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D-442 FUG

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(Redirected from D-944 PSZH)
D-442 FUG/D-944 PSZH
Polish D-442 FUG at a museum, 01.07.2007.
TypeAmphibious Armoured Scout Car
Place of originHungarian People's Republic
Service history
In serviceEarly 1964 - present[1]
Used bySee Operators
WarsSee Service History
Production history
DesignedEarly 1960s (D-442 FUG)[1]
Late 1960s (D-944 PSzH)
ProducedEarly 1964 - ?[1]
Specifications
MassD-442 FUG: 6.3 t (6.2 long tons; 6.9 short tons)
D-944 PSZH: 7.5 t (7.4 long tons; 8.3 short tons)
Length5.79 m (19 ft 0 in)
Width2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) (D-442 FUG)
Crew2 (driver and commander) + 4 scouts (D-442 FUG)[1]
3 (driver, gunner and commander) + 4 scouts (D-944 PSZH)[1]
ArmorWelded steel
13 mm maximum (D-442 FUG)[1]
14 mm maximum (D-944 PSZH)
sides 7 mm
Main
armament
7.62 mm UK light machine gun (model 59) (D-442 FUG)
14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun (500 rounds) (D-944 PSZH)
Secondary
armament
None (D-442 FUG)
7.62 mm PKT coaxial general purpose machine gun (2000 rounds) (D-944 PSZH)
EngineCsepel D414.44 in-line 4-cylinder OHV 5.5 liter diesel
101 hp (75 kW)
Power/weightD-442 FUG: 16 hp/tonne (11.9 kW/tonne)
D-944 PSZH: 13.5 hp/tonne (10 kW/tonne)
SuspensionWheeled 4x4 (+ 4 auxiliary wheels), leaf springs with hydraulic shock absorbers
Ground clearance340 mm
Fuel capacity200 L or 2x75 L
Operational
range
D-442 FUG: 600 km (370 mi)[1]
D-944 PSZH: 500 km (310 mi)
Maximum speed 87 km/h (road) (D-442 FÚG)[1]
81 km/h (50 mph) (road) (D-944 PSZzH)
45 km/h (cross country)
9 km/h (water)

The D-442 FUG (Hungarian: Felderítő Úszó Gépkocsi, lit. 'amphibious reconnaissance vehicle') and D-944 PSZH (Hungarian: Páncélozott Személyszállító Harcjármű, lit. 'armored personnel carrier') are the result of Hungarian domestic development of relatively cheap amphibious armoured scout car and armored personnel carrier series. The FUG and PSZH were exported with limited success, thus it is also known under its Czechoslovak designation OT-65.

Development and characteristics

[edit]

Due to the similarities with the Soviet BRDM-1 armoured scout car, D-442 FUG is often misinterpreted as a BRDM-1 modification. Although the FUG has similar appearance to the BRDM-1, major differences reflect the independent design.[citation needed]

The Hungarian military abandoned the domestic recon armored car project based on the WW2-era Csaba because the Soviet government promised to sell large numbers of old BA-64s from Soviet reserves at a low price. Hungary never received BAs, meaning the Hungarian People's Army had no wheeled armoured reconnaissance vehicle from 1945 until the 1960s. The need for recon vehicles and persistent shortages of Soviet APCs and recon cars encouraged Hungarian development and mass-production of a cheap recon vehicle. To hasten development and reduce costs, the design largely used existing civilian parts and boat-manufacturing experience.

The hull was designed by the Danube Shipyard, maximising buoyancy crossing rivers, producing a more angular shape than the BRDM-1's boat-like hull, and used two waterjets for amphibious propulsion instead of one in the BDRM-1. The powertrain was almost completely of domestic design, with an engine, winch and rear axle from Csepel D-344 trucks, front suspension a variant from Ikarus Buses, a transmission and transfer system designed by Rába, and using the BDRM-1's belly wheels. Unlike the BRDM-1's conventional 4x4 vehicle layout, the FUG is more similar to BRDM-2, with a rear engine compartment and front crew compartment. The transmission is located in the middle, making the crew compartment noisy.

Polish D-442 FÚG in a museum. The armoured shutters with integral vision blocks on the windshields and a single firing port on the left hand side of the hull are visible

FUG was lightly armored with welded rolled homogeneous steel, 13 mm at front and 7 mm at sides and rear. During production every plate was shot for quality control, and traces of this testing are visible on vehicles. Armor was sufficient for small arms fire and small shell fragments, but not .50-calibre fire. The vehicle has very few penetration points at the bottom of the body, providing good mine protection. To facilitate this the front axle had external fastening points rather than screws through the belly plate, and only the steering rod penetrated the armor.

The development of the domestic-designed small turret with anti-tank rocket-launcher and PKT were abandoned for political reasons. The turret was highly similar to the one on OT-62B, but with significantly lower silhouette. Therefore, a major drawback of the D-442 FUG was a lack of permanent armament and firing ports. Operating the pintle-mounted front 7.62 mm light machine gun, required the gunner be exposed to counter-fire.

The vehicle shares the seating configuration, and infra-red driving lights of the BRDM-1 and BRDM-2. Like the BDRM-1 it has no permanent armament, windshields replaceable in combat with armoured shutters, and two firing ports on each side of the troop compartment. Both driver and commander can use episcopes to view the battlefield.

The D-442 FUG has hatches over the commander's and driver's stations and round escape hatch in the floor. The vehicle is equipped with a winch, primarily for self-recovery when stuck in difficult terrain. To improve cross-country capability, the driver may use the central tire-pressure regulation system to temporarily decrease the pressure in all tires before crossing an obstacle. The four auxiliary belly wheels can hydraulically lower for crossing obstacles and gaps. In water, the vehicle is driven by two water jets which are steered by reversing thrust. Stability in water is improved by a trim board erected at the front before entering the water, serving as additional armour outside water.

It was primarily for reconnaissance behind enemy lines and was converted for artillery observation, mobile command/observation, and NBC reconnaissance. The Hungarian FÚG version can be fitted with a pintle-mounted RPD LMG, but on the OT-65 the main weapon was a 7.62 UK (vz. 59) general purpose machine gun with electromagnetic release.

Development of PSZH

[edit]

The FUG's drawbacks, and a lack of modern APCs in the Warsaw Pact prompted the development of the D-944 PSZH in the late 1960s. The PSZH was designed as Hungary's main APC. The vehicle had a small two-part side doors, lacking auxiliary belly wheels. The PSZH had a 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun turret and 7.62 mm coaxial general purpose machine gun with thin, but sloped armor. Both weapons could be elevated between -5 and +30 degrees. The turret has an IR spotlight next to the armament and on top, and a radio antenna on back of the turret. Like in the BRDM-1 and BDRM-2 there hatches over the driver's and commander's stations. The turret used in D-944 PSZH had better ergonomics and observations compared to the BRDM-2's BPU-1 turret.

PSZH had similar layout to FÚG, but carried six troops and three crew. Commander and driver sat at the front, gunner was in the turret, while carried soldiers sat on sides of hull in place of the FÚG's belly wheels. The rear troops had internal radio and could observe rearwards and side. The middle troops sat just inside the door and could use their weapons with the upper part of the door open.

D-944 PSZH had slightly better protection with maximum armour of 14 mm, and also introduced an NBC protection system and infrared night-vision equipment. As a modification of the D-442 FÚG it also has a round escape hatch in the floor. Buoyancy was improved slightly to accommodate the turret's weight.

Service history

[edit]

FÚG armoured scout cars were used by Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, East Germany and Romania. Hungary also developed the PSZH-IV armored personnel carrier from the D-944 PSZH armoured scout car. The PSZH-IV prototype first appeared in 1966 and only took part in a single manoeuvre parade in Bratislava, mounting an egg-shaped turret and dummy automatic cannon.[2] The PSZH-IV was first thought to be an armoured scout cars by the West[3] due to its small size and 4x4 configuration, and were dubbed the FÚG-66 or FÚG-70 after the FÚG 4x4 scout car.[2]

The PSZH-IV is no longer in service with Hungary, but remain in reserve.[2][needs update] Czechoslovakia sold its OT-65 vehicles to Iraq. Iraq also bought the PSZH-IV APC. The vehicles were likely used by the Iraqi Army during the Iran-Iraq War, Persian Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Variants

[edit]

Hungary

[edit]
  • D-442.00 FÚG - Basic armoured scout car without the turret. It had an R-113 or R-114 radio.
    • D-442.01 PK-FÚG (parancsnoki) - Converted into a command vehicle with R-113 or R-114 and R-114M or R-112 radio for platoon and company commanders. Later a R-403 or R-407 relay was included for company and battalion commanders.
    • D-442.03 VS-FÚG (vegyi sugárfelderítö úszó gépkocsi) - NBC reconnaissance vehicle based on D-442 FÚG with specialized radiation, chemical and biological detection and flag dispensers for marking contaminated areas.
    • D-442.01 MRP-FÚG (páncélozott repülőirányító pont) - Forward air controller post, based on D-442 PK-FÚG with an R-114 and an R-159 radio.
    • D-442.02 MÜ-FÚG (műszaki) - Engineer reconnaissance vehicle with special equipment.

PSZH APC

[edit]
PSZH in Hungarian police livery
  • D-944.00 PSZH (1970–1979) - Armoured personnel carrier with a small two part side door on both sides of the hull and a turret armed with 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun and 7.62 mm KGKT coaxial general purpose machine gun.
  • PSZH-2: Four-axis redesignation of the PSZH with a complete BMP-1 turret mounted with a 73 mm 2A28 Grom main armament. No prototype was built.
  • D-944.00M PSzH-M (1988) - Rebuilt original D-944.00 with an R-123 radio and a PKT machine gun instead of the old KGKT. The motor was a 110 hp D-414.44/2 diesel.
    • D-944.00 PSZH-F - Armoured personnel carrier for reconnaissance platoons and companies.
    • D-944.77 PSZH - Armoured personnel carrier for the Hungarian border guard and internal security police troops. It was developed from the basic APC version with minor changes and it had a turret, unlike the German PSZH-IV-10.
    • D-944.31 SZDPK-PSZH - Command vehicle for mechanized company commanders, based on D-944.00 PSzH with two R-123 radios and an antenna. It has an additional R-107 radio in the troop compartment. In there was only two place for personnel, one for the radiomen and one place plus a map-desk for the commander.
    • D-944.21 ZPK-PSZH (zászlóaljparancsnoki) - Command vehicle for mechanized battalion commanders and for reconnaissance company commanders, based on D-944 PSzH with additional radios and additional radio antenna on right hand side of the hull. It has two R-123 and one R-130 radios, plus two additional R-107 in the troop compartment.
    • D-944.22 ZTÖF-PSZH - Command vehicle for mechanized battalion staff chiefs and for reconnaissance platoon commanders, based on D-944 PSzH with additional radios and additional radio antenna on right hand side of the hull. It has one R-123 and one R-130 radio, plus two additional R-107 in the troop compartment.
    • D-944.21 OPK-PSZH - Command vehicle for towed artillery battalion commanders with three R-123MT radios and artillery recce equipment (ET-68 laser-rangefinder in the turret in place of the KPVT gun, VOP recce instrument on the right side of the hull and others). The armament consisting only one PKT machine gun.[3]

Former Czechoslovakia

[edit]
  • OT-65 (Obrněný Transportér vz. 65) - Czechoslovak version of D-442 FÚG armoured scout car.
    • OT-65ZDR (zdravotní) - OT-65 converted into an armoured ambulance.
    • OT-65A "Vydra" (Otter) - OT-65 with a turret of the Czechoslovakian OT-62B TOPAS. The entry hatches have been moved so now they are positioned behind the turret. It also has additional protection on IR driving lights.
    • OT-65Ch (chemický) - Variant with specialized radiation, chemical and biological detection devices as well as flag dispensers used to mark the contaminated areas.
    • OT-65ChV (velitelsko-chemický) - Variant with specialized radiation, chemical and biological detection devices as well as flag dispensers used to mark the contaminated areas.
    • OT-65DP - Armoured artillery forward observation post.
    • OT-65DPP (pohyblivá dělostřelecká pozorovatelna) - Armoured artillery forward observation post.
    • OT-65 R-2 - Communication vehicle with additional radio set R-2.
    • OT-65 R-112 - Communication vehicle with additional radio set R-112.
    • OT-65RL - Variant fitted with a battlefield surveillance radar PSNR-1.
    • OT-65VP - FAC vehicle with additional radios. Similar to the Hungarian MRP-FÚG.
  • OT-66 (Obrněný Transportér vz. 66) - Czechoslovak designation for D-944 PSzH.

Former East Germany

[edit]
Grenztruppen PSzH-IV.
Restored PSzH-IV at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, United States
  • D-944.40 PSzH-IV - Hungarian export designation for APCs of the East-German border guards (Grenztruppen - GT). GT designator: SPW-PSH (Schützenpanzerwagen). The SPW-PSH was also found in some para-military units such as the Bereitschaftspolizei (riot police). Of the 692 SPWs delivered between 1970 and 1976, several were modified into new types by the "Panzerwerkstatt-2" from 1979:
    • SPW-PSH (Ch) - modification of 12 existing vehicles into NBC reconnaissance vehicles with specialized radiation, chemical and biological detection devices as well as two flag dispensers used to mark the contaminated areas.
    • SPW-PSH (Artl) - 39 PSHs were modified into reconnaissance vehicles for artillery units of the border troops. They had additional signals equipment (and three whip antennae at the rear hull) and an optical range finder OEM-2 that was transported in a big box on top of the engine deck.
    • SPW-PSH (Pi) - 28 vehicles of the border troops were converted into combat engineer (Pionier) recce vehicles with a crew of 7 and equipped with portable mine detection systems MSG-46M, a chain saw PS-90, explosives etc.
    • SPW-PSH-Agitprop - agitation and propaganda vehicle.
  • D-944.41 PSzH-IV - Battalion commander's vehicle with telescopic mast HTM-10, GT designator SPW-PSH (K1).
  • D-944.42 PSzH-IV - Company commander's vehicle, GT designator SPW-PSH (K2).
  • PSzH-IV-10 - Turretless PSzH-IV used by the border guards.

Iraq

[edit]
  • D-944.50 PSzH-IV - Hungarian export designation for APC's sold to Iraq.
  • D-944.53 PSzH-IV - Hungarian export designation for company commander's vehicle sold to Iraq.

Operators

[edit]
Map of D-442 FÚG operators in blue, with former operators in red

Current operators

[edit]
  •  Hungary - Remaining vehicles are mostly in reserve storage.

Former operators

[edit]
  •  Czechoslovakia: 275 ordered in 1965 and received by 1968. Czechoslovak designation OT-65A Otter.[4] Another 200 PSzH were also acquired and designated OT-66.[4]
  •  East Germany - 50 PSzH.[4]
  •  Iraq - 200 PSzH-IV received in 1981; probably replaced in service by the BRDM-2.[4]
  •  Poland - 100 OT-65A Otter.[4]
  •  South Yemen - Few PSzH received as East German military aid.[5]

See also

[edit]

"Combat Reconnaissance/Patrol Vehicle" with rear engine:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Fug OT-65 Description identification pictures gallery". www.armyrecognition.com.
  2. ^ a b c "PSzH-IV armoured personnel carrier (Hungary)". Jane's Armour and Artillery. Jane's. November 5, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-08. [dead link]
  3. ^ a b Trewhitt, Philip (1999). Armoured Fighting Vehicles. 216: Dempsey-Parr. ISBN 1-84084-328-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  5. ^ Nyrop, Richard F. (1977). The Yemens: country studies / Foreign Area Studies, the American University. Area Handbook. Washington, D.C.: American University, Foreign Area Studies. p. 148.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to FUG.
  • Jackowski, Jerzy i Wysocki, Tadeusz. Kołowe środki transportu armii węgierskiej. Nowa Technika Wojskowa. 1993, issue 1, pages 7–9. ISSN 1230-1655.
  • Janusz Magnuski "Wozy Bojowe LWP", Wydawnictwo MON, Warsaw 1985
  • Global Security
  • JED[permanent dead link]
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