43M Zrínyi

Zrínyi
Type Assault gun
Place of origin Kingdom of Hungary
Service history
Used by Hungary
Romania
Wars World War II
Production history
Manufacturer Manfred Weiss
Produced 1943–1944
Number built 1 Zrínyi I (prototype),
40–66 Zrínyi II
Variants Zrínyi I
Zrínyi II
Specifications (Zrínyi II)
Weight 21.6 t
Length 5.68 m (18 ft 8 in)
Width 2.99 m (9 ft 10 in)
Height 2.33 m (7 ft 8 in)
Crew 4
Armour 13–75 mm (0.51–2.95 in)
Main
armament
 105 mm MÁVAG 40/43M L20.5 howitzer
with 42 rounds
Engine Manfred Weiss V8 cylinder
260 hp
Operational
range
 220 km (140 mi) (road)
Speed 43 km/h (27 mph) (road)

Zrínyi was a Hungarian assault gun of the World War II period.

Design and history

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 75 mm gun, but it did not pass the prototype stage. The 40/43M Zrínyi II was armed with a 40M 105 mm 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.

Zrínyi II in Romanian service near Cluj (Kolozsvár in Hungarian) in late 1944.

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.

References

  1. ↑ Axworthy, page 221

Sources

External links