Anti Air, Anti Tank, Field Guns, Howitzers and Siege Howitzers of the Royal Hungarian Army of World

The 4cm 36.M Anti Aircraft gun (This had a 36/40.M variant which had a gun shield)

Hungary bought the licence of the Swedish Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun and started producing it in 1936. This mechanized-AA artillery gun was completly identical to the original one in all specifications. By the end of 1942 Hungary ordered 1084 autocannons from the factories in total but between 1936 and 1944 only 430 were produced and another 220 for Germany. The autocannon was so precise and effective that Hungary started to use it as a duel-purpose gun in 1940-41; she used it for AA and AT roles too. According to the soldiers the gun was so precise that they could take out the driver of a truck from 2-3 kilometers with one shot. Hungary still used these guns against ground targets in 1943-44 but with special ammunitions.

In 1943 a new shaped charge, fin-stabilized shell was intorduced, the 42.M páncélrobbantó gránát ("armor exploder grenade", seen in picture No. 2) which increased the gun's armor piercing capabilities. A new AP shell was issued to the gun too, the 43.M magvas páncélgránát ("cored armor-piercing"), Hungary did not had the materials nor the technology to produce tungsten so these AP shells had a common steel core.

The 36.M autocannon was the main weapon of the Hungarian Nimród SPAAG too. It was also fixed on 3 or 4 Hungarian built Me 210 Ca-1 heavy fighters as an experimental armament.

40 mm 36/40.M AA autocannon: It became clear that the crew of the AA autocannons were unprotected against enemy small-arms fire. Because of that the guns recieved 6 mm thick gun-shields to protect the crew from enemy fire. This added 300 kg more to the overall weight.

The 4cm 40.M Anti-tank gun (the Turan I's 4cm 41.M cannon was made developed from this, using the Czech Skoda gun shield)

Before the war Hungary purchased some 3.7 cm PaK 36 anti-tank guns from Germany and used them as a standard AT gun.

However in 1940 the barrels of many of these PaK 36 guns were changed to a 40 mm L/47 caliber barrel with horizonal sliding block. These modifications were done because Hungary already produced 40 mm shells for it's AA autocannons and this way both the AT guns and the AA autocannons could used the same shells which made logistics easier.

In time all PaK 36 guns were modified and the new AT gun was named as 40.M AT gun.

Because Hungary did not had a gun research department there were no efforts to develop a stronger AT gun. In December 1942 Hungary bought the licence of the German 7.5 cm PaK 40 AT gun (named it as 75 mm 43.M AT gun) with the intention of replacing the Hungarian 40.M AT guns with it, but due to material shortage no 75 mm AT guns were made until the end of the war, only 2 tank gun variants which were used for the Turán III and Zrínyi I projects.

The 40.M AT gun was used until the end of the war, between 1940 and 1944 a total number of 822 were given to the Hungarian Armed Forces. Sometime during the war, around 1944 the gun breech was re-modelled to a semi-automatic one which is proved by some archive newsreel videos.

40 mm 41.M tank gun: main gun of the Hungarian 40.M Turán tank (seen in picture No. 3). The gun was a Hungarian 40 mm L/51 caliber barrel which was fixed on the gun cradle of a Czech 3,7cm ÚV vz. 38. The tank gun fired the same shells as the 40.M AT gun and the 36.M AA autocannon but the 42.M fin-stabilized shell was not used by the Turán I. The breech of the tank gun was still opened by the crew, it was not semi-automatic at the beginning but later in the war it might have re-modelled just like the 40.M anti-tank gun.

The 5 cm 39.M grenade launcher

This weapon was developed in 1939 by Hungary to provide it's troops with a weapon that could give effective fire cover within ranges which were too risky to cover with field artillery or even by mortars. The 39.M grenade launcher had an effective fire range of 50 to 850 meters and it's 0,85 kg grenades had the exploding effects of two hand grenades. An experienced crew could fire 20 to 30 grenades in a minute.

The most intresting part of the weapon is the exhaust which was on the back side of the barrel. The barrel had 6 holes on it and through them the gunpowder gases could escape. If the exhaust was in a "closed" position the gases could escape through only 1 hole, but if it was "open" all 6 holes were available. The weapon used the gas pressure to fire it's grenades - more gas meant bigger range, less gas meant smaller range of fire.

The exact number of built 50 mm 39.M grenade launchers is not known.

The Hungarian 7,5 cm 15.M mountain gun (This had a 15/31.M and a 15/35.M variant)

After WW1 Hungary kept using the Skoda 7.5 cm Gebirgskanone M 15 but with a Hungarian designation. The 15.M was used throughout the whole war by the Hungarian mountain troops, moreover this was the one and only artillery gun which was used by the Hungarian paratroopers too.

The gun wighted 620 kg in firing position but it could be taken apart to 3 pieces to carry around.

7,5 cm 15/31.M mountain gun: in 1931 the gun was slightly modified and was used by the cavalry units of the Hungarian Armed Forces and because of that it was called the "Hussar-gun", it was towed by a wagon. 7,5 cm 15/35.M mountain gun: in 1935 a small portion of the guns were modified further. The new gun weighted 50 kg more than the original one. The 15/35.M mountain gun was used by the horse-artillery units of the mountain troops.

Both the 15.M, 15/31.M and the 15/35.M fired the same 6,5 kg shells and their firing range was 7600 meters. Hungary had enough mountain guns at the beginning of the war to statisfy it's needs so no more mountain guns were manufactured.

A 7,5 cm 42.M shaped charge was issued to the gun which had 60-70 mm armor penetration at 60° from horizontal.

A 7,5 cm 34/35.M armor-piercing high-explosive shell was also issued to this gun, the armor penetration values of this shell were: 100 meter - 24 mm - 60° from horizontal

The 7.5cm 40.M Anti tank Gun

This was to be built based on the license of the German PaK40, BUT none of these were ever built due to tooling and resource shortage!

But from the Hungarian developed Tank gun version of it, from the 7.5cm 43.M tank gun, 2 were manufactured (This gun should NEVER be confused with the German PaK 40's tank gun version, the 7.5cm KwK.

Because the Hungarian 43.M was not built on the license of the German KwK 40, BUT it was developed from the blueprints of the PaK 40, converted in a Hungarian style) , These were built into the Turán III and into the Zrínyi I.

The Hungarian 8 cm 05/08.M field gun(A version of this, the 14.M AA gun was the cannon of the Rába "Vr

After WW1 Hungary kept using the 8 cm Feldkanone M 05/08 but with a Hungarian designation. Many of these guns were given back to Hungary by Italy in the interwar period. The 05/08.M field gun was used by all branches of the Hungarian Armed Forces as a horse-artillery gun but it could be found mainly in cavalry units because of it's light weight. The gun fired a 7 kg shell to 9300 meters.

Hungary did not planned to keep this gun in service for long so no more guns were manufactured when the war broke out.

8 cm 14.M gun: it was an AA gun version of the 05/08.M field gun which was installed on a rotating gunpad. The Rába "Vr" self-propelled AA guns were armed with these guns. Also the AA defense of Kassa was mainly made up from 14.M AA guns on 26 June 1941. The vertical firing range of the 14.M AA gun was 4800 meters.

The Hungarian 8 cm 18.M field gun( This had an 18/22.M version from which the 7.5cm 41.M tank gun of the Turán II was developed)

After WW1 Hungary kept using the 8 cm Feldkanone M 18 but with a Hungarian designation. The 18.M field gun was a horse-artillery gun and could be found in all branches of the Hungarian Armed Forces, it was called the "Böhler-gun".

It fired a 6,5 kg shell to 8400 meters and was used throughout the whole war even when Hungary did not manufactured new ones because she did not wanted to keep the gun in service for long. Even Hungarian armored trains No. 101 and 103 were armed with one 18.M gun.

8 cm 18/22.M gun: in 1922 some 18.M field guns were modified. The cannon became lighter and was more suitable for Hussar units too. Some monitors of the Hungarian River Forces were equipped with 22.M armed turrets for some time, while Hungarian armored trains No. 102 and No. 104 used the 22.M guns in their turrets throughout the war. The turret mounted 22.M gun can be seen in picture No. 2 which is Hungarian armored train No. 102.

75 mm 41.M tank gun: the main gun of the Hungarian 41.M Turán tank. The tank gun was converted from the 18.M field gun by the Swedish Bofors. The 41.M was the first Hungarian tank gun which had a horizontal semi-automatic sliding block.

An 8 cm 34/35.M armor-piercing high-explosive shell was issued to 18.M and 18/22.M guns but sadly the armor penetration value of this shell is not known.

The Hungarian 8 cm 29.M AA gun( This had a 29/38.M and a 29/44.M version too. we mainly used the 29/38.M version)

In 1929 Hungary bought the licence of the Swedish Bofors 80 mm Model 1929 and started producing it. The 29.M had a 3840 mm long barrel which gave it an L/48 barrel caliber length. It had an elevation of -3° to 80° and a traverse of 360° and was 4200 kg heavy. It fired a 8 kg shell with 750 m/s to 6-8000 meters vertically and 10000 meters horizontally.

8 cm 29/38.M AA gun: a modification of the licence built gun. It recieved a muzzle break and some specifications changed. It had a 3770 mm long barrel which gave it an L/47,125 barrel caliber length. The gun had an elevation of -3° to 80° and a traverse of 360° and was 4215 kg heavy. It fired a 8 kg shell with 750 m/s to 8-9000 meters vertically and 14900 meters horizontally. It had a muzzle energy of 229 mt. All older 29.M AA guns were converted into 29/38.M.

8 cm 29/44.M AA gun: later in the war Hungary tried to modernize it's 8 cm AA guns because the 29/38.M guns could not reach the American bombers flying around 10000 meters, running bombing raids on Hungary.

The 29/44.M was the solution. It had a 4585 mm long barrel which gave it an L/57,3 barrel caliber length. The gun had an elevation of -5° to 80° and a traverse of 360° and was 3260 kg heavy. It fired a 8 kg shell with 880-910 m/s to 10800 meters vertically and 18500 meters horizontally. It had a muzzle energy of 322,8 mt. Sadly only the prototype was finished the factories could not manufacture any before the Russians occupied the country.

The Hungarian Tas tank was originally planned to be armed with a 8 cm tank gun converted from a 29/38.M AA gun.

The armor penetrating values of the 29/38.M AA gun with a 29/35.M APHE shell is well known: 100 meter – 83 mm – 60° from horizontal 500 meter – 77 mm – 60° from horizontal 1000 meter – 70 mm – 60° from horizontal

Around 200 8 cm AA guns were made but it was probably less than that.

The Hungarian 81 mm 36.M medium mortar

(This had a 36/39.M version too.)

This infantry mortar was developed in 1936 by Hungary. The proper caliber of it was 81,4 mm, weighted 85 kg in firing position and fired 4,125 kg shells. An experienced crew could fire 20-25 shells in a minute and the maximum firing range of it was 4300 meters. The mortar had an early firing prevention safety button on the bottom of the barrel.

81 mm 36/39.M infantry mortar: In 1939 the mortar was re-modified. The early firing safety button was abandoned and the firing range has grown to 6200 meters.

In the early stages of the war only one factory produced these mortars so it was in short supply. From 1943 two other factories joined in the production and with that the need of 80 mm infantry mortars got statisfied.

The Hungarian experimental 80 mm crenel-shooting gun

After the experiences of 1940 and 1941 the Hungarian government ordered the HTI (Institute of Military Technology) to develop a field gun which was capable to destroy enemy fortifications by shooting through their crenels which is a more precise and effective way than blindly shooting concrete forts with howitzers.

The original plan was to develop a gun barrel which could be mounted on the 15 cm 31.M howitzer's (licence built Bofors 150 mm Howitzer Model 1931) gun carriage. Then artillery units equiped with the specific gun carriage could switch the gun barrels according to the functions desired. For the tests the barrel was mounted on a 15 cm 14.M howitzer's (15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze M 14) gun carriage in 1942.

The crenel-shooting gun's barrel was made out of a 8 cm 29/38.M AA gun (slightly modified licence built Bofors 80 mm Model 1929) in 4 months with L/70 caliber length. It was a 1500 mm draw to the original L/50 length, and because of that the standard APHE round had 950 m/s muzzle velocity instead of 750 m/s. It was enough to shoot through 80 cm of concrete. Armor penetration datas are not known but the gun probably surpassed the German 7.5 cm PaK 40 AT gun's armor penetrating values.

It is still not known that what happened to this experimental gun and why was it abandoned, but we do know that it did not entered mass production and Hungary focused on the 40 mm 40.M AT guns instead. So far no pictures were found of this gun, only datas that it existed. The picture above is the illustration of the 8 cm L/70 barrel mounted on the 14.M howitzer's gun carriage.

The Hungarian 10 cm 14.M howitzer

(This had a 14/A.M version too)

After WW1 Hungary kept using the 10 cm M 14 Feldhaubitze but under a Hungarian designation. The higher ups of the Hungarian Armed Forces planned to replace all 10 cm 14.M howitzers with new Hungarian developed 10,5 cm artillery guns (10,5 cm 40.M howitzer) so there were no production of these guns. However they were kept in service until 1941 when the new gun came out. These guns could be found in all branches of the Hungarian Armed Forces as a horse-artillery gun. The 14.M howitzer weighted 1417 kg in firing position and fired a 4,5 kg shell to 8000 meters.

10 cm 14/A.M howitzer: some 14.M howitzers were modified sometime in the interwar period to fire more powerful shells.

Due to the modifications the 14/A.M howitzer wighted 1420 kg, but could fire a 13,75 kg shell to 8870 meters. It was put out of service the same time as the 14.M howitzer.

The gun in the picture is a 14/A.M howitzer.

The Hungarian 10,5 cm 31.M mechanized heavy field gun

In 1931 Hungary bought the licence of the Swedish Bofors 10.5 cm Cannon Model 1927. This heavy field gun had an interrupted screw breech like the original one but the gun itself differed from the original in other specifications. It could fire a 17,5 kg shell to 19500 meters with 825 m/s muzzle velocity. The barrel length of the 31.M was 5250 mm which gave an L/50 caliber barrel length. The gun itself was 5995 kg heavy in firing position, had an elevation of -5° to +45° and a traverse of 22,5°.

These were mechanized-artillery guns and were used by artillery units which supported infantry, mechanized infantry and tanks. Not much of these guns were manufactured and sadly all were lost in the Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh Offensive, January 1943.

The Hungarian 10,5 cm 37.M howitzer

In 1937 Hungary purchased a great number of 10.5 cm Leichte FeldHaubitze 18 light howitzers from Germany.

The licence of these guns were not sold so Hungary could only purchase them, manufacturing was not possible. The 37.M howitzer came out in horse-artillery and mechanized-artillery versions. The one in the picture is a horse-artillery version, the mechanized-artillery version had solid rubber tires.

Hungary had 25 batteries with horse-artillery guns and 14 batteries with mechanized-artillery guns in 1943. These numbers increased when Germany gave more of these howitzers to Hungary to compensate the artillery gun losses of the Hungarian 2nd Army. However the experiences proved that these howitzers were too heavy for the horses and in time all 37.M howitzers became mechanized.

These guns were used by artillery units which supported infantry, mechanized infantry, cavalry and tanks. They were called the "Göring-howitzers".

The Hungarian 10,5 cm 40.M howitzer

(From this was the gun of the Zrínyi II made.

The development of this gun started in 1939 but manufacturing problems caused the project to be finished in January 1941. The 40.M howitzer had a muzzle break and a horizonal sliding block which opened to the right. The gun cradle had a hydraulic break and a liquid pneumatic push mechanism which pushed back the barrel into firing position.

The barrel was placed on the gun carriage of the 10 cm 14.M howitzer. Because of the the barrel was much smaller than the German 10.5 cm leichte FeldHaubitze 18's which was used by Hungary too.

However the General Staff of the Hugarian Army wanted the same muzzle velocity that the German gun had - 471 m/s with the biggest charge.

To reach that Hungary issued a new additional-charge just for this gun. With this additional-charge the 40.M fired shells with 510 m/s.

When the 10,5 cm 40.M howitzer was mass-produced it started to replace the 10 cm 14.M and 14/A.M howitzers. Because of that it could be found in all branches of the Hungarian Armed Forces as a horse-artillery gun. The 40.M howitzer could fire 14,75-15,8 kg shells to 10760 meters and was capable to fire all types of shells the German 10.5 cm leichte FeldHaubitze 18 used. The gun had an L/20 barrel caliber length with a 2148 mm long barrel, had an elevation of -5° to +45° and a traverse of 4°.

In October 1942 the Hungarian MÁVAG factory showed the blueprints of a better performing gun, the 10.5cm 42.M howitzer. However this new howitzer did not entered mass-production and in 1944 all howitzer productions were stopped in Hungary by the Germans.

Despite that the 40.M howitzer was used until the very end of the war and some of them were used as the Hungarian Zrínyi II self-propelled gun's armament.

10,5 cm 40.M tank howitzer: this gun (picture No.2) was used in the Zrínyi II assault howitzer. The main structure of the gun didn't changed but it had a different firing mechanism and safety systems. The gun had a primary pneumatic and a secondary mechanical firing mechanism. The safety system was an electric circuit, the loader had to push two buttons with his thumbs two close the circuit which made it possible to fire the gun otherwise it didn't fire, this procedure was used to prevent the loader being hit by the gun when fired.

Some characteristics of the howitzer also changed; it fired a HE-T shell with 471 m/s and a HEAT-T shell with 444 m/s.

The Hungarian 10,5 cm 42.M howitzer prototype

The development of this gun started in 1942 when the mass-production of the 10,5 cm 40.M howitzer didn't even started. The developers believed that this gun - which performed better than the 40.M - could replace the older artillery guns. The 40.M howitzer had a firing range of 10.400 meters while the 42.M howitzer had 11.250 meters. It was also heavier than the 40.M howitzer.

Despite having a better firing range than the 40.M howitzer the Hungarian General Staff was not amused since the 42.M howitzer could be towed only by artillery tractors because of its weight. The developers modified the gun a little and made it lighter so even horses could tow the gun.

However, because of material shortages - and because the General Staff still thought that it was too heavy - the 42.M gun didn't entered into a mass-production state and remained in a prototype state.

The Hungarian 120 mm 43.M mortar

As Germany, Finland and Romania did, Hungary also captured large quantities of Russian M1938 120-millimeter mortars. Hungary created it's own design too using these captured weapons as a model, thus the 43.M mortar was born. Sadly we don't know exact datas of this weapon but we do know that it was produced and used in the war.

Other heavy mortars used by Hungary in WW2: - German 10 cm Nebelwerfer 40 (used them as 10,5 cm 40.M smoke launchers but used only in 1943) - French Mortier de 150 mm T Modèle 1917 Fabry (only one reminiscence mentions 15 cm mortars being used on wagons of the Hungarian "Botond" gun train in 1941-43, and this is the only 15 cm mortar that I know of which is an acceptable theory because Germany did give Hungary looted French weapons)

The Hungarian 15 cm 14.M medium howitzer

(This had a 14/35.M and a 14/39.M version too.)

After WW1 Hungary kept using the 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze M 14 (picture No.1) but with a Hungarian designation. Many guns were given back to Hungary by Italy in the interwar period. It was an effective weapon in WW1 but it was obsolote in WW2 so many of these guns were modified. The original 14.M howitzer weighted 2765 kg, had a 2087 mm long barrel with L/14 barrel caliber length, had an elevation of +5° to +70° and a traverse of 8°. It also fired a 42 kg shell to 8000 meters with 350 m/s muzzle velocity.

15 cm 14/35.M howitzer: the first modification of the gun happened in 1935. It recieved a detachable funnel-like muzzle break, an additional wieght on the breech to reduce recoil energy and the barrel itself was made of steel. The 14/35.M howitzer weighted 2965 kg, had a 2574 mm long barrel with L/17 barrel caliber length, had an elevation of +5° to +70° and a traverse of 4°. It also fired a 42-47 kg shell to 10690 meters with 277-380 m/s muzzle velocity.

15 cm 14/39.M howitzer: the second modification of the gun happened before WW2 started in 1939. The 14/39.M howitzer (picture No.2) recieved a completly new barrel, gun cradle and a modern hidraulic break system. It weighted 2765 kg, had a 2644 mm long barrel with L/17,5 barrel caliber length, had an elevation of +5° to +70° and a traverse of 4°. It also fired a 42,7 kg shell with 345 m/s muzzle velocity.

All of these guns were used throughout the war as horse-artillery guns and were used by artillery units which supported infantry, mechanized infantry, cavalry and tanks, because they were too heavy to be used by the Hungarian mountain troops.

The Hungarian 15 cm 31.M mechanized medium howitzer

In 1931 Hungary bought the licence of the Swedish Bofors 150 mm Howitzer Model 1931. This heavy howitzer had an interrupted screw breech like the original one but the gun itself differed from the original in other specifications. It could fire a 42-47 kg shell to 14600 meters with 530-583 m/s muzzle velocity. The barrel length of the 31.M was 3600 mm which gave an L/24 caliber barrel length. The gun itself was 5595 kg heavy in firing position, had an elevation of -5° to +45° and a traverse of 22,5°.

These were mechanized-artillery guns and were used by artillery units which supported infantry, mechanized infantry and tanks. They were used throughout the war.

Other 15 cm howitzers used by Hungary in WW2: - German 15 cm schweres Infanterie Geschütz 33 (used only in 1942)

The Hungarian 15 cm 43.M multiple rocket launcher

(German 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 license)

Hungary bougth the licence of the German 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 in 1943 and started to produce it's own versions in Summer 1944. Like the German version the Hungarian licence built rocket launcher could fire smoke and high-explosive warheads.

The exact number of built 43.M multiple rocket launchers is not known, but we do know that at least 3 or 4 Hungarian built Me 210 Ca-1 heavy fighters were equipped with 6 launching tubes (3-3 under each wing) and one Hungarian Zrínyi SPG was armed with it too. These vehicles were all successfully tested but never really made it out of an experimental state.

And its unknown if they saw or did not saw action.

The German 8.8 cm rocket louncher

The Hungarian 21 cm 39.M heavy howitzer

(This had a 40.M and a 40/A.M version too)

In 1939 Hungary purchased some Obice da 210/22 modello 35 howitzers from Italy alongside with the licence. The Italian Ansaldo howitzers were put into service as 39.M howitzers. These guns fired a 101 kg shell to 15400 meters with 560 m/s muzzle velocity. The barrel was 5000 mm long which gave an L/23,8 barrel caliber length. The gun itself was 15885 kg heavy in combat position, had an elevation of 0° to 70°, and a traverse of 75°.

21 cm 40.M howitzer: the Hungarian licence built version. It differed from the original gun in specifics. The 40.M fired a 102-117,5 kg shell with 528-553 m/s muzzle velocity. The barrel was 4998 mm long which gave an L/23,8 barrel caliber length. The gun itself was 15021 kg heavy in combat position, had an elevation of 0° to 70°, and a traverse of 75°.

21 cm 40/A.M howitzer: a modified version of the licence built howitzer. The 40/A.M fired a 101 kg shell to 16000 meters with 570 m/s muzzle velocity. The barrel was 4998 mm long which gave an L/23,8 barrel caliber length. The gun itself was 15885 kg heavy in combat position, had an elevation of 0° to 70°, and a traverse of 75°.

All the howitzers were carried around in 2 pieces (barrel and gun carriage) or in 4 pieces on rough terrain. For short distances the whole gun could be moved too in one piece. The howitzers were mechanized-artillery guns obviosly, because they were too heavy for horses. The last Hungarian produced 21 cm howitzer came out of the factory in 1943 and no more were manufactured, however they were used throughout the whole war.

The Hungarian 30,5 cm 16.M siege howitzer

After WW1 Hungary kept using some Škoda 30.5 cm Mörser M 16 siege howitzers but with a Hungarian designation. These mechanized-artillery howitzers fired a 300-385 kg shell to 11250 meters with 329-371 m/s muzzle velocity. It had a 3660 mm long barrel which gave a L/12 barrel caliber length. The howitzer was around 21000 kg heavy and had an elevation of 40° to 75° and a traverse of 360°. The gun carriage was 2600x4600 mm big. They were carried around in 2 or 3 pieces. All but 2 were lost in the Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh Offensive, January 1943, but the remaining two siege howitzers were used until the end of the war.