Military Model Scene

Due for September release from Bronco Models is a the Hungarian Medium Tank 41.M Turan II in 1/35.  Their information tells us - 

Hungarian Medium Tank 41.M Turan II

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Before the Second World War, the Hungarian Army's tank forces consisted of mainly foreign tanks like the little Italian CV-33 tankette. After converting foreign tanks to suit their own needs in 1940 the Hungarians started to develop their own homegrown armoured fighting vehicles. First was the Turán I, built by the Weiss & Cspel Steelworks of Budapest. It was a medium tank with a five-man crew which was based on the hull of the Czech Skoda design similar to the German Panzer 38(t) and powered by 260hp Hungarian made engine. A refitted turret was able to mount a 40mm gun made by the Skoda works. By 1943 The Turán I was deemed under powered & under-gunned, so the further development of the type was required.
This new tank was called the Turán II, the designers mounted a new 75 mm (2.95 in) M41 short barrelled gun to the tank and to fit it gave the tank an enlarged turret to house the massive breech loading system and a specially armoured recoil piston that was adapted to the gun. The turret interior was still cramped and crowded, but to help this the designers added new vents to extract
The large amount of fumes that followed the firing of the gun. The 41M Turán II first appeared in May 1943, and a total of 139 were made by 1944.
The Turán II's combat debut was in April 1944 in Galicia, they were used by the 1st & 2nd Hungarian Armoured Divisions as well as the 1st Cavalry Division. First seeing action in 1944, in Galicia, the Turan II was completely outclassed by Russian T-34s and IS-2's they faced. Unfortunately, many of the division's forces were decimated in their actions defending Budapest and those that were not destroyed or captured were often abandoned on the battlefield.
 

Thanks to Bronco Models for the news.

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Robin