D-442 Exploration Floating Car
FUG – Felderíto Úszó Gépkocsi
Despite superficial similarities with the Soviet BRDM-1, the Hungarian D-442 FUG has major differences that reflect the independent design. The tactical-technical data of FUG cannot be worse than the data of the Soviet BRDM. But the BRDM had no built-in weaponry, so FUG had only a large, two-sided, horizontal-mounted ball bearing retaining elements. The Soviet military leadership allowed the industry of Warsaw Pact Member States to construct combat vehicles, since the BRDM-1 did not meet the reconnaissance vehicle requirements. It was the same with the BTR-60PB, so Czechoslovakia built the Topas and the Polish Skot.
The Institute of Military Technology initially formulated a requirement for a newly designed armored combat vehicle. The basic idea was that, according to the plans of the Csaba type armored car, it had a similar structure armored car by keeping its dimensions and the superstructure similar with the line-up of the 350-truck parts of the then-established Csepel Automobile Factory, to which the Vehicle Development Institute has contributed.
The Soviet authorities initially did not allow local serial production. They promised that Soviet BA-64 armored cars would be given to the Hungarian Army, as Mihály Farkasand the minister promised to transform the Hungarian Royal Army into a Soviet model. The fact that there were no military engineers available should not be overlooked. And a Hungarian engine that would have met the basic requirements was lacking. The problem is mostly the unfavorable power of the engine and the weight of the fighter ratio indicates. According to the requirements, such a vehicle has a power of 12-14 hp / ton to have the ability to have proper off-road skills. At that time with the available 80 hp engine, only 9 hp / ton could be achieved.
In 1957, the Military Technology Institute negotiated with the Chiefs of the Csepel Automobile Factory the development of a four-wheel drive truck that met the needs of the army. The vehicle engine factory engineers - cost reduction and simplification of subsequent parts supply with the main pieces of existing vehicles, although new main pieces had been constructed, such as front axle, distributor, winch,transmission. The "new lorry" was designated D-344. The 344 afterlife is also remarkable. In 1962 using thess plans the development of the D-442 began, which was the basis for the later release of the exploratory floating car, simply called FUG in the army. The domestic Hungarian automotive industry, about fifteen years old, after 1960 received a task for armored vehicle development. The vehicle was intended as tactical terrain crossing and the detection of force or radiation pollution. It was to be able to carry out tasks in the area occupied by the enemy, fifty kilometers deep.
The Hungarian automotive industry, basically Csepel Automobile factory, had experience with the manufacture of military vehicles. In the early 1960s, the D-344 all-wheel drive military truck was classified as an off-road vehicle. Based on the design of the Hadi technical Institute, the task after May 1961 of the Vehicle Development Institute and Csepel car manufacturers was FUG development. This determination was provided by developers and potential manufacturers. The first result in three weeks became tangible; the construction was completed of possible variants of design.
The whole novelty of the development of the float was, moreover, given to the Gheorgiu Dej Shipyard,and was made of iron plate by the end of February 1962 as a sample. The hull was a shaped body that could was a "streamlined" shape to reduce water resistance, and on the other hand, the plates increased safety from gunfire. The production of FUG was acquired by the Gyor Tool Factory, which was merged even during the manufacturing phasealso with W. Pick Wagon and Machine Factory in Gyor. FUG could be arranged in August 1963. This is the D-442 type reconnaissance car.
Though its development had been completed, as usual in the army, shortly thereafter there was a need for variants such as chemical protection and for special FUGs for exploratory purposes. Confident about the successful design of the base type, but recognizing its weakness, the Military Engineering Institute inspired by the Institute of Vehicle Development began the preliminary work of the FUG-II. The modification of the D-442 HMK was mainly due to weight, and because of the specific performance.
Designers had to count on the newer equipment because of this, as it continued to grow and the specific performance decreased. Manufactured under the Austrian license, the 4 cylinder engine performance could no longer be increased,and a 6-cylinder Csepel engine was impossible to use. At the Vehicle Development Institute, a lightweight, fast-acting diesel engine family of 4, 6 and 8 cylinders was under development.
The watercraft was equipped on two sides of the vehicle in sealed tubes, where water from the bottom of the body was flushed out at the back. This solution was based on a jet - as well as one or another part of the pipe, the vehicle may be steered or locked. Variable tire pressure during travel greatly facilitated the need for loosely-concentration; can be drained down to the ground level wheels could be used to bridge the gaps.
The FUG-increased TKN-1 night vision transmitter (infrared) devices. The R-113 (R-114) D + UM radio station, and during the course of the specified phase the R-114M (R-112) radio station was responsible for linking the reconnaissance subunits with the sub commands. The combat vehicles had good off-road capability. But the industrial spare part supply solution was a problem, and they were soon in the repair workshops. The vehicle had a fundamental problem of insufficient protection, because it was openable to roof doors for which defense against neither a machine gun nor a bullet was possible.
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