The Czech S-IIc
As early as 1937, Czech company Škoda's workshops began work on a new medium tank, an upgraded version of the previous, successful Lt vz. 35, which was originally a light tank. This led to the building of two prototypes, designated S-II-c. But their construction dragged on until the Czech Republic was annexed by Nazi Germany and the factory was taken over. As designed, the S-II-c weighed 16.5 ton, still light for medium standards, and equipped with a 47 mm (1.85 in) Škoda A9 vz. 38 gun, two machine guns (one coaxial with the gun, one in the hull). The armor was improved to 30 mm (1.18 in), and the engine was upgraded to 13.8 liters, giving 250 hp (183.87 kW), providing a max speed in excess of 50 km/h (31 mph). After German occupation and Skoda being controlled by the Waffenamt, both prototypes were redesignated T-21 and work was resumed. In turn, a new prototype, designated T-22 was given to Hungary in 1941. Hungarian engineers then devised a whole range of modifications.
Design: The Turán
The T-22 was completely overhauled, starting with the fitting of a new gun, of lesser caliber but much higher velocity and faster reloading, the 40 mm (1.57 in) Škoda A17, which was also the main Hungarian anti-tank gun. Thus ammunition supplies were not a problem. More so the armor was revised and new plates were bolted-on, giving a total thickness of 50 mm (1.97 in) instead of 30 mm (1.18 in), equivalent to the new upgraded versions of the Panzer III and IV. The weight rose to 18 tons. The design was largely based on the previous LT vz. 35, and the suspension was similar, with two sets of bogies on each side, each with eighteen paired roadwheels, sprung by leaf springs. There was also a single set of tender wheels at the front. The drive sprockets were also at the front, idlers at the rear. However, the upper part of the hull was completely rebuilt, with the rear engine compartment being roomier and better ventilated. There was also a brand new turret, large enough for three men, but lower than the LT vz. 35 turret. The entire hull was bolted and slightly longer. The tracks were enlarged and supported by five return rollers.
Production: The 40M Turán I
The Turán I was armed with the standard Hungarian anti-tank and anti-aircraft gun, which used Bofors ammunition, still supplied by Sweden and already available in large stocks. With the added armor, the maximum speed was reduced to 47 km/h (29.2 mph). However this armor was not sloped and presented near-flat surfaces to incoming rounds. Production started at the end of 1941 and ended in 1943, after 285 had been built. The factories involved were Weiss Manfréd (70), Magyar Waggongyár (70), Mávag (50) and Ganz from Budapest (45). By 1943, many Turán Is received spaced side skirt protections similar to the German Schürzen system.
The 41M Turán II
The standard 40 mm (1.57 in) gun was completely inefficient against the Russian T-34 and KV-1, so Hungarian designers attempted to mount a 75 mm (2.95 in) M41 short barrel, derived from the Bohler M18 field gun, on a prototype to perform various tests on flat and sloped armors. The turret was enlarged to house the massive breech loading system and a special armored recoil piston was adapted to the gun. This made the turret interior cramped and crowded. New vents were designed to extract the massive fume following the blast. The 41M Turán II first appeared in May 1943, was produced to an extent of 139 between 1943 and 1944, ending with the Soviet occupation of Hungary.
/Hungary/Files/2-MediumTanks/Turan-2/Turan2-03.ww2aircraft.net.jpg)
The 43M Turán III and Zrinyi I/II
The Turan III was the last, upgraded version, equipped with the German 75 mm (2.95 in) KwK 40 L43 gun adopted on the Panzer IV Ausf J, and a revised turret which integrated large side covers around the commander cupola. It was designed to receive side skirts from the start, which in turn equipped Turán's I/II. A single prototype was built in 1944, but the development was stopped as Panzer IVs were now supplied in large numbers. Another vehicle using this gun was an attempt to imitate the success of the German StuG, while converting the chassis into a SPG. Two were built using the same modified hull. The Zrinyi-I, a tank hunter fitted with the KwK-40 L43, which remained as a prototype since the Panzerjäger 38(t) Hetzer and other German tank hunters were also largely supplied, and the Zrinyi-II, equipped with a short barrel 105 mm (4.13 in) MAVAG 40/43M L20.5 and improved protection (75 mm/2.95 in sloped glacis). 60 were built between 1943-44.
The Turán in action
All the Turán I/IIs built were used by the 1st and 2nd Hungarian Armored Divisions, but also the 1st Cavalry Division, and saw their first operational commitment early on in 1944, in Galicia, were they were completely outclassed by Russian's T-34 and IS-I/II. They failed to achieve their objectives and were butchered by the dozen. The 2nd Armored Division itself lost in this counter-offensive three quarters of its strength in a matter of hours. They also fought at Debrecen with the same results. The remnants tried to stop the Soviet advance towards Budapest or were simply abandoned on the spot. When the campaign was over in February 1945, the Soviets managed to capture many Hungarian tanks. One is now displayed now at the Kubinka museum.
Turán I specifications
Dimensions 4.55 x 2.44 x 2.39 m (14x8x7.8 ft) Maximum weight, battle ready 18.2 tons Crew 5 (driver, commander, gunner, loader, co-gunner/radioman) Propulsion Gasoline Manfred Weiss-Z, 260 hp (195 kW) Top Speed 47 km/h (29 mph), p/w ratio 14 hp/ton Operational Range 165 km (102 mi) Armament Main : 40 mm (1.57 in) Škoda A17
Secondary: 2x 7.92 mm (0.31 in) 38M Gebauer machine guns Armor Maximum 50 mm (1.97 in) Production (Turán I) 285
The Czech S-IIc
As early as 1937, Czech company Škoda's workshops began work on a new
medium tank, an upgraded version of the previous, successful Lt vz. 35,
which was originally a light tank. This led to the building of two
prototypes, designated S-II-c. But their construction dragged on until
the Czech Republic was annexed by Nazi Germany and the factory was taken
over. As designed, the S-II-c weighed 16.5 ton, still light for medium
standards, and equipped with a 47 mm (1.85 in) Škoda A9 vz. 38 gun, two
machine guns (one coaxial with the gun, one in the hull). The armor was
improved to 30 mm (1.18 in), and the engine was upgraded to 13.8 liters,
giving 250 hp (183.87 kW), providing a max speed in excess of 50 km/h
(31 mph). After German occupation and Skoda being controlled by the
Waffenamt, both prototypes were redesignated T-21 and work was resumed.
In turn, a new prototype, designated T-22 was given to Hungary in 1941.
Hungarian engineers then devised a whole range of modifications.
Design: The Turán
The T-22 was completely overhauled, starting with the fitting of a new
gun, of lesser caliber but much higher velocity and faster reloading,
the 40 mm (1.57 in) Škoda A17, which was also the main Hungarian
anti-tank gun. Thus ammunition supplies were not a problem. More so the
armor was revised and new plates were bolted-on, giving a total
thickness of 50 mm (1.97 in) instead of 30 mm (1.18 in), equivalent to
the new upgraded versions of the Panzer III and IV. The weight rose to
18 tons. The design was largely based on the previous LT vz. 35, and the
suspension was similar, with two sets of bogies on each side, each with
eighteen paired roadwheels, sprung by leaf springs. There was also a
single set of tender wheels at the front. The drive sprockets were also
at the front, idlers at the rear. However, the upper part of the hull
was completely rebuilt, with the rear engine compartment being roomier
and better ventilated. There was also a brand new turret, large enough
for three men, but lower than the LT vz. 35 turret. The entire hull was
bolted and slightly longer. The tracks were enlarged and supported by
five return rollers.
Production: The 40M Turán I
The Turán I was armed with the standard Hungarian anti-tank and
anti-aircraft gun, which used Bofors ammunition, still supplied by
Sweden and already available in large stocks. With the added armor, the
maximum speed was reduced to 47 km/h (29.2 mph). However this armor was
not sloped and presented near-flat surfaces to incoming rounds.
Production started at the end of 1941 and ended in 1943, after 285 had
been built. The factories involved were Weiss Manfréd (70), Magyar
Waggongyár (70), Mávag (50) and Ganz from Budapest (45). By 1943, many
Turán Is received spaced side skirt protections similar to the German
Schürzen system.
The 41M Turán II
The standard 40 mm (1.57 in) gun was completely inefficient against the
Russian T-34 and KV-1, so Hungarian designers attempted to mount a 75
mm (2.95 in) M41 short barrel, derived from the Bohler M18 field gun, on
a prototype to perform various tests on flat and sloped armors. The
turret was enlarged to house the massive breech loading system and a
special armored recoil piston was adapted to the gun. This made the
turret interior cramped and crowded. New vents were designed to extract
the massive fume following the blast. The 41M Turán II first appeared in
May 1943, was produced to an extent of 139 between 1943 and 1944,
ending with the Soviet occupation of Hungary.
The 43M Turán III and Zrinyi I/II
The Turan III was the last, upgraded version, equipped with the German
75 mm (2.95 in) KwK 40 L43 gun adopted on the Panzer IV Ausf J, and a
revised turret which integrated large side covers around the commander
cupola. It was designed to receive side skirts from the start, which in
turn equipped Turán's I/II. A single prototype was built in 1944, but
the development was stopped as Panzer IVs were now supplied in large
numbers. Another vehicle using this gun was an attempt to imitate the
success of the German StuG, while converting the chassis into a SPG. Two
were built using the same modified hull. The Zrinyi-I, a tank hunter
fitted with the KwK-40 L43, which remained as a prototype since the
Panzerjäger 38(t) Hetzer and other German tank hunters were also largely
supplied, and the Zrinyi-II, equipped with a short barrel 105 mm (4.13
in) MAVAG 40/43M L20.5 and improved protection (75 mm/2.95 in sloped
glacis). 60 were built between 1943-44.
The Turán in action
All the Turán I/IIs built were used by the 1st and 2nd Hungarian
Armored Divisions, but also the 1st Cavalry Division, and saw their
first operational commitment early on in 1944, in Galicia, were they
were completely outclassed by Russian's T-34 and IS-I/II. They failed to
achieve their objectives and were butchered by the dozen. The 2nd
Armored Division itself lost in this counter-offensive three quarters of
its strength in a matter of hours. They also fought at Debrecen with
the same results. The remnants tried to stop the Soviet advance towards
Budapest or were simply abandoned on the spot. When the campaign was
over in February 1945, the Soviets managed to capture many Hungarian
tanks. One is now displayed now at the Kubinka museum.
- See more at:
Tanks-encyclopedia.com
I approve of this article, it was a good read indeed.