44M Buzogányvető
A replica 44M Buzogányvető on a wheeled mount
Type Anti-tank rocket
Place of origin Hungary
Service history
In service 1944-1945
Used by Royal Hungarian Army
Wars World War II
Production history
Designer Hungarian Institute of Military Science (HTI)
Designed 1942
Manufacturer Weiss Manfréd
Produced 1944
No. built 600-700 rocket systems
Variants HEAT (high-explosive anti-tank)
HE (high-explosive)
Specifications
Diameter 215 mm (8.5 in)
Crew 3
Effective firing range 500–1,200 m (550–1,310 yd) m
Maximum firing range 2,000 m (2,200 yd)
Warhead 4.2 kg (9.3 lb) HEAT
Detonation
mechanism contact
Engine solid-fuel rocket
Maximum speed 56 m/s (180 ft/s)
Launch
platform Tripod mount, wheeled machine gun mount, truck, tank
The 44M “Buzogányvető” Páncéltörő Rakéta (English: Anti-Tank Rocket System Model 1944 “Mace Thrower”) was an unguided anti-tank rocket designed in Hungary for use against Soviet heavy tanks and infantry during World War II.
Development
[edit]
In 1942, the Haditechnikaiintezet or “Institute of Military Technology” began work to develop a cheap and easy to produce weapon capable of destroying Soviet heavy tanks after Nazi Germany was unwilling to share technology related to their work on an experimental wire-guided missile.[1][2]
The first prototype was completed in the spring of 1944 and underwent testing in the military camp of Esztergom. After recommendations from troops who tested the weapon were taken into account, it was approved for production in the summer of 1944.[2]
Production
[edit]
Mass production started in the summer of 1944 at the steel pipe factory of the Weiss Manfréd Company, where Chief Engineer Magasházi led production. After complaints were made by soldiers who tested the weapon relating to the experimental tripod the weapon was mounted on limiting maneuverability, production of the tripod was cancelled. Hungary, however, lacked the industrial capability at the time to manufacture a brand-new mount for the weapon. Due to this, captured mounts were used instead, consisting mostly of wheeled mounts from captured Maxim M1910 and SG-43 Goryunov machine guns, as Hungarian forces had captured many of these mounts during the duration of the war.[2][1]
Production of the weapon continued even as the Soviet Invasion of Hungary began, this was until Soviet Troops reached the city the factory resided in and fighting over the city began. Sources conflict as to whether the factory was destroyed or captured by Soviet forces on 20 December 1944, but either way production was halted entirely, and never resumed. During the time of production 600 to 700 units of this weapon were produced[2][1][3]
Description
[edit]
The weapon consisted of two launch tubes mounted on either a captured Maxim M1910 or SG-43 Goryunov machine gun. A large, thin metal shield separated the firing mechanism of the weapon from the launch tubes in order to protect the gunner from the back-blast of the weapon’s initial propulsion charge. The gun used a machine gun sight to aim and had two paddle like triggers on the bar-like hand holds the gunner would hold on to while aiming the weapon.
Operation
[edit]
The crew consisted of three men, a single gunner and two loaders.[2]
The gunner aimed the weapon using the mounted sight to the left of the launch tubes and once the gunner had acquired the target and ranged the weapon correctly, he pulled one of the handle-like triggers on the gunner’s hand holds. This ignited the initial charge that pushed the rocket out of the firing tube, propelling it away from the launcher. Approximately 2 seconds after the rocket was launched from the launch tube the rocket motor ignited and propelled the rocket to target.[2][3]
Combat Use
[edit]
Of the 600-700 rocket systems the vast majority were used during the Soviet Army’s encirclement and eventual capture of the city of Budapest, colloquially referred to as the Siege of Budapest.[4][3][2]
While it is unknown if this specific version of the weapon saw combat or not, there is at least one photographed example of a Toldi II (B20) Tank (specifically the Toldi II tank with license plate “H-389”) being converted to use this weapon. The tank is modified in many ways including the removal of the main gun (20mm Solothurn) and the engine cover being fixed into an open position to create the necessary flat area to mount the weapon. Based on the fact that the engine cover is fixed into an open position, something dangerous to do in a combat situation, it can be confidently assumed that this is not a properly manufactured variant of the tank, but rather a conversion made solely by the crew.[1]
Ammunition
[edit]
The ammunition fired from this weapon was a 100 mm spin-stabilized rocket. This rocket was ignited through the firing of a blank 8mm Mauser bullet, which ignited a charge that propelled the weapon out of the tube it was housed in. Approximately two seconds after launch the rocket engine ignited and propelled the rocket to its target. Detonation of the rocket was caused after contact with a solid surface. Two different rockets were produced for this weapon.[4][2]
“Buzogány” HEAT Rocket: The “Mace” type rocket flew at a speed of 200 km/h (120 mph) and contained a 4.2 kg (9.3 lb) shaped charge warhead. This rocket was capable of penetrating up to 300 mm (12 in) of tank armor and concrete. The rocket had an effective range anywhere from 500 m (1,600 ft) up to 1,200 m (3,900 ft). Theoretically the weapon could be fired at and reach a target from up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in ideal circumstances, however the rocket was very inaccurate at this range.[3][2][1]
“Zápor” HE Rocket: The “Downpour” or “Rainfall” type rocket was a high explosive rocket designed for use in this weapon. Little information can be found about this rocket other than its name and its use as an anti-infantry rocket.[3][2][1]