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Romanian Armour
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Romanian Armour
During the first years of the war Romanian attempts to produce R-1, R-35 and T-21 tanks under licence were repeatedly frustrated and German deliveries were meager.
So from December 1942 the Romanians had to refurbish and upgrade existing and captured vehicles. They also developed armoured vehicles able to be manufactured by local industry.
During the 1941 and 1942 campaigns the Romanians captured numbers of Soviet tanks, some were put straight back into frontline service by the cavalry mechanised squadrons.
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Right: Czech T-21 (this design was adopted by the Hungarians as the Turan).
Their operational life was limited due to shortage of spares, and they were normally sent back to Romania when they broke down.
Holdings and Deliveries of Fully Tracked Armoured Vehicles 1941 - 1944
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Romanian Designation
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At
22/6/41
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In
1942
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In
1943
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To
23/8/44
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Original Designation
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Malaxa UE
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126
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-
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-
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-
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Renault UE Carrier
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FT-17
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75
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-
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-
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-
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Renault FT-17
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R-1
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35
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-
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-
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-
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CKD AH-IV
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R-35
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75
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-
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-
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-
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Renault R-35
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R-2
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126
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26
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-
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-
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Skoda S-II-a & PzKpfw 35(t)
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T-3
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-
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12
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-
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-
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PzKpfw III N
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T-4
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-
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12
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31
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83
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PzKpfw IV G and H
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TACAM T60
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-
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-
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34
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-
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Converted Soviet T-60 (Soviet 76.2mm F-22 L/51 gun)
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Senilets Ford Rusesc
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-
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-
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34
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-
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STZ Komsomolets
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T-38
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-
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-
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50
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-
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PzKpfw 38(t)
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TACAM R2
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-
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-
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1*
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20*
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Converted R-2 & PzKpfw 35(t) (Soviet 76.2mm ZIS-3 L/42 gun)
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TAs
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-
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-
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4
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104
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StuG III G
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Maresal
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-
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-
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3
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3
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Prototypes (Romanian 75mm DT-UDR gun)
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R35/45
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-
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-
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-
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30*
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Converted Renault R-35 (45mm gun)
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Totals
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Romanian
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126
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-
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72
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53
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Production, conversions & Prototypes
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Imported
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311
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50
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85
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187
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*Conversions of existing chassis
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The T-60 and STZs could be put back into service, as they had Ford-type engines familiar to the Romanians and for which spares were available. Romania could not produce high-grade armour plate, so other captured Soviet tanks had their armour cut away and applied to the fighting compartments of the TACAM T-60 and TACAM R-2s.
All captured Allied tanks had to be returned to the Soviets after Romania’s defection to the Allies in 1944.
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Many or most of the PzKpfw IV supplied to the Romanians were second hand tanks that were passed to the Romanians as the German armoured units updated to newer tanks. Many of these tanks were subsequently taken back by the Germans trying to stop the Soviet invasion of Romania. Thus in the latter parts (1944-45) of the war it is safe to say the Romanians “lost” more tanks to their allies than in enemy action.
Tom Robertson
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Left: Maresal tank hunter developed on a T-60 hull armed with the Romanian 75mm DT-UDR gun. It was similar to the German Hetzer.
Source
“Third Axis Fourth Ally” Axworthy, M., Scafes, C and Craciunoiu, C.
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Last Updated On Friday, December 19, 2008 by Wayne at Battlefront
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