114 replies to this topic

[SirRoderick]

I have a hetzer now and i can honestly say i don't know what everyone's going on about. The thing is good. The only problem is that because it's tier IV that means it gets in too many high weight matches. If they fix that, it's good to go!
It's slow, sure, but it's a TD. It doesn't need speed, it needs to hide and stay out of sight as much a possible. And while it's slow it is also extremely fast at turning! Yes it is, it is very fast indeed. I can't imagin anyone getting flanked in this thing unless they're doing it wrong. On top of that, the 10,5cm gun can take 10% of a tiger II (just did that) and one-shot many tanks in it's tier and pretty much everything below it.

So yeah, i actually like it  

[Engine_of_War]

So far its not been all bad with my tiny little Hetzer, i managed to 1 shot a heavy tank which was fun, and later 1 shotted a TD (a russian one i think, can't remember) with the big 10.5 boom cannon.... that unfortunate heavy tank was that frech thing germans can buy premium, he was crossing the bring in that map with the 2 bases that are only seperated by a bridge and a river. well.. i was in the bushes and i see him trundling across, and with a tremendous BOOM from the gun he dies in 1 shot (YAY!)

I've damaged bigger tanks so the little tanky isn't all bad

[xsaganx]

 maaxs, on Nov 02 2010 - 16:40, said:

Bush, cheap camo net, 10.5 cm with HE round BOOM dead Pz4 in one shot (100% ofc)
nuff said.

YUP!

http://odkrywca.pl/f...rakcopy4xu6.jpg

[mascotzel]

It does bad in town maps. Slow to move through the buildings to a spot form where u can actually see an enemy.

[mehx]

When I first got the Hetzer in stock setup it was a pain i was about to give up on the german TDs but once you get the new tracks the best engine and 10,5cm this is were the fun starts.

I am an aggressive TD commander because I try to utilize a (german) tank destroyer as it was intended to be used. The german "Inspector-General of the Armored Troops" Heinz Guderian always noted that a tank destroyer is a weapon which has to be deployed offensively. If you want a gun hiding in a bush why mount it on tracks, just use a PaK instead. Germany heavily used tank destroyers in fact they build more tank destroyers than battle tanks.

"Hetzer" (german "baiter") comes from the verb "hetzen" which in a hunting sense means putting the dogs on sth. Use this tank as support for the big guys. The biggest advantage of the hetzer is with the 10,5cm Sturmhaubitze 42 you can damage any given tank, use this advantage annoy the enemy, harass them, bait them, let them feel the dogs. You arent usually a battlechanger but you can be a real pain in the ass if you stay aggressive. Clever movement,an aggressive mindset and be unforgiving about enemy mistakes. Thats the spirit of the Panzerwaffe. If you keep to this idea you can have some very rewarding expieriences with the Hetzer and you can become a real threat with the much more mobile StuG III and JgPz IV.

[VGA]

1) Use the howitzer
2) Hetz a bigger tank
3) ... Profit ?

[terrypk1]

 mehx, on Dec 03 2010 - 01:37, said:

When I first got the Hetzer in stock setup it was a pain i was about to give up on the german TDs but once you get the new tracks the best engine and 10,5cm this is were the fun starts.

I am an aggressive TD commander because I try to utilize a (german) tank destroyer as it was intended to be used. The german "Inspector-General of the Armored Troops" Heinz Guderian always noted that a tank destroyer is a weapon which has to be deployed offensively. If you want a gun hiding in a bush why mount it on tracks, just use a PaK instead. Germany heavily used tank destroyers in fact they build more tank destroyers than battle tanks.

"Hetzer" (german "baiter") comes from the verb "hetzen" which in a hunting sense means putting the dogs on sth. Use this tank as support for the big guys. The biggest advantage of the hetzer is with the 10,5cm Sturmhaubitze 42 you can damage any given tank, use this advantage annoy the enemy, harass them, bait them, let them feel the dogs. You arent usually a battlechanger but you can be a real pain in the ass if you stay aggressive. Clever movement,an aggressive mindset and be unforgiving about enemy mistakes. Thats the spirit of the Panzerwaffe. If you keep to this idea you can have some very rewarding expieriences with the Hetzer and you can become a real threat with the much more mobile StuG III and JgPz IV.

completely agree with you.
I figured how to use hezter after a long while of trial and erros with the 10.5cm gun.
If you follwo the following rules, your hezter will rule with at least 2 kill and multiple hits per round.


1. Never initiate an attack. (so don't lead the pack) On the attacking move, go along with the big guys.
2. Never go on the attack to start. Hind in a comfy bush and wait. Make sure you are like 3rd closest to the front line, so you are no the one to spot the heavy tanks.
3. Take your time to aim and relocate immediately if your position is neutralized (arty one shot kill hetz)
4. Never fire at the heavy tanks unless the situation looks good. (pick the cheese like lower teir tanks and mid tank)
5. ATTACK and MOVE once the game has developed to the point that a lot of heavy tanks are dead. This is when you want to immediatly move to the location roughly where their Arties are at. ONE SHOT KILL ALL ARTIES. awesome stuff.
6. Never use anything other than the HE.


PS: if you end up in a small town map...don't go into urban wall with those things. You have no chance to relocate and fire again. Stay back...and try to find some ranges.

[Vahal]

use the corner to hide, use the corners to make backstabb attack (against almost ALL tanks that doesn't forgive. A 105mm in the engine or the turret neck and you can catch your meat cause it's BBQ time  ) Obviously, fire and fall back, try to find another spot to harrass... the 105 is an awesome heavy mosquito.

[mascotzel]

Had and encounter with a leopard and boy, did the hetzer turn like hell and bounced leopard shots. Sadly, a heavy guy came to his help and blew me away.
The turning speed it's awesome for this little guy.
Unfortunately, it remains low speed in my opinion, and guys in previous posts put to much emphasis on "move", and hetzer does that badly.
And viewrange is very narrow, so looking around corner it's not an easy move for a hetzer (he has to turn 90 with the hole tank).

Anyway, I don't dislike it.

[Monolito]

Had a solo with a Stug 3. I used the 10,5 cm gun. 1 shot did the trick. +1 for Hetzie

[czer1337]

i love hetzer its cute and looks awesome irl too.

btw rename the title to "Learn how to Hetz. "       

[langley6]

i was playing with my brother in his T1 heavy but we were on different teams, so he came and hunted me out.
but since the hetzer is so low his gun was going over my tank.
so if you playing against high tanks(high off the ground) you shoukld try to get as close to them as possible

[Krixig]

I think the hetzer is awesome. Its speed reloads and second highest gun have decent armor pen to pepper targets busy with tacklers and you can shoot wings off a fly from halfway across the map. If you try to dogfight with tanks, then yeah, death is pretty much a given....

[nublex]

I vote option 1.......but I doubt I play Hetzer the 'correct' way.......with poor vision I rather take my chances with my brawling friends.

[gtmattz]

Now, I admit I have very little experience with the Hetzer (with this game overall actually), but I have enjoyed the 10 or so battles I have fought in my lil Hetz.  I love sitting in a bush or half hidden by a building or something, waiting for something to enter my field of fire, even if I only damage one tank, I still have a load of fun in this thing.

[DieSiebtPzDiv]

my rules of thumb:

• Upgrade your engine and suspension system
  
• Forget about AP, use ONLY HE rounds with 10.5
  
• Hit and run
  
• Never, never, never go alone
  
• Get to StuG quickly

Actually these rules apply to any TD imho.

Ps: I really really would love to see some buffs in TD (actually german) AP cannons (rounds), currently they are just fairly useless due to:

• it simply won't penetrate
  
• even if it does penetrate, nothing really happens (hey, a cannon round just punches into your turret and nothing happens at all except a tiny amount of damage?)

I do know that this is just a game and I can't ask it to be too much realistic but I do wish AP rounds could do more than just opening small holes on targets (which has nothing effective but only make your targets uglier)

[shino6]

 terrypk1, on Dec 03 2010 - 08:36, said:

if you end up in a small town map...don't go into urban wall with those things. You have no chance to relocate and fire again. Stay back...and try to find some ranges.

Your tactics are spot on, except this one point. Small urban areas where the Hetzer can easily take cover and use natural chokepoints to get close shots with HE are a great environment. If you come under fire, you relocate behind another building. The Hetzer is not a sniper, and while you can sit back and try your ranges, even with a 100% crew you have precious few shots to waste on 'I hope it hits.' Everything about an urban environment works to the Hetzer's advantage.

[Rackminster]

I'm using Russian Tanks, American Artillery, and German TD's ... and just got my Hetzer.

I agree with others - for what it fights, the Marder II is a better TD.  I actually had a lot of fun in rounds with the Marder, but the Hetzer has been a rougher ride so far.  I've upgraded my engine to max and my suspension, with the Gun & Radio being last.  I always "Elite" every tank I research (even the A-20) and so will eventually find my niche with the Hetzer as well... probably right before I sell it and get a StuG III - which is what happened with the A-20.  Just when it started to finally feel useful, it got canned.

I was seriously expecting good accuracy out of a German (Wiki says German vehicles are the best at this) Tank Destroyer (Sniper).  Seeing the best gun look so un-sniperish is a bit dismaying.  The stock engine was absolutely horrible - possibly the slowest thing I've ever been in, including a KV.

I love the look of it, though.  It's a very distinct vehicle and I'm going to hope the sloped armor on all sides makes me a lesser target than others out there.

[Artyom_2033]

Hetz has great armor at a serious angle, then sit with your hetz angled at your enemy to one side (you have more traverse one way than the other) and bounce their shots.
Then hit them with the 105mm and watch them retreat!
Go into third person aiming to take advantage of your arced trajectory and fire over hills!    The enemy will sh*t themselves as they thought they were safe and cant fire back!
Learn to aim ahead of moving tanks with the 105.
Track enemies with ease, blast them with your follow up shot!
One hit stug III, and pzIV, I've done it!
Know that your advantage is alpha strike, weakness is reload time, have cover nearby to wait for your second shot.

Hetz is bad? Who says that? It has been my favorite vehicle, even against the high tier enemies, the 105 does damage and can track.

[Mobius13]

Just got my Hetzer yesterday.  Used my remaining free experience to grab the 10.5 cm gun, and it's shaping up to be one of my favorite tanks of all time.

4 kills in its first battle!