Hungarian ZSU 40M “Nimrod” (Hungarian 40M Nimród)
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Hungarian ZSU 40M “Nimrod” (Hungarian 40M Nimród)
At MAVAG, it was equipped with a 40-mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun, licensed production of which was carried out under the brand name 36.M. Military tests of self-propelled guns took place in August-September 1939. The selection committee proposed to increase the volume of the armored cabin in order to accommodate the fifth crew member, install a telescopic sight for firing at tanks and a number of other changes. On March 10, 1940, IWT recommended the ACS, called 40.M. “Nimrod” is named after the legendary progenitor of both the Magyars and the Huns – a great hunter. In December, the Nimrod was put into service and the factories were given an order for 46 vehicles. Nimrod in legends
Nimrod in legends
The first production Nimrod left the plant in November 1941, and in February 1942, seven vehicles went to the front. The entire order was completed by the end of 1942. Of the next order for 89 vehicles, 1943 were produced in 77, and the remaining 12 in the next.
For "Nimrod" the base of the tank "Toldi" was used, but extended by one (sixth) roller. At the same time, the rear guide wheel was raised from the ground. Suspension rollers individual, torsion bar. The hull, welded from armor plates 6-13 mm thick, consisted of combat and engine (rear) compartments. The total weight of the armor is 2615 kg. On the machines of the first series German engines were installed, and on the second - already licensed Hungarian-made engines. These were eight-cylinder liquid-cooled carburetor engines. The transmission is the same as on the "Toldi", i.e. five-speed planetary gearbox, dry friction multi-plate main clutch, side clutches. Mechanical brakes - manual and foot. Fuel was stored in three tanks.
The driver was located in the front of the hull on the left and had slots in the five-sided cap with prisms looking forward and to the sides. The five remaining crew members - the commander, the sight installer, two gunners and the loader, were located in the wheelhouse with three viewing slots with glass blocks. The 40-mm anti-aircraft gun "Bofors", produced under license under the brand name 36.M by the MAVAG plant in Gyosgyor, had an elevation angle of 85 °, declination - 4 °, horizontal - 360 °. The ammunition, completely placed in the wheelhouse, included armor-piercing high-explosive fragmentation, as well as lighting, shells. Clips - 4 rounds each. Only the cars of the battery commanders had a radio, although all the cars had a place for it. When firing, two ZSUs were located at a distance of 60 m, and between them was a control post with a rangefinder (with a base of 1,25 m) and a computing device.
The prototype of the Lehel armored personnel carrier
The performance characteristics of the Hungarian armored vehicles Performance characteristics of some tanks and self-propelled guns in Hungary Toldi-1
Toldi-2
Turan-1
Turan-2
Zrinyi-2
Nimrod
Tosh
The performance characteristics of the Hungarian armored vehicles Combat use of ZSU "Nimrod"“Nimrod” began to enter the troops from February 1942. Since these self-propelled guns were considered anti-tank, they formed the basis of the 51st tank destroyer battalion of the 1st Panzer Division, which was part of the 2nd Hungarian Army, which began hostilities on the Soviet front in the summer of 1942. Of the 19 Nimrods (3 companies of 6 self-propelled guns each plus the vehicle of the battalion commander), after the defeat of the Hungarian army in January 1943, only 3 vehicles returned to their homeland.
In the role of anti-tank weapons, "Nimrods" suffered a complete "fiasco": they absolutely could not fight the Soviet tanks of the Second World War T-34 and KB. Finally, "Nimrods" found their true use - as an air defense weapon and became part of the 1st (restored in 1943) and 2nd TD and 1st KD (according to today's terminology - armored cavalry) divisions. The 1st TD received 7, and the 2nd received 1944 ZSU in April 37, when the battles with the Red Army in Galicia unfolded. Of these last 17 vehicles were part of the staff of the 52nd tank destroyer battalion, and 5 companies of 4 vehicles each made up the division's air defense. In the summer, a sixth company was added. Composition of the company: 40 people, 4 ZSU, 6 vehicles. After unsuccessful battles, the 2nd TD was withdrawn from the front, retaining 21 Nimrods.
In June 1944, all 4 Nimrods of the 1st KD were killed in battle. In September, the fighting was already on the territory of Hungary. All three divisions then had 80 Nimrods (39 each in both TDs and 4 in the CD). In their ranks, "Nimrods" fought almost until the end of the war. On December 3, 1944, a tank group of Lieutenant Colonel Horvat, which had 4 Nimrods, operated south of Budapest in the Perbal-Vali area. On December 7, the 2nd TD consisted of another 26 ZSU, and on March 18-19, 1945, 10 Nimrods of Lieutenant Colonel Maslau operated in the battles in the area of Lake Balaton during the counteroffensive of the IV German Panzer Army. On March 22, in the Bakonyoslor area, the Nemeth battle group lost all its self-propelled guns. Several Nimrods are known to have fought in the besieged Budapest.
Currently, two copies of this ZSU have been preserved: one in the military history museum in Budapest, the other in the museum of armored vehicles in Kubinka. Sources:
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Not yet expecting the arrival of the purchased Landsverk L-60B tank, the management of the MAVAG plant, which received a license to manufacture the tank, ordered in March 1937 from Landsverk AV a prototype of an anti-tank self-propelled unit (tank destroyer). The base of the same L60B should have been used. The armament of the self-propelled guns should consist of a 40-mm cannon. The Swedes fulfilled the order: in December 1938, self-propelled guns without weapons arrived in Hungary. On March 30, representatives of the General Staff got acquainted with it.
Nimrod (Nimrod, Nimrod) - in the Pentateuch, Aggadic traditions and legends of the Middle East, a hero, a warrior-hunter and a king. According to the genealogy given in the book of Genesis, he is the son of Cush and the grandson of Ham. Referred to as “a mighty hunter before the Lord”; his kingdom is placed in Mesopotamia. In various legends, the image of Nimrod the tyrant and the theomachist is accentuated; he is credited with the construction of the Tower of Babel, extreme cruelty, idolatry, persecution of Abraham, rivalry with God. According to the Bible, Nimrod and Abraham are separated by seven generations. Also, information about King Nimrod is contained in the Koran. Nemrut, in Armenian mythology, a foreign king who invaded Armenia. There is a legend that in order to exalt himself, Nemrud erected a magnificent palace of extraordinary height on the top of the mountain.
