Romanian armored fighting vehicle production during World War II

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During the

Second World War, the Kingdom of Romania produced, converted or significantly improved a variety of armored fighting vehicles, ranging from licence-built unarmed artillery tractors to tank destroyers of an original design which ended up - according to some accounts - as inspiration for some German AFV
.

Beginnings

Romanian-built Malaxa UE carrier at the National Military Museum in Bucharest

Romania took its first step in developing an indigenous AFV industry in 1937, when a licence was acquired from

Renault FT-17 World War I-era light tanks. Production of the Renault UE was carried out in Romania between the latter half of 1939 and March 1941, but only 126 vehicles had been delivered. Although Malaxa, the Romanian Bucharest-based factory producing them, could manufacture most of the parts, it still relied on French imports for the engines, gearboxes and instrument panels, and thus production stopped along with the supply of imported parts following the fall of France. Nevertheless, the Romanian "Malaxa" tractors differed significantly from their French counterparts. They were heavier by 0.1 tons and their payload was increased from 0.35 to 0.5 tons. Thus, the 126 Romanian Malaxas had a cumulative payload equivalent to that of 180 French UEs.[1]

The licence for the UE tractors was followed by one for the AH-IV tankette, acquired from Czechoslovakia. However, only one vehicle was produced by Malaxa under this licence.[2]

Repairs, improvements and production of parts

Romanian R35 at the Bucharest National Military Museum (note the metal-rimmed wheels)

The Romanian industry adapted to maintain complex AFVs after the

Pak 38 anti-tank gun.[4]

Tank destroyers

TACAM Series

A Romanian TACAM T-60 during the National Day parade, 10 May 1943
TACAM R-2

The TACAM Series of tank destroyers consisted in four proposed designs, from which two were produced. A total of 55 TACAM tank destroyers were made, all but one being issued to the Romanian Army by July 1944.

TACAM T-60

This was the first Romanian-produced tank destroyer. It was based on the Soviet T-60 light tank, 34 of which were converted to TACAM T-60 tank destroyers by the end of 1943. Several Romanian factories were involved in the project, producing numerous parts for the new vehicle, but the assembly itself took place at the Leonida factory in Bucharest. The new vehicle, weighing 9 tons, mounted one Soviet M-1936 F-22 field gun as its main armament. This was supplemented by one ZB-53 heavy machine gun and one submachine gun.[5] All 34 were operational with the Romanian Army as of 19 July 1944.[6]

TACAM R-2

This was the second Romanian-produced tank destroyer. It was based on the Czechoslovak

Romanian Army as of 19 July 1944.[8]

TACAM R-1

Proposed design featuring the mounting of a captured Soviet 45 mm anti-tank gun to the AH-IV tankette, 14 of which were still on hand as of late 1943. However, the design was deemed a waste of productive capacity and the project was cancelled.[9]

TACAM T-38

In 1943, it was decided to convert 40 Panzer 38(t) light tanks to tank destroyers by fitting them with captured Soviet field guns. Although not formally rejected, this project never began.[10]

Operational importance

As of 19 July 1944, the TACAMs accounted for over a quarter of Romania's operational AFV able to effectively oppose the Soviet T-34. All such vehicles are listed below:[11]

Name Type Country of Origin Quantity
T-3 Medium tank  Nazi Germany 2
T-4 Medium tank  Nazi Germany 81
TACAM T-60 Tank destroyer  Kingdom of Romania 34
TACAM R-2 Tank destroyer  Kingdom of Romania 20
TAs Assault gun  Nazi Germany 60

Vânătorul de care R-35

The third Romanian tank destroyer. Although this was also based on a light tank, it was not a TACAM because its turret was not removed and replaced with a fixed superstructure. Instead, it was decided to keep the thickly-armored French turret by fitting it with an extension which contained the mount for the vehicle's new weapon: a Soviet 45 mm tank gun. Because of this larger weapon, however, there was no longer room to also carry a coaxial machine gun, and thus the new vehicle had no secondary armament. A total of 30 R35s were rearmed this way.[12] They, along with 30 unconverted R35s, were operational with the Romanian Army as of 19 July 1944.[13]

Mareșal

Mareșal tank destroyer

A native-designed tank destroyer fully enclosed in sloped armor. It never entered service, as only 7 prototypes were built, along with an early serial production. Nevertheless, the vehicle is said to have been the inspiration for the German Hetzer tank destroyer. According to some sources, in May 1944, German Lieutenant-Colonel Ventz (a delegate of the Waffenamt) acknowledged that the Hetzer had followed the Romanian design solution. The table below lists the 7 prototypes and their main specifications:[14]

Prototype Crew Armament Armor thickness Armor shape Chassis Weight Engine
M-00 2 122 mm M1910/30 howitzer
1 x ZB-53 machine gun		 20-30 mm steel plate Turtle T-60 6.7 tons Ford V8 (85 hp)
M-01 2 122 mm M1910/30 howitzer
1 x ZB-53 machine gun		 20-30 mm steel plate Turtle T-60 (enlarged and reinforced) 6.7 tons Buick (120 hp)
M-02 2 122 mm M1910/30 howitzer
1 x ZB-53 machine gun		 20-30 mm steel plate Turtle T-60 (Rogifer-built, enlarged and reinforced) 6.4 tons Buick (120 hp)
M-03 2 122 mm M1910/30 howitzer
1 x ZB-53 machine gun		 10 mm steel Turtle Rogifer 6.6 tons Buick (120 hp)
M-04 2 75 mm DT-UDR
1 x ZB-53 machine gun		 10-20 mm armour plate (Reșița) Half-hexagon Rogifer Unknown Hotchkiss H-39 (120 hp)
M-05 2 75 mm DT-UDR
1 x ZB-53 machine gun		 10-20 mm armour plate (Bohler) Half-hexagon Rogifer 10 tons Hotchkiss H-39 (120 hp)
M-06 3 75 mm DT-UDR 10-20 mm armour plate (Reșița under Bohler licence) Half-hexagon Rogifer 10 tons Hotchkiss H-39 (120 hp)

Table of vehicles

Romanian Goliath tracked mine

Produced from scratch or assembled from captured components

Model Type Number Manufacturer Note
Malaxa UE Armored tractor 126 Malaxa Licence-made enlarged Renault UE
R-1 Tankette 1 Malaxa
TACAM T-60 Tank destroyer 34 Leonida Fitted with F-22 field gun
Mareșal
 Tank destroyer 7 Rogifer Four armed with 122 mm howitzer and two armed with 75 mm anti-tank gun
Romanian Goliath Demolition vehicle 1 Unspecified

Converted existing tanks in service with the Romanian Army

Model Type Number Manufacturer Conversion
TACAM R-2 Tank destroyer 21 Leonida Fitted with ZiS-3 field gun (prototype fitted with F-22 field gun)
Vânătorul de care R-35 Tank destroyer 30 Leonida Rearmed with 45 mm tank gun

Improved

Model Type Number Main improvement Note
Renault R35 Light tank 30 Rubber-rimmed wheels replaced by metal-rimmed ones
which were 10 times more durable		 30 tanks, later rearmed as tank destroyers,
also benefited of this upgrade
T-20 Komsomolets Armored tractor 34 Hook fitted, enabling the towing of
German 50 mm anti-tank guns

Proposed designs

Medium tanks

  • R-3
    – proposal to build a medium tank in Romania, based on the Czechoslovak-designed Škoda T-21.
  • tank destroyers
    (listed above), which proved to be more adequate for its industry.
  • T-34 with 120/150 mm gun – proposal to up-gun captured T-34s with 120 or 150 mm guns fitted into new turrets. Never made.

Related equipment

Towed guns with shields

  • 75 mm Reșița Model 1943 - native-designed, towed (wheeled) dual-purpose field/anti-tank gun, featuring a shield consisting of two 6 mm plates set 20 mm apart (375 produced until December 1944, including 3 prototypes)[17]
  • 47 mm Schnieder Model 1936 - French-designed, towed (wheeled) anti-tank gun, featuring a shield as well as armored wheels which could be removed and placed as side extensions to the shield for increased protection[18] (140+ produced under licence by Romania at the Concordia Works, production rate being of 14 pieces per month as of October 1942)[19]
  • 75 mm Reșița Model 1943
    75 mm Reșița Model 1943
  • 47 mm Schneider Model 1936
    47 mm Schneider Model 1936

Unarmored fully tracked/all-wheel drive artillery tractors

  • T-1 tractor - fully tracked artillery tractor designed specifically to tow the 75 mm Reșița gun (5 prototypes produced)[20]
  • Ford Marmon Herrington 3-ton 4x4 truck - locally assembled 4WD Ford truck, able to tow guns of 75 mm caliber (450 built)[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, p. 33
  2. ^ Charles K. Kliment, Vladimir Francev, Czechoslovak Armored Fighting Vehicles, Atglen, 1997, pp. 113-114
  3. ^ Steven Zaloga, Tanks of Hitler's Eastern Allies, p. 27
  4. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, pp. 221-223 and 225-227
  5. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, pp. 221-223
  6. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, p. 153
  7. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, pp. 223-225
  8. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, p. 153
  9. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, p. 228
  10. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, p. 228
  11. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, p. 153
  12. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, pp. 225-227
  13. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, p. 153
  14. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, pp. 228-235 and 149
  15. ^ Axworthy 1995, p. 221
  16. ^ Armata romana si evolutia armei tancuri. Documente (1919-45) Archived 2021-01-19 at the Wayback Machine, p. 92
  17. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, pp. 235-237 and 149
  18. ^ Franz Kosar, Motorbuch-Verlag, 1978, Panzerabwehrkanonen: 1916-1977, p. 165 (in German)
  19. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, pp. 29-30 and 75
  20. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, pp. 237 and 149
  21. ^ Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, p. 38
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