Romanian Armour

Romanian coat of arms

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.

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 

Czech T-21
Romanian Designation
At
22/6/41
In
1942
In
1943
To
23/8/44
Original Designation
Malaxa UE
126
-
-
-
Renault UE Carrier
FT-17
75
-
-
-
Renault FT-17
R-1
35
-
-
-
CKD AH-IV
R-35
75
-
-
-
Renault R-35
R-2
126
26
-
-
Skoda S-II-a & PzKpfw 35(t)
T-3
-
12
-
-
PzKpfw III N
T-4
-
12
31
83
PzKpfw IV G and H
TACAM T60
-
-
34
-
Converted Soviet T-60 (Soviet 76.2mm F-22 L/51 gun)
Senilets Ford Rusesc
-
-
34
-
STZ Komsomolets
T-38
-
-
50
-
PzKpfw 38(t)
TACAM R2
-
-
1*
20*
Converted R-2 & PzKpfw 35(t) (Soviet 76.2mm ZIS-3 L/42 gun)
TAs
-
-
4
104
StuG III G
Maresal
-
-
3
3
Prototypes (Romanian 75mm DT-UDR gun)
R35/45
-
-
-
30*
Converted Renault R-35 (45mm gun)
Totals
         
Romanian
126
-
72
53
Production, conversions & Prototypes
Imported
311
50
85
187
 
*Conversions of existing chassis
TACAM T-60 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.

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

TACAM R-2
Maresal tank hunter
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.

Generals inspect Malaxa UE Carrier troops Officers inspect a R-1 light tank
R-2 tank, Romanian main battle tank from 1941 to 1942 A captured T-26 obr 1939 in Romanian colours
Romanian T-38s (Panzer 38(t)) T-4 (Panzer IV G)


Last Updated On Friday, December 19, 2008 by Wayne at Battlefront