MAGYAR  HONVÉD 2303

THE HUNGARIAN ARMY

By James Boschma

INTRODUCTION

One of Europe's small nations, Hungary boasts a modestly sized professional military which has seen occasional international service, including recent deployments to the French Arm.  Close relations with Austrovenia have allowed both nations to "punch above their weight" in terms of military systems procurement and development.

ORDER OF BATTLE

        1. Kombinált Fegyver Hadosztály (1st Combined Arms Division) [HQ: Budapest]

                1. Ejtöernyös Brigád (para)
                3. Páncél Brigád (-) (armd)1
                10. Harcos Utász Brigád (engineer)2
                11. Tüzérség Brigád (artillery)
                Zászlóalj XXIV, 19. Felderítés Ezred (recon)
                77. Katonai Hírszerzés Ezred (military intelligence)3
                10. Légvédelmi Ezred (air defense)
                Tábori Csendörség Zászlóalj I (military police)
                Depó Zászlóalj 101 (basic military training)
                Depó Zászlóalj 102 (personnel replacement)
 

        2. Kombinált Fegyver Hadosztály (2nd Combined Arms Division) [HQ: Debrecen]

                5. Huszár Brigád (armd)
                6. Páncél Brigád (armd)
                9. Páncél Brigád (armd)
                13. Tüzérség Brigád (artillery)
                Zászlóalj XXXIV, 19. Felderítés Ezred (recon)
                24. Légvédelmi Ezred (air defense)
                Tábori Csendörség Zászlóalj II (military police)
                Depó Zászlóalj 103 (personnel replacement)

        3. Kombinált Fegyver Hadosztály (3rd Combined Arms Division) [HQ: Pécs]

                8. Gyalogos Brigád (mtn inf)
                14. Tüzérség Brigád (arty)
                Zászlóalj V, 19. Felderítés Ezred (recon)
                33. Légvédelmi Ezred (air defense)
                Tábori Csendörség Zászlóalj III (military police)
                Depó Zászlóalj 104 (personnel replacement)

        4. Kombinált Fegyver Hadosztály (4th Combined Arms Division) [HQ: Timisoara]

                2. Huszár Brigád (armd)
                4. Gyalogos Brigád (mtn inf)
                7. Páncél Brigád (armd)
                12. Tüzérség Brigád (arty)
                Zászlóalj II, 10. Harcos Utász Brigád (eng)
                Zászlóalj III, 19. Felderítés Ezred (recon)
                42. Légvédelmi Ezred (air defense)
                Tábori Csendörség Zászlóalj IV (military police)
                Depó Zászlóalj 105 (personnel replacement)

Notes:

  • Terminology:  Brigád = Brigade, Ezred = Regiment, Zászlóalj = Battalion, other terms explained in parentheses.
  • #1.) The 3rd Tank Brigade has one battalion, Zászlóalj I/ 30. Páncél Ezred "Imre Nagy," detached and assigned to the multi-national "Division Europa."
  • #2.) Less II Engineer Battalion, which is forward deployed as part of 4 Combined Arms Division.
  • #3.) 77. Katonai Hírszerzés Ezred is directly subordinate to the Army's General Staff, but receives administrative and logistical support from 1st Combined Arms Division.

ARMY LEVEL AND DIVISIONAL ORGANIZATION

The current organization of the Hungarian Army dates to the 2250s and 2260s, when a number of reforms were instituted, many of which (such as overall force strength) were incorporated into the 2264 national constitution.  Overall command of the military is vested in the office of the Prime Minister, who exercises military authority through the Military General Staff, which controls all Army, Air Force, and mobilized National Police Forces.

The Army itself is divided into four divisions, all of which are referred to as "combined arms divisions," replacing the earlier practice of dividing divisions into armored (páncél) and infantry (gyalogos) divisions.  The formation of combined arms divisions also resulted in the elimination of various independent brigades, so that units which are really army-level assets (such as the 10th Engineering Brigade, and 77th Military Intelligence Regiment) and those which were traditionally independent units (such as the 1st Parachute Brigade) are placed under the administrative control of divisional headquarters.

In theory, each division is capable of carrying out a full range of combat operations.  In practice, however, this is not the case, with only the 2nd and 4th Divisions being adequately equipped and trained to conduct division-level operations.  The 1st Division, in the Budapest area, is home to the Army's two expeditionary units (1st Parachute Brigade and 3rd Tank Brigade) which have their own organic support elements and would, in wartime, most likely revert to independent brigades, while the division is otherwise tasked with peacetime control of various Army-level combat support and combat service support assets.  Third Division, on the Austrovenian border, is a tiny formation whose force strength only constitutes a reinforced brigade; in the event of war it would likely be tasked with overseeing rear area security and controlling mobilized National Police units.
 

COMPOSITION OF BRIGADES

Each combat arms brigade of the Hungarian Army consists of four manuever battalions, an artillery battalion, and a number of company sized support units (reconnaissance, engineer, medical, air defense, military intelligence, etc.).  Generally speaking, two of the manuever battalions and one battery of the artillery battalion are made up of reservists, with selected personnel in the support companies also being reservists.  Total reserve personnel in a typical brigade amounts to something in the vicinity of 40% of total manpower.

The 1st Parachute Brigade and 3rd Tank Brigade, both stationed in the Budapest area are exceptions to this general pattern, with only one reserve battalion per brigade.  These two units are maintained at the highest state of readiness, and are the only elements of the Hungarian Army which would be readily available for foreign deployment or missions outside of territorial defense.  In keeping with their potential deployment mission, the two brigades each have their own organic logistics battalion (other brigades are reliant on divisional support assets) and other assets to allow independent operations, as needed.

Note that under current tables of organization, there is no difference between a Tank and Huszár units.  Prior to the block adoption of the AC-8, the former employed tracked tanks and the latter hovertanks, and the difference in nomenclature is purely historic (though Tank and Huszár formations tend to have different institutional cultures).
 
 

Composition of Brigades
(Company and Smaller Support Units Omitted)
  Tank Reserve
Tank
Mounted Rifle Reserve
Mounted 
Rifle
Rifle Reserve
Rifle
 Brigade
Artillery 
Divisional Artillery Reserve Divisional Artillery Cmbt Engineer Bn. Logistics
Bn
1 Para          3 1         1
2 Huszár 1 1 1 1     1        
3 Tank 2   1 1     1       1
4 Mtn       1 2 1 1        
5 Huszár  1 1 1 1     1        
6 Tank 1 1 1 1     1        
7 Tank 1 1 1 1     1        
8 Mtn        1 2 1 1        
9 Tank 1 1 1 1     1        
10 Eng                   4  
11 Arty               1 2    
12 Arty               2 1    
13 Arty                1 1    
14 Ary                 2    

 

COMPOSITION OF SELECTED BATTALION UNITS

The Hungarian Army prefers to maintain "pure" battalion organizations which, during operations, cross-attach units to form combined arms task forces (referred to as Csata Csoport, usually abbreviated "CC").  As such, their battalions have a fairly straightforward organization compared to many comparable twenty-fourth century militaries.  The following descriptions focus on combat systems and do not include various logistics assets, soft-skinned transport, etc.

At present, there is little difference in equipment between active and reserve battalions, though not all reserve tank/huszár battalions have received the new P-97 version of the AC-8, and reserve Mounted Rifle units do not employ the P-98 HIFV.

Tank/Huszár Battalion

Equipped with modernized versions of the venerable AC-8 hovertank, the Tank and Huszár battalions of the Army's heavy brigades represent its primary striking power in a manuever battle.  Each battalion is composed of three Tank/Huszár Companies (nomenclature differs by unit), each composed of thirteen P-97 hovertanks, split into four platoons of three, plus a headquarters tank.  The Headquarters company includes a fire-support platoon with three 120mm MRLs (P-86E's), an air defense platoon with three P-86D SHORAD vehicles, and a reconnaissance platoon (two P-97 tanks and two P-86A hover APCs), as well as medical, maintenance, and other logistical assets.

Mounted Rifle Battalion

Mounted Rifle Battalions are configured to support Tank/Huszár battalions in mobile warfare or, with support, to lead more deliberate assaults or fighting in close terrain.  Besides the headquarters company with the same assets as listed for the Tank/Huszár battalion (except that the reconnaissance platoon is comprised of four P-86A's, and has no tanks), the battalion is made up of one armored infantry companies (Pancélgyalogos Század) and two mounted rifle companies (Lovasított Gyalogság Század), which differ primarily in that the armored infantry utilize the new P-98 hover IFV while the mounted rifle units employ the older P-86 HIFV.

Each mounted rifle company consists of twenty P-86 hover infantry fighting vehicles (including derivatives such as ambulances, fire support vehicles, etc.), split into three rifle platoons, a weapons platoon, and a headquarters section made up of one P-86E command vehicle, an armored ambulance, armored TOC, and a number of soft skinned vehicles.

Each rifle platoon consists of three P-86A HIFVs and a P-86B fire support vehicle (this last usually commanded by the platoon sergeant).  Each HIFV carries a squad of six infantrymen, led by a junior NCO (usually a Örvezetö), and is armed with four GK-84 binary assault rifles and two GK-84G binary assault rifles with 30mm grenade launchers.

Weapons platoons consist of five vehicles: a pair of P-86F mortar carriers, and three standard P-86A HIFVs.  The three HIFVs collectively carry three assault teams (two men, armed with a Type 1 High Energy Gun and two GK-84 rifles), three anti-armor teams (again, two men, armed with a Panzerfaust 85 ATGM launcher and two GK-84 rifles), and three sniper teams, each armed with a K-93 7.5mm gauss sniper rifle and a GK-84G assault rifle.  Standard doctrine has one of each team ride in each HIFV, though some units attach some or all of the weapons teams directly to the Rifle Platoons, particularly when units are understrength, and retain the three HIFVs as a mechanized anti-tank team.

Armored infantry companies are similar to mounted rifle units, except that the P-98 replaces the P-86 (though the company still utilizes P-86 based specialist vehicles such as command posts, ambulances, etc.).  In addition, each rifle platoon consists of four P-98 HIFVs, with the fourth vehicle carrying specialist teams such as are found in the mounted rifle weapons company (i.e. one sniper team, anti-armor team, and assault team per vehicle).  The weapons platoon is deleted from the armored infantry company and replaced with an Assault Pioneer Platoon (Harcos Utász Rendorosztag) of four P-98s, each carrying a six man Pioneer Squad, armed with four GK-84s and two GK-84Gs.

Rifle Battalion

These formations include both Parachute and Mountain infantry units, which are organized identically.  Each battalion includes a headquarters company, with an organic mortar platoon (four 120mm mortars), air defense platoon (six two-man Hornisse missile teams) and a reconnaissance platoon.  The latter is mounted on eight range trucks, half of which are armed with Luchs ATGM launchers and 7.5mm binary machineguns and the other half with A-4 plasma guns (total strength of the recon platoon is 32 men, three per Luchs vehicle, and five per plasma gun vehicle).

The battalion includes three infantry companies, each made up of three rifle platoons and a weapons platoon.  The former breaks down into a headquarters (platoon leader, platoon sergeant, medic and communications specialist), and three squads of ten men.  Each squad breaks down into two teams of five, one led by the squad leader and the other by his assistant.  Squad armament consists of four GK-84, four GK-84Gs, and two GP-90 machineguns.

The weapons platoon consists of a headquarters and four squads, as follows:  A Sniper Squad (six men in three teams of two, with three K-93s and three GK-84Gs), an Assault Squad (ten men armed with five Type 1 High Energy Guns), an Anti-Tank Squad (six men with three PzFaust 85 ATGM launchers) and a Mortar Squad with eight men and two 80mm mortars.

Brigade Artillery Battalion

Each Brigade Artillery Battalion consists of a Headquarters Battery, equipped with various marks of the P-88 armored personnel carrier, and three firing batteries each of one P-88A tactical operations center, six P-86E 120mm multiple rocket launchers and six P-88C logistics support vehicles.  Note that one battery in each battalion is a reserve formation.

Divisional Artillery Battalion

Organized identically to the Brigade Artillery Battalion, except that wheeled Brazillian VECO-130 130mm binary howitzers and associated wheeled support vehicles replace the hover-MRLs.  Divisional Artillery Battalions do not have reserve batteries.

Reconnaissance Battalion

Divisional assets tasked with conducting close, intermediate, and deep reconnaissance, each Reconnaissance Battalion includes a range of assets, consisting of a battalion headquarters company, two Close Reconnaissance Companies, a UAV Reconnaissance Company, and a Long-Range Reconnaissance Company.

The battalion headquarters is mounted on various P-86 and P-88 series vehicles and includes a robust communications section, as well as a military intelligence and a signals intelligence/electronic warfare platoon.  Each of the two Close Reconnaissance Companies consists of a headquarters section (two P-97 hovertanks), and four reconnaissance platoons (each two P-97 hovertanks and two P-86A hover IFVs, each with four dismount scouts armed with two GK-84s and two GK-84Gs). (Note:  Each brigade also has an organic Reconnaissance Company configured as Close Reconnaissance Companies.)

The UAV Company operates ten Brazilian-made Abantesma medium range UAVs, each mounted on an P-88A4 UAV tender, and four P-88A tactical operations centers, divided into two platoons, each of five P-88A4s and a P-88A, with two more TOC vehicles at the company headquarters.

The Long-Range Reconnaissance Company consists of sixty men, divided into three platoons of sixteen men, and a small company headquarters element.  The company is issued five P-88C logistics vehicles for liason and transportation, but any actual missions would be conducted via airmobile insertion or other special arrangements.  Each platoon of sixteen further divides into four squads of four (one led by the platoon leader), typically armed with three GK-84Gs and one K-93 sniper rifle, though squads have a good deal of latitude in their personal equipment.

Air Defense Regiment

One of these units, technically part of the Hungarian Air Force, is attached to each Combined Arms Division, and consists of an Anti-Aircraft Battalion (direct fire and short range missile armed platforms) and a Surface to Air Missile Battalion (operating P-88D hover-armored carriers mounting long-range Ohu missiles).  The Anti-Aircraft Battalion is primarily only an administrative holding unit, with responsibility for the brigades' SHORAD companies and battalions' SHORAD platoons, which are permanently attached out to line units.  The SAM Battalion consists of two companies, each with ten launcher vehicles for Ohu missiles and three fire direction/target acquisistion vehicles.  A regimental headquarters company operates the divisional air defense C4I network, as well as providing forward air control parties to line units and integrating divisional operations with the Hungarian Air Force.
 

Military Police Battalion

These units are technically a part of the Hungarian National Police, but, like the Air Defense Regiment, are permanently attached to Army divisions.  Intended for rear-area security as well as traditional law enforcement missions, each battalion includes a small headquarters company and four military police companies.

Each MP company consists of a headquarters (twenty men and eight range trucks) and three platoons, each of twenty men and five range trucks.  Platoon vehicles are armed with a mix of GP-90 7.5mm binary machineguns and A-4 plasma guns (usually four of the former and one of the latter), while each squad of four men are issued three GK-84 rifles and one GK-84G.  In addition, all military police personnel are issued P-10 automatic pistols.
 

RECRUITING AND THE ARMY REGIMENTAL SYSTEM

The Hungarian Army is an all-volunteer force, made up of a mix of personnel on "long service" and (4 or more years) and "short service" enlistments (2 years in an active duty unit, followed by 4 years in a reserve unit).  Enlistment is open to Hungarian citizens and resident aliens (though the latter requires a special waiver and background checks), and all job positions are equally open to men and women based on "gender blind" performance evaluations and entry testing.  Though ostensibly an egalitarian system, the gender integration of the military remains a "hot-button" issue in domestic politics, with opinions of the existing system and necessary fixes (if any) being a dividing lines between various political parties

Most units recruit from geographically specific regions of the nation, and a given recruit typically enters one of the regiments affiliated with his or her home county.  There are various exceptions to this policy, most notably the 4th Parachute Regiment, 19th Reconnaissance Regiment, and the two regiments of the 3rd Tank Brigade, all of which have the perogative of recruiting from military basic training classes at the end of the training cycle.  These units are resented by other regimental recruiting establishments since their recruiting policy is seen as "stealing" the best and brightest.

The Regimental System

Prior to the sweeping reform of the military in the early and mid 23rd century, the Hungarian Army included remarkably idiosyncratic regimental system, wherein units ranging in size from entire brigades down to companies, and in come cases, platoons, had various historic and regional regimental identities, sometimes in densely layered manners, and with no real utility or significance (beyond providing flourish to some of the most decorative dress uniforms in Europe).

Beginning in 2240, and with no small amount of resistance from various parts of the military and Hungarian society as a whole, the military began conversion to a "rationalized" regimental system.  Under this system, numerous regimental lineages were amalgamated or eliminated, with the end result that each brigade of the army was reduced to a pair of regimental lineages for its manuever battalions (other brigade assets, like artillery and reconnaissance units, were allowed seperate regimental identities, though these were also consolidated).  In most cases, each such regiment consists of one active service and one reserve battalion (there are various exceptions to this rule).

Typically, an enlisted soldier will spend his entire active-service career in his regiment and, if he or she so desires, will transfer to that regiment's reserve battalion on the termination of his active duty enlistment.  Officers, likewise, spend most of their careers affiliated with their regiment, though it is common for them to move back and forth between the active and reserve battalions, both of which have full time officers and senior NCOs.

Originally, each regiment was allowed a third reserve battalion to serve as a pool of replacement personnel, though this system proved to be problematic and was discontinued in 2263, when all "Third Battalions" were officially amalgamated into the various Depot Battalions.  Since that time, however, the various regiments of the army have adopted the custom of maintaining "Third Battalion Societies" as social clubs and veterans organizations (again, this naming practice is subject to some variance -- 4th Para Regiment supports a "4th Battalion Society" and the 19th Reconnaissance Regiment a "1st Battalion Society").  In general, these organizations serve a purely social function, and the drunken, loutish middle aged military veteran "on parade" is something of a stock character in Hungarian humor.  On occasion, however, the Third Battalion Societies have demonstrated not insubstantial politcal power, overtly or behind the scenes in Hungarian politics, and membership in the proper regimental association is often the key to civil service jobs and local political careers.
 

COMPONENT REGIMENTS OF BRIGADES
BRIGADE REGIMENTS Recruiting Region
1 Parachute 4. Parachute Regiment "Szent Laszlo"1 Nationwide
  37. Parachute Battalion (Reserve component) North Central
2nd Huszár 5. Huszár Regiment North East
  26. Mounted Rifles "Alfold" North East
3 Tank 30. Tank Regiment "Imre Nagy"2 Nationwide
  1. Mounted Rifles "King Stephen I" Nationwide
4 Mountain  6. Mountain Regiment "Adonai Lazar" South East
  15. Rifle Regiment "Gyongyos" South East
5th Huszár 27. Mounted Rifle Regiment "Szeged"  South West
  25. Huszárs "Klapka György" South West
6 Tank 14. Armored Infantry Regiment "Fejer" North Central
  18. Tank Regiment "The Old 36th" North Central
7 Tank 3. Armored Infantry Regiment "The Balaton Regiment" North West
  208. Tank Regiment North West
8 Mountain 4. Mounted Rifle Regiment "Baranya" South Central
  33. Mountain Regiment "Arad" South Central
9 Tank 7. Armored Infantry Regiment "Györ" North West
  145. Huszár Regiment "Béla Bartók" North Central
10 Engineer 8. Combat Engineer Regiment (includes brigade engineer companies) Nationwide
11 Artillery  3. Artillery Regiment Nationwide
12 Artillery  55. Artillery Regiment Nationwide
13 Artillery  6. Artillery Regiment Nationwide
14 Artillery 119. Artillery Regiment North West
Brigade Artillery 1. Artillery Regiment As Per Parent Brigade
19 Reconnaissance III, IV, V, and VIII Battalions Nationwide
20 Reconnaissance Brigade Recon Companies As Per Parent Brigade
Hungarian Air Force Army affiliated regiments shown on OOB Nationwide
National and Frontier 
Police Force
104. Mountain Regiment (all four divisional MP battalions) Regional, by division
Notes:
 
*1 -- 4 Para Regt. has three active component battalions, and no reserve component

*2 -- 30 Tank Regt. has two active component battalions, and no reserve component

 

RANK STRUCTURE

The Hungarian Army is fairly conventional in its rank structure, with the single notable exception that many platoons in the army are led by senior NCOs.  This arrangement has both strengths and weaknesses compared to the more traditional arrangement of junior officers learning their craft while running a platoon, but has been found preferable by the Hungarian Army both for administrative/career management purposes as well as tactical reasons.  Because of this policy, Hungarian units tend to have fewer officers than many comparable units, at least in line units, though an unanticipated evolution of NCO-led platoons has been an elaboration of battalion and higher staff organizations.
 
 

HUNGARIAN ARMY RANKS
ENLISTED EQUIVALENT
(RESPONSIBILITY)
COMMISSIONED EQUIVALENT
(RESPONSIBILITY)
Honvéd Private Alhadnagy (Officer Canditate)
Örvezetö Lance Corporal
(Fire Team Leader)
Hadnagy 2nd Lieutnenant
(Company/Battalion Staff)
Tizedes Corporal
(Squad Leader/Vehicle Commander)
Főhadnagy 1st Lieutenant
(Platoon Leader/Company or Battalion Staff)
Szakaszvezetö Sergeant
(Platoon Senior NCO)
Százados Captain
(Company Commander)
Örmester First Sergeant
(Company Senior NCO or Platoon Leader)
Örnagy Major
(Battalion Adjutant)
Törzsörmester Sergeant Major
(Battalion Senior NCO)
Alezredes Lieutenant Colonel
(Battalion CO)
Fotörzsörmester Senior Sergeant Major
(Brigade/Regiment or Divisional Senior NCO)
Ezredes Colonel
(Brigade CO)
    Vezérőrnagy Major General
(Divisional Adjutant)
    Altábornagy Lieutenant General
(Divisional CO)
    Vezérezredes General
(Army Chief of Staff)
    Tábornagy Field Marshal
(Head of State, acting as Commander in Chief)

 
 

EQUIPMENT

Small Arms and Man-Portable Support Weapons

The standard infantry weapon of the Hungarian Army is the Gépkarabély Modell 2284 (GK-84), a licensed copy of the Austrovenian StG-84 binary assault rifle, which is issued as both a service rifle and personal defense weapon.  Infantry units make extensive use of the "G" version of the GK-84, fitted with a 30mm grenade launcher.  The Hungarian military is currently debating whether to transition to mass use of the GK-84G to match newer families of small arms (FAM-90, Sk-19, etc.), or adopting an entirely new service rifle, though the economics of either promise to delay any significant change for some time to come.

In an unusual move, the Magyar Honved has abandoned the practice of issuing officers sidearms.  Pistols are rarely seen except in the hands of military police units or special operations personnel, both of whom use the Stracher P-10 as their standard weapon (though the P-11M is sometimes seen in the hands of special operations personnel).
 

Sturmgewehr-2284 (StG-84) 7.5mm Binary Assault Rifle

The StG-84 is an Austrovenian design based strongly on the Brazilian BF-1, though incorporating improvements (most notably variable muzzle velocity) which were considered groundbreaking twenty years ago.  Unfortunately, the design was relatively heavy, and quite expensive, in its time, and failed to find much of an international market outside of Austrovenian and Hungarian service.  Note that the StG-84 is built around the same ammunition used by the BF-1 and magazines are interchangeable.

A seperate version of the weapon, the StG-84G was also built as a squad level support weapon, incorporating the now ubiquitous 30mm grenade launcher.  The StG-84G is identical to the basic weapon except that weight is 5.2 kg.

Type: 7.5mm binary assault rifle, Country:  Austrovenia, Hungary, Weight (Empty): 4 kg, Length: 87 cm (Bulk = 3), Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 7.5x11mm Ball, Muzzle Velocity: 900 mps (400 mps area fire), Magazine: 40 round box magazine, with seperate catalyst bottle, Magazine Weight: 0.3 kg, Binary Propellant Bottle Capacity: 200 rounds (or 20 bursts), Binary Propellant Bottle Weight: 0.2 kg, ROF: 3 (Area Fire ROF 5), Aimed Fire Range:  800 meters, Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds (AFV = 1), Area Fire Range: 400 meters, DP Value: 0.7 (Area Fire 0.3), Price: Lv 400 (Lv 2 for 100 rounds, Lv 1 for catalyst bottle)
 

Stracher Pistole 10mm (P-10)

The standard issue pistol of the Austrovenian and Hungarian militaries is a rather conventional 10mm design, with reasonable performance and a reputation for reliability.

Type: 10mm automatic pistol, Country:  Austrovenia, Hungary Weight (Empty): 0.5 kg, Length: 20cm (Bulk = 0), Action:  Single Shot, Ammunition: 10x20mm fixed cartridge ball, Muzzle Velocity: 400 mps, Magazine: 15 round box magazine, Magazine Weight: 0.2 kg, ROF: 3, Aimed Fire Range: 60 meters, Area Fire Burst: 3 rounds (AFV = 0.25), Area Fire Range: 30 meters, DP Value: 0.4, Price: Lv 160 (Lv 2 for 100 rounds)
 

Karabély Modell 2290 Sniper Rifle

An indigenous Hungarian design, the K-90 is a 7.5mm gauss sniper rifle fitted with a sophisticated electro-optical sight unit and an integral bipod.

Type: 7.5mm Gauss Sniper Rifle, Country:  Hungary Weight (Empty): 10 kg, Length: 125 cm (Bulk = 4), Action:  Single Shot, Ammunition: 7.5x20mm gauss flechttes, Muzzle Velocity: 1100 mps, Magazine: 15 round box magazine with integral battery, Magazine Weight: 0.5 kg, ROF: 2, Aimed Fire Range: 1100 meters, DP Value: 0.8, Price: Lv 2250 (Lv 3 for 15 round magazine)

Maschinengewehr 2290/Géppuska 2290 7.5mm Binary Machinegun

The standard machinegun of the Austrovenian and Hungarian militaries, the MG/GP-90 is a 7.5mm binary weapon firing the same round and the StG/GK-84 service rifle.  The standard man-portable version employs a 150 round cassette magazine and a seperately loaded binary propellant bottle with adequate ammunition for 900 rounds (or 60 bursts), though AFV-mounted versions employ thousand round magazines (three thousand rounds for point-defense mounts), weighing 10 kg (30 kg for PDS) and larger propellant bottles (2 kg/1000 rounds, 7.5 kg/3000 rounds).

Type: 7.5mm Binary Machinegun, Country:  Austrovenia, Hungary Weight (Empty): 6 kg, Length: 110 cm (Bulk = 4), Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 7.5x11mm fixed cartridge ball, Muzzle Velocity: 900 mps, Magazine: 150 round cassette with seperately loaded propellant bottle adequate for 900 rounds or 60 bursts, Magazine Weight: 1 kg, Catalyst Bottle Weight: 1.5 kg, ROF: 5, Aimed Fire Range: 800 meters (1000 meters on tripod or pintle mount), Area Fire Burst: 20 rounds (AFV = 2), Area Fire Range: 600 meters (750 meters on mount), DP Value: 0.7, Price: Lv 950 (Lv 3 for 150 round cassette, Lv 2 for propellant bottle)

Panzerfaust 85 Anti-Tank Guided Missile

An obsolete Bavarian anti-vehicle missile preceding the Panzerfaust 93 in that nation's service.  The Panzerfaust 85 is quite similar to that weapon, with slightly shorter range and a less sophisticated seeker head.  The Panzerfaust 85 is still common in the Balkans and other non-2nd Tier states, particularly those using other German equipment or vehicles.

Type:  Obsolete hand-carried antivehicle missile, Nation:  Bavaria (later Germany), exported widely, Launcher Weight:  12 kg, Missile Weight: 10 kg, Range:  3200m, Guidance:  Automatic following gunner lock on, Homing Value:  14, Attack Angle:  Overhead, DP:  As tamped explosive (EP = 30), Launcher Price:  Lv2500, Missile Price:  Lv 2500 (not generally available on the open market)
 

Armored Vehicles

The majority of the Hungarian Army's armored fighting vehicles are hover-mobile designs, primarily the Pancéllégpárnásjármü 2297 hovertank (an upgraded version of the AC-8) and the Pancél Légpárnásjármü 2286 infantry fighting vehicle (P-86, an upgraded version of the Bavarian LkPzTr-V, and comparable in many ways to the Kangaroo IV).  A variety of support vehicles are also in service derived from the chassis of one of these two main vehicle types, including multiple rocket launchers, air defense vehicles, etc.

PANCÉL LÉGPÁRNÁSJÁRMÜ-97 "FARKAS" (Armored Hovercraft 2297 "Wolf")

In 2294, the Austrovenian and Hungarian militaries collectively began soliciting bids for a vehicle to replace their aging fleet of AC-8 hovertanks, which were obsolete and becoming economically undesirable, as well, due to rising operating costs.  A number of different proposals were examined, with an upgraded and refurbished version of the existing AFV fleet, proposed by Berliner Schwerindustrie GmbH, being selected for a number of reasons.  The design, dubbed the Luftkissenpanzer 2297 in Austrovenian service and the Pancél Légpárnásjármü 2297 in Hungarian service, was economical, being based on complete overhauls of the two nation's existing AC-8s, with performance parameters entirely acceptable and equal to the needs of both nations.  In addition, the procurement was based on a teaming agreement wherein much of the retrofits would be done in Austrovenia and Hungary, which both governments found politically desirable.

The new vehicle retained the sponson mounted main ordnance, but replaced the antiquated 8cm French gun with a more modern German 6cm mass driver (the same weapon mounted on the LkPz-VIII), which allowed for an increased onboard ammunition load.  Though the 6cm design is also considered past its prime in 2nd Tier military circles, it remains a very viable weapon system in the military climate of the Balkans.  In addition, the AC-8's remote turret was completely reconfigured, adding a 7.5mm point defense machinegun (replacing earlier, less effective active defense systems) and replacing the 25mm cannon with an A-4 Plasma Gun.  Finally, the Guiscard Aero-12 missile system was replaced by the modern German Luchs anti-armor missile.

To avoid increasing weight (with an associated loss of endurance, already a major complaint concerning the AC-8) and to keep costs down, the conversion did not involve improved armor protection for the new vehicle.  The current level of protection, like the firepower of the "last generation" mass driver, is deemed acceptable for current and projected Austovenian and Hungarian needs.

Type:  Hovertank
Crew:  3 (driver, gunner, commander)
Weight:  8 tons
Armor:
    Plenum: 5
    Front and Overhead: 80
    All Others: 30
Armament:
    60mm Mass Driver Cannon
    Jaschonek Fabrikant A-4 30MW Plasma Gun in external turret
    7.5mm Binary Point Defense Machinegun in external turret
    1 Luchs Missile Launcher
    Type 30 Active Defense System (some vehicles), 2 banks of 6
Ammunition Load:
    70 rounds 60mm, in one 50 and one 20 round magazines
    40 30MW Plasma Cells
    2000 rounds 7.5mm ammunition (including binary propellant) + 2000 stowed internally
    10 Luchs missiles
    24 Type 30 ADS cartridges
Signature:  5
Evasion: 6
Sensor Range: 12 km (+2)
Rangefinder Bonus: +2
Cargo:  400 kg
Max Speed: 210 kph
Cruising Speed: 200 kph
Combat Movement: 460 m
Off Road Mobility: Full
Power Plant: 1.6MW MHD turbine
Fuel Capacity: 240 kg H2
Fuel Consumption: 40 kg/hr
Endurance: 6 hr
Price:  Not commercially available, estimated procurement price Lv300,000
 

PANCÉL LÉGPÁRNÁSJÁRMÜ-98 "MEDVE II" (Armored Hovercraft 2298 "Bear II")

A companion vehicle to the P-97, the P-98 is a hover assault carrier based on the AC-8 chassis.  The conversion, dubbed the Medve ("Bear") is a fairly no-frills affair, consisting of removing the 80mm mass driver cannon and shifting the remote turret forward to allow the vehicle to carry a crew of two and six infantrymen in some military semblance of comfort.  In lieu of the existing turret armament, the P-98 carries a CLP-1A plasma cannon (actually a Bavarian/German copy known as the Plasmakanone 10) 100 rounds of ammunition are carried), a 7.5mm binary machinegun, and an external mount for a single Panzerfaust 85 anti-tank missile.  All vehicles are fitted with Manchurian-designed Type 30 active defense systems.

The Hungarian and Austrovenian militaries have, to date, been quite pleased with the P-98's performance.  Cost, however, is somewhat prohibitive (over three times that of the earlier P-86 HIFV), and it is expected that the vehicle will only remain in limited use as a complement to the P-86 rather than an outright replacement.

Type:  Hovertank
Crew:  2 (driver, gunner/commander) + 6 infantrymen
Weight:  8 tons
Armor:
    Plenum: 5
    Front and Overhead: 80
    All Others: 30
Armament:
    PK-10 175MW Plasma Gun (German copy of CLP-1A) in external turret
    7.5mm Binary Machinegun in external turret (coax)
    1 Panzerfaust 85 Missile Launcher
    Type 30 Active Defense System (some vehicles), 2 banks of 6
Ammunition Load:
    100 175MW Plasma Cells
    2000 rounds 7.5mm ammunition (including binary propellant) + 1000 additional stowed internally
    3 PzFaust 85 Missiles (one loaded plus two reloads carried internally)
    24 Type 30 ADS cartridges
Signature:  6
Evasion: 6
Sensor Range: 10 km (+1)
Rangefinder Bonus: +2
Cargo:  500 kg
Max Speed: 210 kph
Cruising Speed: 200 kph
Combat Movement: 460 m
Off Road Mobility: Full
Power Plant: 1.6MW MHD turbine
Fuel Capacity: 240 kg H2
Fuel Consumption: 40 kg/hr
Endurance: 6 hr
Price:  Not commercially available, estimated conversion price Lv150,000
 

PANCÉL LÉGPÁRNÁSJÁRMÜ-86A  "HIÚZ "(Armored Hovercraft 2286A "Lynx")

An indigenous upgrade of the venerable Bavarian LkPzTr-V, similar in most respects to the more commonly seen Kangaroo IV.

Rather than the dual 25mm/Plasma Gun turret commonly seen on modern 'Roos, the basic Lynx mounts a 30mm autocannon, coaxial 7.5mm binary machinegun, and a single-tube Aero-12 anti-vehicle missile launcher.  While the vehicle lacks the 'Roos' twin 12mm heavy machineguns, it is fitted with six firing ports (three on the right, two on the left, and one to the rear) which transported infantry may use.

In addition to the basic infantry carrier, the Hungarian Army employs a platoon-level fire support version of the P-86, mounting a CLP-1A plasma cannon and a 7.5mm coaxial machinegun.  In addition, the chassis is used for air- and missile-defense vehicles (including company-level SHORAMD vehicles), multiple-rocket launcher carriers, and various other specialist vehicles.

Type:  Hover Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Crew:  3 (driver, gunner, commander) + 6 infantrymen
Weight:  4 tons
Armor:
    Plenum: 2
    All Faces: 10
Armament:
    30mm Autocannon
    7.5mm Coaxial Binary Machinegun
    Aero-12 antivehicle missile launcher
Ammunition Load:
    300 rounds 30mm (two magazines, one 200 rounds, one 100 rounds) + 300 additional rounds stowed in vehicle
    1000 rounds 7.5mm machinegun ammunition, including propellant
    4 Aero-12 antivehicle missiles
Signature:  5
Evasion: 6
Sensor Range: 10 km (+1)*
Rangefinder Bonus: +1
Cargo:  2000 kg
Max Speed: 200 kph
Cruising Speed: 180 kph
Combat Movement: 420 m
Off Road Mobility: Full
Power Plant: 0.5MW MHD turbine
Fuel Capacity: 270 kg H2
Fuel Consumption: 15 kg/hr
Endurance: 18 hr
Price:  Not commercially available, estimated procurement price Lv45,000

* Note:  The P-86A can take targetting information from friendly forces on the same C3I network, allowing it to fire its Aero-12 missiles out to 14 kilometers range, if another friendly unit can detect the target.

P-86 Variants

P-86B Fire Support Vehicle:  Armed with a CLP-1A plasma gun (80 rounds carried) and a coaxial 7.5mm binary machinegun (1000 rounds).  Passenger capacity reduced from six to two, and cargo capacity is reduced to 400 kg.  Sensor range is increased to 14 km, and rangefinder bonus to +2.

P-86D Short Range Air and Missile Defense Vehicle:  Armed with a pair of quad-launchers for Hornisse short-range air defense missiles and a dual-mount LAM-80 anti-missile laser designed and built by the Brazilian firm Indústria de Plasma do Amazonas (IPA).  The LAM-80 system and air defense missiles allows the PLJ-86D to provide effective company and battalion-level air defense, including limited anti-missile defense.

P-86E Multiple Rocket Launcher:  Typical of such vehicles, the PLJ-86E is fitted with two multiple rocket launcher racks (8 missiles each), and has a crew of three (driver, gunner, commander).  Cargo capacity is reduced to 250 kilograms and no reloads are carried.

P-86E Command Vehicle:  Company and battalion level command vehicle with greatly increased communications, often used in conjunction with the PLJ-88A TOC.  Crew and armament remain the same as standard PLJ-86A.

P-86F Mortar Carrier:  Carries a turret-mounted GW-50 rapid fire 80mm mortar.

P-88A Tactical Operations Center:  Armed only with a 7.5mm binary point defense system and Type-30 ADS, the PLJ-88A is the standard battalion and higher command node for heavy forces in the Hungarian Army.  Typical of such vehicles, it uses the basic PLJ-86 hull, but has an expanded troop compartment to allow greater freedom of movement, and extensive communications equipment.  Additional versions include the P-88A1 electronic warfare vehicle, the P-88A2 and A3 mobile radar/lidar vehicles (counter-battery and air defense sensors, respectively), and the P-88A4 UAV tender.

P-88B Armored Ambulance:  Typically not fitted with an auto-doc, and designed to carry four litter cases or up to eight walking-wounded, plus a crew of four (driver, commander, and two medics).

P-88C Logistics Support Vehicle:  Despite the name, this vehicle is not intended to haul supplies, but is, instead, used to transport maintenance teams and anyone else requiring armored mobility on the battlefield.  Specialized versions are also used as a recovery vehicles and ammunition carriers for other vehicles (such as the P-86E).  Armed with a 7.5mm binary machinegun.

P-88D Air Defense Vehicle: A long-range air defense vehicle operated by the Hungarian Air Force, fitted with eight Ohu missiles.

P-95 Mobile Surgical Vehicle:  An adaptation of the PLJ-88B, featuring a single operating theater and accomodations for a crew of five (driver, commander, surgeon, physicians assistant, and medic).  German and French experiences in the War of German Reunification (studied extensively by the Hungarian and Austrovenian forces) indicated that a disturbingly large percentage of critically wounded personnel entrusted to the care of auto-doc units without adequate prior intervention and stabilization were dying or suffering severe complications due to poor diagnostic and trauma management skills of the auto-doc's AI routines.  Consequently, many of the world's militaries, including some non-2nd Tier nations, have revived the concept of placing surgical assets far forward on the battlefield to allow immediate care to critically wounded personnel.
 

NEW ARMORED FIGHTING VEHICLE WEAPONS

Type 30 Active Defense System:  A fairly inexpensive system produced for export by the Manchurian Wu-Xinjian industrial consortium, primarily for export, though it is used on some Manchurian AFVs.  The Type 30 consists of two banks of six 75mm launchers, providing anti-missile protection in the forward 180-degree arc of either the turret (as on the P-86) or vehicle's chassis.  During an engagement, the Type 30 will fire one cartridge per incoming missile, with a flat chance of destroying the missile (the system is entirely automated).  As is common with such systems, the fragmentation of exploding cartridges can kill or injure nearby personnel or damage equipment; thus friendly infantry either tends to stay away from the vehicle, or the system is disabled by the crew when operating in close proximity to friendly forces.

    Engagement: 30% effective against standard anti-vehicle missiles, 20% against hyper-velocity missiles, terminal sprint missiles, etc.
    Burst Radius:  15 meters (primary)/30 meters (secondary)
    Weight (including two banks of launchers, fire control computer, and independent LIDAR unit): 80 kg
    Cost:  Lv 5500 (Lv 4 for replacement cartridge)
 

APPENDIX A -- THE HUNGARIAN ARMY IN THE KAFER WAR

Hungary has deployed a small "national prestige" force to the French Arm as part of Division Europa, the French-sponsored multinational command participating in the Liberation.  Forces deployed to date have consisted of an armored battle group, an small electronic warfare company from the 77th Military Intelligence Regiment, and a platoon of long-range reconnaissance troops from the 19th Reconnaissance Regiment's 24th Battalion.

Csata Csoport 130, 3. Páncél Brigád, Magyar Honved (Battle Group 130, 3rd Tank Brigade)

    1. (Headquarters) Company (+), 1-30th Tank Regiment
    2. Tank Company, 1-30th Tank Regiment
    3. Tank Company, 1-30th Tank Regiment
    3. Mounted Rifle Company, 1-1st Mounted Rifle Regiment
    130. Provisional Support Company

Based around the 3rd Tank Brigade's 1st Battalion, 30th Tank Regiment (I  Zászlóalj, 30. Páncél Ezred "Imre Nagy"), Battle Group 130 (commonly known as CC-130) is the main component of the Hungarian contribution to fighting in the French Arm.  Besides the parent battalion's Headquarters Company and 2nd and 3rd Tank Companies, the battle group consists of an armored infantry company from 1st Battalion, 1st Mounted Rifle Regiment, an extra reconnaissance platoon (also drawn from 1-1st Mounted Rifles, and so equipped with four P-86 HIFVs), and a provisional support company from the Brigade Logistics Battalion.  The support company is based around the company headquarters for the battalion's maintenance company, but adds substantial transportation and medical assets and deployed with nearly 50% of the Log Battalion's authorized strength in personnel and equipment.
 

APPENDIX B -- THE HUNGARIAN NATIONAL POLICE FORCE

Besides providing four military police battalions to the Hungarian Army, the Hungarian National Police Force (Magyar Tábori Csendőrség, abbreviated MTC or, colloquially, "Tasha") is also tasked with a wartime territorial defense role, primarily intended for rear-area security and counter-special operations missions.  In keeping with this mission, MTC personnel receive limited training in typical light infantry tasks, though level of proficiency is not especially good.  This situation is further aggravated by the tendency of personnel with military aptitude or interests to gravitate towards the MP battalions organic to the units attached to the army.

Each of Hungaries 24 counties fields a County National Police Brigade (Megye Tábori Csendőrség Brigád) which, in turn, form four divisions (numbered five through eight to avoid confusion with army divisions), each of roughly six brigades.  "Brigade" is something of a misnomer, and typically refers to a unit of approximately battalion strength.

NOTES

Hungarian Borders:  This write-up departs slightly from 2300AD canon in its depiction of current Hungarian borders.  Hungary, circa 2300, is understood to contain portions of 20th century Romania, roughly constituting the Romanian provinces of Arad, Bihor, Satu Mare, and Timis.  This inclusion seems to produce the slight "hook" in southern Hungarian-Romanian border depicted on the European map on page 72 of the Adventurers Guide, though I suspect that this might, in fact, be too large a chunk of Romanian territory -- as always the 2300 maps are rather maddening.

In addition, I am assuming that Hungary was able to regain partial control of the historically Hungarian province of Vojvodina in the nation of Serbia.  Hungary is posited to control about half of Vojvodina, in the area north and west of the confluence of the Danube and Tisa/Tisza rivers, which leaves a salient of Serbian territory stretching due north from Belgrade to the town of Kikinda, which is now the northern-most point of Serbian control.  This change is relatively minor, in game terms, but does redress an existing tension in the area that would have most likely been resolved in some manner (most likely unpleasant) in the Twilight War and Age of Recovery.

Luftkissenpanzertrager-V:  This is a stab at the Bavarian designation of the design which gave rise to the Kangaroo IV and is purely fictitious.