The Jagdpanzer IV / Sd.Kfz. 162, was a German tank destroyer based on the Panzer IV chassis and built in three main variants. As one of the casemate-style turretless Jagdpanzer (tank destroyer, literally "hunting tank") designs, it was developed against the wishes of Heinz Guderian, the inspector general of the Panzertruppen, as a replacement for the Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III). Guderian objected against the (in his eyes) needless diversion of resources from Panzer IV tank production, as the StuG III was still more than adequate for its role.
The light recovery vehicle Bergepanzer 38 or Bergepanzerwagen 38 was based on the German Jagdpanzer 38, the Hetzer tank destroyer. This light recovery vehicle, German designation Sd.Kfz. 136, was used with the Jagdpanzer units and helped repair the tank destroyers, it was capable of towing or pulling the Hetzer tanks if broken down or stuck. Between 170 to 181 were built from August 1944 until the end of the war. It used a Fug 5 radio set and was armed with a MG 34.
