World War 2 Tank Destroyers
As progressively potent tank designs rolled off the assembly lines, the need became apparent for tank-killing systems as well.

1 Cruiser Tank Mk VIII Challenger (A30) The Challenger Mk VIII Cruiser was a British response to the very real and deadly threat being posed by German armor on the battlefields in World War 2. The system was a purpose-built design - intended as a tank destroyer by ... 1943

2 Gun Motor Carriage M10 (Wolverine / Achilles) The M10 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage was the principle allied tank destroyer of the Second World War. The British produced their own version of the M10 Wolverine known as the Achilles. The idea of the Wolverine tank destroyer ca... 1942

3 Gun Motor Carriage M18 (Hellcat) The M18 "Hellcat" (or known officially as the "Gun Motor Carriage M18") was a classical example of American tank destroyer efforts in World War 2. The system, much like the M10 Wolverine that preceded it, featured a powerful ... 1943

4 Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer The Jagdpanzer 38(t) fur 7.5-cm PaK 39 "Hetzer" (meaning "baiter") was yet another in the long line of Nazi Germany conversions of the successful Czech-designed 38(t) tank chassis. The Hetzer was easily identifiable by its hu... 1943

5 Medium Tank, M4A4 (Sherman VC Firefly) Outwardly, the Sherman Firefly series of tank destroyers looked every bit like their M4 Sherman base counterparts. Closer examination would reveal a British-designed system that was finally capable of dealing with the impress... 1944

6 Sd.Kfz 121 Panzerkampfwagen II (Pz.Kpf.W II) / Panzer 2 While development of the of the Pz.Kpf.W. I (Panzer I) light tank (Sd.Kfz. 121) was still ongoing, the Pz.Kpf.W. II (Panzer II) light tank was already being devised as an interim tank model series to bridge the gap between th... 1936

7 SdKfz 131/132 Marder II (Marten II) Much like the Marder I before it, the Marder II (Marten II) was a purpose conversion tank destroyer based on an existing tank chassis - this for the Marder II being the hefty supply of outdated Panzer II tank systems. Marder ... 1942

8 SdKfz 135 Marder I (Marten I) After the Fall of France, Germany confiscated several hundred Tractor Blinde 37L (commonly known as "Lorraine Tractors") which were general purpose chassis covering a variety of roles including armored personnel carrier and b... 1942

9 SdKfz 138 Marder III (Marten III) Marder III systems was yet another hastily modified conversion model of existing Panzer II tank chassis overstock. With the Panzer II system as a whole virtually obsolete on the changing battlefields of World War 2 and the pr... 1942

10 SdKfz 142 StuG III (Sturmgeshutz) The StuG III was a well known German assault gun of World War 2. The system stemmed from a German Army need to supply ground troops with a mobile artillery system when traditional armor units such as tanks were not not made a... 1940

11 SdKfz 142/1 StuG 40 (StuG IV) The StuG 40 (or StuG IV) was a further refinement of the successful StuG III tank destroyer / assault gun. The system sported a powerful L/48 75mm main gun and kept the low profile of its predecessor. The system was fielded i... 1943

12 SdKfz 162 Jagdpanzer IV (Panzerjager 39) First appearing in 1943, the Jagdpanzer IV was designed in response to a German need for an upgunned artillery vehicle to replace their small caliber crop of existing tank destroyers. The system would feature the powerful and... 1943

13 SdKfz 164 Hornisse / Nashorn The SdKfz 164 came about from the existing weapon carrier vehicle designed to lug the sFH 18 artillery gun. This vehicle was itself a combination of Panzer III tank parts and the chassis of the Panzer IV tank, making it an ef... 1943

14 SdKfz 173 Jagdpanther (Panzerjager V Jagdpanther) The Jagdpanther was the missing link to complete battlefield domination for the Germany Army. Already having the well-established Tiger II and Panther series of tanks, the Jagdpanther tank destroyer would have been a formidab... 1944

15 SdKfz 186 Jagdtiger (Hunting Tiger) The SdKfz 186 Jagdtiger was a further development of the mammoth and powerful Tiger II heavy tank and was an optimistic - yet effective - design at best. Though blessed with a powerful main armament and thick frontal armor, t... 1944

16 Semovente L.40 da 47/32 The Semovente L.40 da 47/32 served with Italian and German army elements throughout World War 2. Though never noted for their armored vehicle designs in the conflict, the Italians were actually forward-thinking in their embra... 1942

17 SU-152 (Zveroboy) By mid-1942 the Soviet Army needed a mobile heavy siege gun for fixed fortifications. Up to this point, most Soviet howitzers were pulled by horses along with their gun crews due to the fact that draft animals were more plent... 1942

18 SU-76 / Samokhodnaya Ustanovka 76M (Suchka) On June 22, 1941 Germany invaded the Soviet Union and caught them unaware. Hitler’s goal was to eliminate the Soviets as a military power and exterminate Communism while giving the German people living space. During the sum... 1942