer vs SU-76M comparisons.  I would have liked to have seen some side-by-side tables comparing guns, armor penetration at various distances, vehicles, and vehicle specifications such as armor thicknesses, range, speed, etc...

The first four chapters of the book presents both technical and to a lesser extent the political development of both the German Hetzer and the Soviet SU-76M.  The author even provides a page and a half biography of the chief design engineer of each vehicle.  Each vehicle's design roots are traced from post WWI tank designs, some of which were failures, to the end product of a 1944/45 modern design.

The remaining three chapters are dedicated to the organization, composition, and combat deployment of both forces centering around action in 1945 Hungary. 

The book is loaded with numerous period pictures and photos of restored museum vehicles.  The period pictures depict "everyday" lived-in and combat conditions for each vehicle showing stowage and combat damage.  A few of these photos could be used as inspiration for a detailed model base or the starting point for a diorama.  The high resolution museum photos are views of the interiors, tracks, road wheels and general walk arounds, all of which can provide the modeler with some detailing information.

There are also artist multi view color renderings of both vehicles in typical camouflage attire, cut-away views of the fighting compartments, with object callouts and even a rendering of the gunsight view of both vehicles.

A synopsis of each chapter.

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT is broken down into two subsections; development of the SU-76M and the Jagdpanzer 38 Hetzer.  Each section traces the development of its subject vehicle from earlier tank designs and pre-production models. Shortcomings of early engines and transmissions are addressed in brief.  An interesting page and a half biography of each vehicle's primary designer is included.  The author also delves into some of the political pressures forcing design changes during the development process.

THE STRATEGIC SITUATION provides an overview of the German/Hungarian and Russian combat deployment in and around the German-Soviet Front in early 1945.  This sets up the narrative for later chapters in the book dealing with specific battle operations.  In my opinion, this chapter would be better placed as the opening chapter into the combat scenario. 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS  is divided into four subsections:

1. LAYOUT AND ARMOR summarizes the thickness and slope of armor at various locations.
2. WEAPONS as expected, describes each vehicle's main gun and typical ammunition carried.  There are very nice artist cut-aways renditions of each fighting compartment showing the gun, ammunition storage and other details.  There is also an artist rendition of the primary ammunition with a description of each round's explosive charge and penetration power.
3. CREW discusses crew members, their placement within the vehicle, duties and comfort or more accurately discomfort.
4. MOBILITY summarizes the overall mobility of the vehicle covering engines, track types, suspension and cross country abilities.

I believe a comparison chart for each above section (excepting crew) would have been a good addition to the "versus" concept of the book.

THE COMBATANTS outlines the organization, strength, combat placement and to a small extent training of:

• THE SOVIET SPG REGIMENT
• THE GERMAN TANK DESTROYER BATTALION
• THE HUNGARIAN ASSAULT ARTILLERY BATTALION

This provides the background information for the battles described in the following chapter.

COMBAT relates the actions of the German and Hungarian battalions and Soviet regiments described in the Strategic Situation chapter in both the northern and south-western areas of the battlefield. The battle narrative does center around the use of the Hetzer and SU-76M.  Several individual battles are briefly discussed.  There is a nice artist rendering of the view from German and Soviet gunsights.

STATISTICS AND ANALYSIS reviews each vehicle's use, successes and losses during the battle. 

AFTERMATH provides a brief overview of each vehicle's post war uses.

SUMMARY: In general the book is informative and interesting.  However, in my opinion, the lack of comparison tables detracts from the concept of the Hetzer vs SU-76M concept.  This book is an easy read and could conceivably be completed in one sitting.  In terms of modeling, other than the museum pictures, the remaining pictures and illustrations will not help the advanced modeler much in detailing their builds.  Although several of the period photos could provide a good inspiration for a small diorama.

Recommended for Beginner to Advanced builders.

Thanks goes out to Osprey Publishing for this review sample.

Reviewed by Brian Campitella

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