44M Tas
The tank type 44M Tas was a Hungarian development of a heavy tank during the Second World War , which did not get beyond the prototype stage.
development
The tank type 44M Tas was to be built both as a main battle tank with a turret and 75 mm combat vehicle cannon (KwK) and as a turretless tank destroyer with an 88 mm KwK. The development was commissioned in 1943 to replace the Hungarian tank models, the Turan battle tank and the Zrinyi tank destroyer, which were clearly inferior on the battlefield . The start of series production was planned for 1945.
construction
Both types were characterized in their tub construction by their strong reference to the German models Panzerkampfwagen V Panther and Jagdpanther as well as the Russian T-34 . The drive was very reminiscent of that of the German Panzerkampfwagen III , but was similar to the Czech pre-war types with a chain sloping backwards and four support rollers. The drive was to be provided by two motors of the type already used in the Turan, per chain one motor with 191 kW (260 hp) each acting via a dry clutch on the front drive and idler wheels. The rear wheels should serve as freewheels for tensioning the chain. Six wheel tires per chain, suspended in pairs, ensured sufficient ground contact for the 36-ton tank. The combat vehicle cannons were to be obtained from the alliance partner Germany, the 75 mm KwK 42 L / 70 of the Panther for the battle tank and the 88 mm KwK 36 L / 56 of the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger for the tank destroyer.
Prototype construction
The Hungarian company Manfréd Weiss Stahl- und Metallwerke AG , which was entrusted with the development, had completed a mild steel prototype of the main battle tank and started building a tank destroyer when the factory and both prototypes were destroyed by a bombing on July 27, 1944 and all further developments were stopped.
Web links
- 44M Tas at tanks-encyclopedia.com
- For the Record: Hungarian armor part 1 - 44M Tas and Ta s
literature
- Gyula Mezey, Herbert Strunz: Leadership of Emergency Services , Volume 17 of International Markets, Peter Lang, 2011, ISBN 978-3-631-61025-1 .