43M Zrínyi

Following the success of assault guns on the World War II Eastern Front, the Hungarians developed their own model, based on the chassis of the Turán tank. There were two designs, the 44M Zrínyi I, incorporated a long 43M 75mm gun, but it did not pass the prototype stage. The 40/43M Zrínyi II was armed with a 40M 105mm L/20 howitzer.

The Zrínyi II design was a traditional infantry support vehicle. The Zrínyi I was hoped to fulfill an anti-tank role.

Between 40 and 66 Zrínyi II units were produced between August 1943 and July 1944 and a single Zrínyi I prototype. There is only one surviving Zrínyi II in the Kubinka tank museum near Moscow.

Specifications

Manufacturer: Manfred Weiss
Crew: 4 men
Weight: 21.6 tons
Length: 5.68 m
Width: 2.99 m
Height: 2.33 m
Engine: Manfred Weiss, V8 (260 hp)
Maximum speed: 43 km/h (road)
Range: 220 km (road)
Main armament: 105 mm MÁVAG 40/43M L20.5 howitzer
Ammunition: 42 projectiles of 105 mm
Armor thickness: 13 mm - 75 mm

Foreign use

A serviceable Zrínyi II was captured by the Romanian troops in Transylvania during September-October 1944, being pressed into service for a limited period.^[1] The assault gun was later confiscated by the Red Army.

Sources

• Bíró Ádám: A 40/43. M Zrínyi–II rohamtarack fejlesztése és alkalmazása. Haditechnika, I. rész: 1996/1, 66–71., II. rész: 1996/2, 43–45.; III. rész: 1996/4, 66–69. (In Hungarian)^[2]
• Mark Axworthy, Cornel Scafeș, Cristian Crãciunoiu,Third Axis. Fourth Ally. Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941-1945, Arms and Armour, London, 1995. ISBN 1-85409-267-7

References

External links

http://www.freedom.hu/IIvh/Fegyverek/Magyar/zrinyi.htm (Hungarian)
http://www.haborumuveszete.hu/rovatok/fegyverek/pancelosok/zrinyik/ (Hungarian)