43M Zrinyi

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43M Zrinyi II
43M Zrinyi in the Kubinka Tank Museum

43M Zrinyi in the Kubinka Tank Museum
General properties
crew 4 men
length 5.68 m
width 2.99 m
height 1.90 m
Dimensions 21.6 tons
Armor and armament
Armor 15-75 mm
Main armament 1 × 10.5 cm howitzer (52 rounds)
Secondary armament 1 × 8 mm machine gun
agility
drive 8-cylinder petrol engine
260 HP (191 kW)
Top speed 40 km / h
Power / weight 12 hp / ton
Range 220 km

The 43M Zrinyi (also 40 / 43M Zrinyi) was a Hungarian assault gun that was used by the Hungarian army during World War II . Two versions of the Zrinyi were planned: one with a 7.5 cm cannon and one with a 10.5 cm howitzer. Only the last-mentioned version came into production, of which a total of 66 pieces were made. The tank is named after the Hungarian national hero Miklós Zrínyi .

history

development

After the first experiences during the struggles of the Hungarian armed forces with the Red Army during the war against the Soviet Union and the successes of the German assault gun III Hungarian military leaders recognized the importance of such vehicles, especially since the own battle tank Turan against the Soviet standard tank T-34 Sun good and no chance. As a result, building its own assault guns was given priority. The plans, which began shortly thereafter, provided for a version with a 7.5 cm cannon and one with a 10.5 cm howitzer . A total of eight battalions with 30 vehicles each should be set up, which as independent units - similar to the German heavy tank detachments  - should be subordinate to an army corps and used to support the infantry.

In December 1942 the Budapest company Manfréd Weiss Stahl- und Metallwerke AG - named after the founder Manfréd Weiss  - presented the first prototype, which was successfully tested by January 1943 on a former kuk military training area in Hajmasker in Wesprim County . The main weapon of the vehicle was the Hungarian-made 10.5 cm field howitzer “40 / 43M” with a 20.5 caliber length . As a chassis which came tub of Turan for application, by about half a meter has been extended.

At the same time, MÁVAG developed another version of the assault gun, which was to be equipped with a powerful 7.5 cm cannon with 43 caliber lengths under the premise of anti-tank defense. The start of production was planned for June 1944, but there was no production due to the war. Only a prototype was produced, which was not used in combat. This type was named "Zrinyi I", while the version with the 10.5 cm howitzer was named "Zrinyi II".

production

After the tests were completed, the Weiss factory received a production order for 40 vehicles in the spring of 1943. This contract was later increased to a total of 104 vehicles. Series production began in August and continued until production was discontinued in July 1944. During this period 60 Zrinyi II were produced. Six more vehicles were completed by the Ganz company after a heavy bomb attack almost destroyed the Weiss works.

commitment

The first assault guns were handed over to the combat units in the autumn of 1943. The vehicles were used during the withdrawal from Ukraine and during the defense of Slovakia and Hungary. Although the primary weapon was not purely an anti-tank gun, the howitzer was well suited for fighting Soviet tanks like the T-34. The use against the enemy tank masses had no influence on the outcome of the war.

From mid-1944, the side armor protection of the vehicles was reinforced by means of side skirts . Since the Turan III with the German 7.5 cm L / 43 cannon did not come out of the prototype stage, the Zrinyi II was the most powerful Hungarian armored vehicle during the Second World War.

See also

literature

  • Dr. Peter Mujzer: The Royal Hungarian Army, 1920-1945. Volume II, Hungarian Mobile Forces.
  • Maksym Kołomyjec, Ilja Moszczanski: Pojazdy zdobyczne w armii as well asckiej 1941-1945. Warszawa 2003, ISBN 978-83-7219-161-8 .

Web links