Hungarian medium tank
The 43M Turán III or 44M Turán III was a Hungarian medium tank of World War II. It was based on the 41M Turán II medium tank but was equipped with a significantly larger turret and a much more powerful long-barreled 75 mm gun.
Development.
Though the Turán I and II had not yet seen combat, in February 1943 the General Staff of the Honvédség decided it was necessary to begin a modernisation program to improve the tanks. In April 1943 the Hungarian General Staff debated whether to build the Turán III or to obtain the license to produce the long barrelled Panzer IV. Major General Zoltan Harmos asserted that the Panzer IV was not superior enough to the planned Turán III to be worth the price the Germans would ask for the production license.
In August 1943 the first prototype of the Turán III was built on the chassis of a Turán I (registration H-830). This first prototype had a new turret and additional 25mm of armor added to the front and rear of the tank. A second prototype was planned for December 1943, but was not completed until June 1944. The second prototype had around 75-95mm of armor on the front of the turret and the hull, which further increased the weight and slowed the vehicle down compared to the earlier Turán variants.
Production.
Two Turán III vehicles were produced, a prototype and a fully functioning vehicle for the trials. The Turán III with the actual turret was finished in February 1944. Mobility and firing tests were then carried out. However, no more 43M Turáns (Turán III or Turán 75 long) were constructed because of a lack of materials and the fact that after the Occupation of Hungary in March 1944, Germany did not allow further tank and gun production, and restricted Hungarian industry to only spare part manufacturing level. However, this was most likely circumvented in the case of the 44M Tas' development..
Service.
The Hungarian tank driver József Czimmermann stated that there were several Turan III in the 2nd Armoured Division during the fighting near the Ipoly in late 1944. He claimed that the damaged Turán IIIs were captured by the Soviet Union.
See also.
Related development
Notes.
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