Hungarian self-propelled gun "Zrinyi II" (Hungarian Zrínyi) “Zrinyi” is a Hungarian self-propelled artillery mount (ACS) of the period of the Second World War, a class of assault guns, medium in weight. It was created in 1942-1943 on the basis of the Turan tank, modeled on the German StuG III self-propelled guns. In 1943-1944, 66 Zrinyi were produced, which were used by the Hungarian troops until 1945. There is evidence that after the Second World War, at least one self-propelled gun "Zrinyi" was used in the role of training until the early 1950s. Let's clarify the information on the name and modifications: • 40 / 43M Zrinyi (Zrinyi II) - basic model, armed with a 105-mm howitzer. 66 units produced • 44M Zrinyi (Zrinyi I) - a prototype tank destroyer armed with a long-barreled 75-mm cannon. Released only 1 prototype. SAU "Zrinyi II" (40/43M Zrinyi)   Click on images to enlarge   The Hungarian designers decided to create their own car on the model of the German Sturmgeshütz, that is, fully armored. Only the base of the medium tank "Turan" could be chosen as the base for it. The self-propelled gun was named "Zrinyi" in honor of the national hero of Hungary, Zrinyi Miklos. Miklos Zrinyi Zrinyi Miklos (circa 1508 - 66) - Hungarian and Croatian statesman, commander. Participated in many battles with the Turks. Since 1563, the commander-in-chief of the Hungarian troops on the right bank of the Danube. During the Turkish Sultan Suleiman II's campaign against Vienna in 1566, Zrinyi died while trying to withdraw the garrison from the destroyed Szigetvar fortress. Croats revere him as their national hero under the name of Nikola Šubić Zrinjski. There was another Zrinyi Miklos - the great-grandson of the first - also a national hero of Hungary - a poet, state. figure, commander who fought with the Turks (1620 - 1664). Died in a hunting accident. Miklos Zrinyi (1620 - 1664) Miklos Zrinyi The width of the hull was increased by 45 cm and a low cabin was built in the front plate, in the frame of which a converted 105-mm 40.M infantry howitzer from MAVAG was installed. Howitzer horizontal aiming angles - ± 11 °, elevation angle - 25 °. Pickup drives are manual. Charging is separate. Machine gun self-propelled guns did not have. 40 / 43M Zrinyi (Zrinyi II) The Zrinyi was the most successful Hungarian vehicle. And although it retained traces of backward technology - the armor plates of the hull and wheelhouse are connected by bolts and rivets - it was a strong combat unit. The engine, transmission, chassis remained the same as the base car. Since 1944, the Zrinyi received hinged side screens that protected them from cumulative projectiles. Total released in 1943 - 44. 66 self-propelled guns. The performance characteristics of some Hungarian tanks and self-propelled guns Toldi-1   "Toldi" I Year of construction 1940 Combat weight, t 8,5 Crew. 3 Body length, mm 4750 Length with gun forward, mm   Width 2140 Height, mm 1870 Reservations, mm   Body forehead 13 Hull board 13 Tower forehead (deckhouse) 13 + 20 Roof and bottom of the hull 6 weaponry   Gun brand 36.M Caliber in mm / barrel length in calibers 20/82 Ammunition shots   The number and caliber (in mm) of machine guns 1-8,0 Anti-aircraft machine gun — Ammunition for machine guns, cartridges   Engine, type, brand carb. “Busing Nag” L8V/36TR Motor Power, hp 155 Top speed km / h 50 Fuel capacity, l 253 Range on the highway, km 220 Average ground pressure, kg / cm2 0,62 Toldi-2   “Toldi” II Year of construction 1941 Combat weight, t 9,3 Crew. 3 Body length, mm 4750 Length with gun forward, mm   Width 2140 Height, mm 1870 Reservations, mm   Body forehead 23-33 Hull board 13 Tower forehead (deckhouse) 13 + 20 Roof and bottom of the hull 6-10 weaponry   Gun brand 42.M Caliber in mm / barrel length in calibers 40/45 Ammunition shots 54 The number and caliber (in mm) of machine guns 1-8,0 Anti-aircraft machine gun — Ammunition for machine guns, cartridges   Engine, type, brand carb. “Busing Nag” L8V/36TR Motor Power, hp 155 Top speed km / h 47 Fuel capacity, l 253 Range on the highway, km 220 Average ground pressure, kg / cm2 0,68 Turan-1   "Turan" I Year of construction 1942 Combat weight, t 18,2 Crew. 5 Body length, mm 5500 Length with gun forward, mm   Width 2440 Height, mm 2390 Reservations, mm   Body forehead 50 (60) Hull board 25 Tower forehead (deckhouse) 50 (60) Roof and bottom of the hull 8-25 weaponry   Gun brand 41.M Caliber in mm / barrel length in calibers 40/51 Ammunition shots 101 The number and caliber (in mm) of machine guns 2-8,0 Anti-aircraft machine gun — Ammunition for machine guns, cartridges   Engine, type, brand Z-TURAN carb. Z-TURAN Motor Power, hp 260 Top speed km / h 47 Fuel capacity, l 265 Range on the highway, km 165 Average ground pressure, kg / cm2 0,61 Turan-2   "Turan" II Year of construction 1943 Combat weight, t 19,2 Crew. 5 Body length, mm 5500 Length with gun forward, mm   Width 2440 Height, mm 2430 Reservations, mm   Body forehead 50 Hull board 25 Tower forehead (deckhouse)   Roof and bottom of the hull 8-25 weaponry   Gun brand 41.M Caliber in mm / barrel length in calibers 75/25 Ammunition shots 56 The number and caliber (in mm) of machine guns 2-8,0 Anti-aircraft machine gun — Ammunition for machine guns, cartridges 1800 Engine, type, brand Z-TURAN carb. Z-TURAN Motor Power, hp 260 Top speed km / h 43 Fuel capacity, l 265 Range on the highway, km 150 Average ground pressure, kg / cm2 0,69 Zrinyi-2   Zrinyi II Year of construction 1943 Combat weight, t 21,5 Crew. 4 Body length, mm 5500 Length with gun forward, mm 5900 Width 2890 Height, mm 1900 Reservations, mm   Body forehead 75 Hull board 25 Tower forehead (deckhouse) 13 Roof and bottom of the hull   weaponry   Gun brand 40 / 43.М Caliber in mm / barrel length in calibers 105/20,5 Ammunition shots 52 The number and caliber (in mm) of machine guns — Anti-aircraft machine gun — Ammunition for machine guns, cartridges   Engine, type, brand carb. Z- TURAN Motor Power, hp 260 Top speed km / h 40 Fuel capacity, l 445 Range on the highway, km 220 Average ground pressure, kg / cm2 0,75 Nimrod   "Nimrod" Year of construction 1940 Combat weight, t 10,5 Crew. 6 Body length, mm 5320 Length with gun forward, mm   Width 2300 Height, mm 2300 Reservations, mm   Body forehead 13 Hull board 10 Tower forehead (deckhouse) 13 Roof and bottom of the hull 6-7 weaponry   Gun brand 36. M Caliber in mm / barrel length in calibers 40/60 Ammunition shots 148 The number and caliber (in mm) of machine guns — Anti-aircraft machine gun — Ammunition for machine guns, cartridges   Engine, type, brand carb. L8V / 36 Motor Power, hp 155 Top speed km / h 60 Fuel capacity, l 253 Range on the highway, km 250 Average ground pressure, kg / cm2   44M Zrinyi tank destroyer prototype (Zrinyi I) An attempt was made in February 1944, brought to prototype, to create an anti-tank self-propelled gun, essentially a tank destroyer - "Zrinyi" I, armed with a 75-mm cannon with a barrel length of 43 caliber. Its armor-piercing projectile (initial velocity 770 m/s) pierced 30 mm armor at an angle of 600° to the normal from a distance of 76 m. It didn't go further than the prototype, apparently because this gun was already ineffective against the armor of heavy tanks of the USSR. 44M Zrinyi (Zrinyi I) tank destroyer prototype   Click on images to enlarge   Combat use of "Zrinyi" According to the states, on October 1, 1943, assault artillery battalions were introduced into the Hungarian army, consisting of three companies of 9 self-propelled guns, plus a command vehicle. Thus, the battalion consisted of 30 self-propelled guns. The first battalion, named "Budapest", was formed in April 1944. He was immediately thrown into battle in Eastern Galicia. In August, the battalion was withdrawn to the rear. His losses, despite fierce fighting, were small. In the winter of 1944-1945, the battalion fought in the Budapest area. In the besieged capital, half of his cars were destroyed. Another 7 battalions were formed, bearing numbers - 7, 10, 13, 16, 20, 24 and 25. 10th "Sigetvar" battalion in September 1944 he successfully participated in heavy fighting in the Torda area. When withdrawing on September 13, all remaining self-propelled guns had to be destroyed. By the beginning of 1945, all the remaining Zrinyi were given 20th "Eger" и to the 24th "Košice" battalions. The 20th, having in addition to the Zrinja - 15 Hetzer fighter tanks (Czech production), participated in the battles as early as March 1945. Part of the 24th battalion died in Budapest. SAU "Zrinyi II" (40/43M Zrinyi) Click on the photo to enlarge The last units, armed with the Zrinya, surrendered on the territory of Czechoslovakia. Already after the war, the Czechs made some experiments and used one self-propelled guns as a training one in the early 50s. An unfinished copy of the Zrinyi, found in the workshops of the Ganz plant, was used in the civilian sector. The only surviving copy of "Zrinya" II, which had its own name "Irenke", is in the museum in Kubinka. “Zrinyi” – despite a certain lag in solving a number of technical problems, turned out to be a very successful combat vehicle, mainly due to the most promising idea of ​​​​creating an assault gun (put forward before the war by the German General Guderian) - self-propelled guns with full armor. "Zrinyi" is considered the most successful Hungarian combat vehicle of the Second World War. They successfully escorted the attacking infantry, but could not act against enemy tanks. In the same situation, the Germans re-equipped their Sturmgeshütz from a short-barreled gun to a long-barreled gun, thus obtaining a tank destroyer, although the former name - assault gun - was preserved for them. A similar attempt by the Hungarians failed. Sources: M. B. Baryatinsky. Tanks of Honvedsheg. (Armored Collection No. 3 (60) - 2005); I.P.Shmelev. Armored vehicles of Hungary (1940-1945); Dr. Peter Mujzer: The Royal Hungarian Army, 1920-1945.