Tatra Koprivnice T-72 (OA vz.30)

51 vehicles were produced between 1933-34. One unit was captured from the Czechoslokanians during the final breakup of Czechoslovakia in 1939.

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The Turan I, II, III

A light tank based on a design from the Czech Skoda factory. The Skoda design, T22, became the 40mm Turan. The Hungarians produced 2 forms, the Turan 1 which had a 40mm gun and the Turan 2 with a 75mm gun in a larger turret. These tanks equiped Hungary's only armored division (1st Pancelos Hadosztaly). Turans proved to be much too light to use against Soviet armor and armor clashes were avoided if possible. A prototype of Turan III (see below) armed with 75mm long barreled was ready in 1944. The proposed heavier Turan 3 never reached production stage before the ending of the war in 1945. Any surviving Turans were lost in 1944 when Hungary attempted to break it's Axis alliance.

After the Hungarian debacle of the 2nd Magyar Honved (2nd Hungarian Army), it became evident to the Hungarians that the 40mm gun mounted in the Turan I, would be inadequate (even though no Turans had participated in the battle on the Don River in January of 1943).  As a result, MAVAG Dios-Gyor developed the 75mm 41M tank gun from the Austro-hungarian Bohler 75mm 18M field gun.  The Turans armed with this short-barelled tank gun were designated 41M Turan II nehez harckocsi (heavy tank).  they were later renamed 41M Turan 75 rovid nehez harckocsi (short heavy tank).  the first 3 Turan IIs were delivered to the troops on May 13-15, 1943.

In April of 1943, a better, more modern design was submitted.   This tank was armed with the 43M (L/43) tank gun which was a hungarian development of the German 7.5cm PaK 40.  The Hungarian version differed considerably to its German counterpart, and could fire either German PaK ammunition, or special Hungarian ammo.  This model was designated 43M Turan II hasszu nehez harckocsi (long heavy tank).  It mounted the 75mm gun in a modified turret and had thicker armor, but was otherwise similar to previous Turans.

The only Turan III modifications actually undertaken was the fitting of side skirt plates over the suspension and around the turrets of some Turan I and IIs in the second half of 1944.  This gave the Turans an appearance similar to German Panzer IIIs fitted with schurzen.

Information on the Turan:

A total of 230 turan I tanks were built - 70 by MVG of Gyor, 70 by manfred Weisz of Cspel, 50 by Ganz of Budapest, and 40 by MAVAG of Budapest.

A total of 139 Turan II tanks were produced, primarily in 1943, against the total of 322 which were to have been completed by 1945. Of these, 54 were produced by Manfred Weisz of Cspel, 36 by Canz of Budapest, and 39 by MVG of gyor.

The tank guns of the Turan were produced by MAVAG Dios-Gyor.

Engines of the Turans were produced by Manfred Weisz, MVG and MAVAG.

+ This photo was probably taken in Russia where the 1st Pancelos Hadosztaly (Hungarian Panzer Division) fought on the Don Front.
~ This photo shows the tank using the 75mm gun and, was probably taken in Russia where the 1st Pancelos Hadosztaly (Hungarian Panzer Division) fought on the Don Front.

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The 40/43M Zrinyi assault gun

The picture on the right is of a Zrinyi II.

The Zrinyi assault howitzer used a 105mm howitzer on a Turan chassis. The tank bears a striking resemblance to the Italian Semoventi with the 105/25 gun. Proposed manufacturing had the  Zrinyi to be armed with 75mm long barreled as well. The manufacturer was Manfred Weisz of Cspel and MAVAG of Dios-Gyor. Modifications included the addition of side skirts to deflect hollow charge anti-tank weapons in 1944.

The Hungarians seeing the successes of the German Sturmgeschutz in the East, made the production of an assault gun a very high priority. This was especially true after the disastrous debut of the Turan tanks of the 2nd Magyar Honved (2nd Hungarian Army). Two versions were planned - the Zrinyi I, armed with a long-barreled 76mm anti-tank gun; and the Zrinyi II, armed with a 105mm howitzer. \They chose the name "Zrinyi" to honor Nikolaus Graf Zrinyi, a Hungarian national hero who fought the Turks, and was killed in the battle of Szigetvar in 1566. A total of eight assault battalions were planned, each with thirty vehicles, to be used as an independent army or corps for the support of infantry divisions.

As a basis, the Turan medium tank was utilized. It's engine, suspension and basic chassis were identical to the Turan.  the chassis did have to be widened by .45m to make room for the armament. In December 1942, the Manfred Weisz company had already finished a prototype of the Zrinyi II with a 105mm 40/43M (L/20.5) howitzer made by MAVAG Dios-Gyor. The howitzer was a modified version of the MAVAG developed 105mm 40M towed howitzer. This weapon was known to provide good performance against the Soviet T-34.

The Zrinyi II prototype was taken to the artillery range at Hajmasker in western Hungary.   It went through tests between December 12, 1942 to January 20, 1943. After these tests proved successful, the vehicle was accepted for production and was designated 43M Zrinyi II rohamtarack (assault howitzer). It was later redesignated 43M Zrinyi 105 rohamtarack.

The Zrinyi I used the same modified chassis and engine as the 105mm-armed version, but it mounted the MAVAG Dios-Gyor developed 75mm 43M (L/43) anti-tank gun (as was developed for the Turan III).  Development initiated in May 1943, but a prototype was not completed until the winter of 1943-44. Production was planned for June of 1944 at manfred Weisz and Ganz.  Service designation for this type was 44M Zrinyi I rohamagyu (assault gun).

A contract was placed at Manfred Weisz for 40 Zrinyi vehicles. The number was later raised to 104 vehicles to be built by Manfred Weisz and Ganz (54 each in 1943, and 50 in 1944).   The first Zrinyi IIs arrived by August 1943. A total of 60 of the Zrinyi II were produced by Manfred Weisz before production halted in July 1944. It is possible, but not confirmed, that Ganz completed a further six vehicles in August and September of 1944. Production of the Zrinyi I was never initiated, and a single prototype was used for trials only.

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The 38M Toldi

A licence built version of the Swedish Landsverk L-60 light tank. The icon on the far left is an actual picture of the Swedish tank. You can compare it to the Hungarian version in the center and right icons. The Toldi came in several marks (versions) I, II, IIa, and III. There were experimental vehicles with stand off armor to defeat hollow charge anti armor projectiles. At least one was modified by replacing the turret with a three sided open topped structure that housed a German 75mm PaK40 L/48. This vehicle would have been employed much the same as the German Marder Anti-Tank vehicle.

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The 40M Nimrod (40M Nimrod legvedelmi harckocsi)

Manufactured by Ganz of Budapest Hungary, the Nimrod was an anti-aircraft tank based on a licence built copy of the Swedish Landsverk L-62 (Anti II) tank. Built in two batches, a total of 135 units were constructed. Originally, it was intended to be used as an anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapon, but it proved to be ineffective against armored vehicles.  Therefore, it was primarily utilized for air defence.

The LT vz.35

Two were captured from Czechoslovakia during the final breakup of that nation in 1939. One was damaged by an anti-tank gun (the crew did not survive). Hungary later contacted Skoda, once the area was politically quiet again, about repair of these units. Skoda initally gave a price but repaired both units for free after Hungary purchased a license to produce the Turan.

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The Skoda German PzKpfw 38(t)

102 units were transferred to Hungary to assist in armor replacements. These units were outdated by German standards.

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The German Panzer III and IV

These units were transferred to Hungary in order to provide a heavier tank than the Turan to use against Soviet armor in 1943. Most of the units were not the latest production models of these tanks and were outdated by German standards.

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StuG III Ausf. G
7.5cm Sturmgeschutz 40 Ausf G Sd Kfz 142/1

The Ausf G was the last production series of the StuG. Comming off the assembly-line in December 1942. The Ausf G was produced until the end of the war with no major changes maded to the design.

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PzKpfw I

The German tankette built from 1934 - 1941. In 1942, Germany supplied 22 of these to the 1st Armored Division of Hungary . For tech data, see Spain.

The Ansaldo CV33

The Ansaldo was the Italian CV-33. The name being taken from its Italian manufacturer. 65 were exported to Hungary between 1934 and 1938. Some were modified by adding a small square commanders cupola. For tech data, see Spain. The picture shows Hungarian tank officers with their Ansaldo tankettes, note the Czech overalls. Armament consisted of Czech BRNO ZB Model 26 or Model 30 twin-mounted machineguns in 7.92mm.

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Gerat 555, Pz Jag Wg 638/10, Pz Jag 38(t) (Hetzer)
Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer (Panzerjager 38(t)) fur 7.5cm PaK39

A German tank destroyer whose design was the direct result of General Heinz Guderian's March 1943 agitation for a light tank destroyer. 100 were supplied to Hungary between October 1944 and January 1945. A total of 2584 wer built from April 1944 to May 1945. After WW2, the Swiss purchased 158 of these small tank destroyers and designated them as model G13.

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German Tiger 1

Hungarians also received small number of Tigers (3-12)

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39 M Csaba Scout Car
(Csaba was a son of Attilla the Hun)

An excellent armored car initially based on a British design, 61 were produced in 1939 and a further 40 in 1940. Hungarian Nicholas Straussler designed a number of armored cars for Britain while living there between the two world wars. Straussler came to an agreement with Manfred Weisz at Cspel in Budapest about producing his designs for his home country. The most prominent design was based on his experience with the design and production of the British Alvis AC2 armored car. With the assistance of the Hungarian Institute for Military Technology, the 39M Csaba armored scout car came into being.  It was an enhanced version based on the fabrication and trials of his British models.

The Csaba, named for the son of Atilla the Hun, was of a modern design and construction. It mounted a 20mm cannon and an 8mm coaxial machine gun in a centrally located faceted turret. Similar to other armored cars of the period, it had two driving positions, one at the front, and one at the rear. This was considered a "must" for scout cars.   The Csaba's body design was more modern and successful than its British counterparts'.  The 9mm thick armor plates were riveted in place, and covered both driving positions. For a powerplant, a Ford motor built in Koln, Germany was selected. This engine gave the Csaba relatively good speed.

After successful trials in 1939, the Royal Hungarian Army accepted the armored scout car into service.  An order of 61 was ordered for the reconnaissance units.  In 1940, another 40 vehicles were ordered. Twenty of these were utilized as armored fighting vehicles, and the remainder served as command cars with extra radio equipment. Another production series was planned, but the priority of the tank program delayed this until 1944. If this next series ever came about is in doubt.

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The V4

One of Nicholaus Straussler's earlier projects. It had a cross-articulated three-point suspension with leaf springs and rubber bogie rollers. The V4 was actually used experimentally to develop pontoon devices for ferrying purposes! This may see odd, but you have to remember that Straussler was the one who developed the Duplex-Drive for Allied tanks.

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American M3 Stuart Light Tank

(no details)

War Posters

George Parada
Author of
Achtung Panzer!

Ralph D. Norton

Tim Keennon

Thorleif Olsson
Author of
Baltic AFV's & Armored Trains 1918-1940
Red Steel! - Soviet tanks 1920 - 1945

David Barrett

Daniella Carlsson

Olaf Schiltmans

Bill Morran

Ralph Ricco

Ed Bernardo

Last Update: Wednesday, March 12, 2003