CZK - vz. 18/40 N na platforme Turán (105mm ľahká húfnica)

On June 16, 1947, the Military Technical Institute decided to order the General Staff of the Czechoslovak Army to rebuild the captured Hungarian Turán tanks into a self-propelled gun armed with a 105 mm howitzer [ url=/topic/view/678/] le.FH18[/url]. This decision was created on the basis of the announced program of development of new Czechoslovak constructions of self-propelled works from 1946.
For the construction of prototypes and spare parts were selected from the best preserved captured tanks Turán I (registration numbers H-803, H-822 and 1H -203) and Turán II (registration number 2H-223). According to Mr. Dubánek, these were to be machines of registration numbers H 803 and 1H 503 (2H 225 and H 822 were intended for the extraction of spare parts). The documents from June 10, 1947 show two modifications of the machine. One had a howitzer mounted in the axis of the vehicle, the other modification had a howitzer off the axis of the vehicle (the second version allowed to reduce the height of the machine by 420 mm). The weapon was offset by 195 mm to the left. In total, a total height of 2230 mm was to be achieved. The elevation ranged from -5 ° to + 42 °, measuring 23 ° to the left and 7 ° to the right. The version with a weapon off-axis of the vehicle, however, was insufficient for soldiers. This problem was presented to the company Škoda Plzeň and the company 11.12.1947 prepared drawing documentation of a modified form of the design (drawings Zb 16070-16072). Even after this adjustment, however, the measurement was small.
The modified pair of Turán machines received the mentioned howitzers, which were protected by a simple armored construction with a maximum armor thickness of 15 mm. According to Mr. Dubánek, the vehicle's armor shield was supposed to be 50 mm (rather it was supposed to be the front armor of the hull). It was an open structure from above. The cannon with the carriage underwent a slight modification. Work on the prototypes was hampered by a lack of spare parts and the completed machines were tested in the factory in 11/1948 and military tests took place in 12/1948. Test drives on December 22, 1948 did not turn out well due to technical problems and the prototypes had to undergo repairs.
March 10, 1949 successfully passed the shooting tests in Jince and March 15, 1949 and March 16, 1949 driving tests in the vicinity of Pilsen. On June 28, 1949, comparative tests of self-propelled and field artillery systems in the VVP Dědice took place. Successful tests led to the takeover of both prototypes by the military, but the army did not show interest in any series.
The prototypes were given registration numbers 67,491 and 67,492 (Ivo Pejčoch). Mr Francev gives registration numbers 67.591 and 67.592. Due to the fact that ev.č. 67.591 and 67.592 were assigned to the tank T-40/75 (Pz.Kpfw.IV), so I assume that Mr. Francev's data is the typo and Mr. Pejčoch's data are correct.
The vehicles were assigned as test and training vehicles to the Artillery Unit No. 4677 in Olomouc.
In the late 1950s, both prototypes were abolished, disarmed and offered to the civilian sector. Both platforms served in the company Energostav, where they were used in the construction of electricity pylons. Both platforms were officially purchased and taken out of the property of the military administration on October 12, 1950 for the price of CZK 25,000 per piece.

I.Pejčoch, O.Pejs - Armored vehicles 6 - Central Europe 1919-1945 Part II, ISBN 80-86158-46-2
Břetislav Nakládal - Organizational construction of Czechoslovak tank units. Army 1945-50, HPM No.6/2001
Mgr.Martin Dubánek - Our Army 11/2008, ISSN 0027-8211
Mgr.Martin Dubánek - From bayonet to jets - Unfinished Czechoslovak weapons projects 1945-1955, Mladá fronta 2011, ISBN: 978-80-204-2515-7
armada.vojenstvi.cz (Vladimír Francev - Loot armored vehicles in the Czechoslovak army (3rd part))

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