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D-442 FUG / D-944 PSzH

1964 COLD WAR MODERN

History

Soviet influence is evident in the design of the Hungarian FUG, although a lot has been added to make the FUG a fully Hungarian design. After several years of development, the vehicle was introduced in 1964 as an amphibious armored reconnaissance vehicle identical to the Soviet BRDM 4x4 series of vehicles.

Despite its introduction during the Cold War, the vehicle is still in use around the world today - albeit on a limited scale.

The heart of the FUG is a 7-ton armor system that sits on top of a blade suspension system. The hull consists of welded armour up to 13mm thick on key panels, providing two basic ballistic protections for the crew and additional interior space for four others. The hull armor is well faceted to provide sloping surfaces for incoming shells (except for the lower hull sides and stern).

Dimensions include a barrel length of 6 meters, width of 2.5 meters, and height of 2 meters. Standard operators manage two positions at the front of the fuselage and hide behind a thick glass windshield. The screens also feature rotatable armored viewing windows for extra protection. Firing ports on the sides of the hull allow the crew to engage incoming enemy infantry. The glacis board is well sloped to encourage a very flat approach to the target.

Access is through hatches mounted on the roof of the hull, while bottom hatches can be used for emergency exits. Powered by Csepal D414. 44 4-cylinder in-line diesel engine, 100 hp. The engine is mounted in the aft compartment, opening the center and front of the fuselage to the crew area.

The engine has a top speed of 87 km/h and a range of 600 km. The suspension and powertrain, plus 340mm of ground clearance, enable the vehicle to go off-road when needed. The wheels are well-spaced and have a large rubber tire shape with air pressure controlled by the rider on the fly.

Additionally, the driver can lower the four small wheels for improved ground contact - which is especially useful on uneven terrain or when trying to cross ditches.

In addition to on-road/off-road capability, the FUG is also amphibious, capable of traversing water at a top speed of 9 km/h. Two water jets in the lower rear of the fuselage provided the necessary propulsion (same as the Soviet line of BRDMs - although they used only one water jet).

Hungary initially introduced the base vehicle as the D-442. 00 FUG model. Then a command vehicle followed as PK-FUG. The VS-FUG becomes the NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) vehicle, while the MRP-FUG serves as the Forward Air Control (FAC) mail vehicle.

MU-FUG is a special technical reconnaissance platform.

The line underwent a major overhaul in the 1970s with the introduction of the PSzH APC model. This form introduced as standard a powered fully enclosed turret on top of the fuselage. Armament is a 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun and a 7.62mm KGKT coaxial machine gun. These weapons enable the vehicle to counter low-flying threats as well as enemy infantry at a distance. An IR illuminator provides assistance in low light conditions, and power is provided by the D-414.

44 diesel engine, 100 hp. The PSzH series was born from the original D-944. 00 production model.

The 1988 successor PSzH-M had the engine upgraded to 110 hp. The PSzH-F is used by the Hungarian Army Special Reconnaissance Platoon. Special models are provided for border guards and border guards. The command car version became the SzDPK-PSzH, while the trim differences resulted in the ZPK-PSzH variant.

ZTOF-PSzH is a variant of the Chief of Staff, while the Commander's version is OPK-PSzH with different radio and reconnaissance equipment.

Operators other than the Hungarian army became Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Iraq, Poland and Romania. East German troops managed no less than 1,360 copies, which were then taken over to the reunited German state (and later sold or simply scrapped).

Iraq counted about 150 units, but these are no longer viable in the modern Iraqi army. The Polish version was discontinued in the 1980s.