Turán

The Turán was a Hungarian medium tank developed during World War II, designed to counter the growing threat from Soviet and Allied armoured forces. The first tank in the series, the Turán I, was based on the Czechoslovak Škoda T-21 medium tank prototype, which the Hungarians initially developed into the T-22 design. After modifying the T-22, it was accepted into service in 1941 as the Turán I. However, it saw service only in Hungarian tank schools until 1944, when it served briefly in Hungary’s last offensive on the Eastern Front, and primarily defensively until the last defence of Hungary.

The 40.M Turán I featured a completely redesigned turret, hull, and suspension. It was equipped with a 40 mm cannon, as well as 8 mm machine guns for anti-infantry and secondary firepower. The tank’s armour was thicker than previous Hungarian designs, providing better protection for the crew. Other modifications included the addition of smoke grenade launchers and various mechanical upgrades.

The 41.M Turán II, introduced in 1942, was an upgraded version of the Turán I, similar to the transition from the German Pz.III to Pz.IV (early). The Turán II featured the addition of a more powerful short-barrel 75 mm gun, which gave it better anti-tank capabilities compared to the original 40 mm gun. The tank also saw increased armour thickness, improving protection against incoming fire.

In 1943, the 43.M Turán III was the last variant of the Turán series, though it only reached the prototype stage. It featured a redesigned, larger turret to accommodate the more powerful long-barrel 75 mm gun, significantly improving its anti-tank capabilities. However, by the time it was developed, it was comparable to the Pz.IV F2/H while Germany was already pushing out their stronger and newer Panthers.

A significant variant of the Turán was the Zrínyi, which were self-propelled guns built on a wider Turán chassis. The 43.M Zrínyi II was a self-propelled howitzer equipped with a 105 mm howitzer, intended for artillery support. The 44.M Zrínyi I was another limited prototype similar to the Turán III, featuring a long-barrel 75 mm gun but never entering full production or service.

In total, around 500 Turán & Zrínyi tanks were produced, making it one of the most significant Hungarian tank designs of the war, though its limited production and capabilities were overshadowed by its German ally’s more advanced tanks. Many Turáns were lost in combat against the Soviet wave of troops and tanks, such as the T-34/85 or captured by its former ally Romania during the war. After the Hungarian surrender, the last remaining tanks were pressed into service by the Soviets to bolster their forces against the Germans.