Romanian armored fighting vehicle production during World War II

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 France for the local production of 300 Renault UE armored tractors. It is worth noting that prior to this, not even reparations could be made in Romania, as the country had contracted Czechoslovakia for the repair of its increasingly obsolete and only partially operational fleet of 76 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 1941 campaign, when it managed to repair 50 of its Panzer 35(t) light tanks at Ploiești.[3] More comprehensive repairs were carried out for Romania's Renault R35 tanks. An important upgrade was the fitting of new, metal-rimmed, locally designed wheels which were 10 times as durable as the rubber-rimmed originals. Other parts for this tank were also manufactured by several Romanian factories: drive sprockets were produced at the Reșița Works, the fore-mentioned metal-rimmed road wheels along with new tracks were produced at the Concordia Works in Ploiești, and cylinder heads along with drive shafts were cast at the Basarab Works in Bucharest and finished by IAR at Brașov. For the future rearming of 30 R35s as tank destroyers, new gun mounts containing recoil mechanisms were cast at the Concordia Works and fitted as extension to the R35's turret. Romania's T-60 light tanks, captured from the Soviet Union, were to be rebuilt as tank destroyers. To support the added weight this would entail, new road wheels and stronger torsion bars were cast and finished by the Industria Sirmei at Turda, IAR at Brașov and Concordia at Ploiești. The new superstructure for the would-be tank destroyers was designed and cast at Concordia in Ploiești and finished by the Astra Works in Brașov and Lemaitre Works in Bucharest. Romanian factories also refurbished 34 captured Komsomolets armored tractors in 1943, and in early 1944 these were fitted with hooks which enabled them to tow the German 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 Panzer 35(t) light tank, 20 of which were converted to TACAM R-2 tank destroyers during the first half of 1944, plus one prototype in late 1943. The vehicles were converted at the Leonida factory in Bucharest. The new vehicle, weighing 12 tons, mounted one Soviet ZiS-3 field gun as its main armament, apart from the prototype, which mounted one F-22. This was supplemented by one ZB-53 heavy machine gun.[7] All of the vehicles, minus the prototype, were operational with the 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  Romania 34
TACAM R-2 Tank destroyer  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 6 completed prototypes and their main specifications:[14]

Prototype Crew Armament Armor thickness Armor shape Chassis Weight Engine
M-002122 mm M1910/30 howitzer
1 x ZB-53 machine gun		20-30 mm steel plateTurtleT-606.7 tonsFord V8 (85 hp)
M-012122 mm M1910/30 howitzer
1 x ZB-53 machine gun		20-30 mm steel plateTurtleT-60 (enlarged and reinforced)6.7 tonsBuick (120 hp)
M-022122 mm M1910/30 howitzer
1 x ZB-53 machine gun		20-30 mm steel plateTurtleT-60 (Rogifer-built, enlarged and reinforced)6.4 tonsBuick (120 hp)
M-032122 mm M1910/30 howitzer
1 x ZB-53 machine gun		10 mm steelTurtleRogifer6.6 tonsBuick (120 hp)
M-04275 mm DT-UDR
1 x ZB-53 machine gun		10-20 mm armour plate (Reșița)Half-hexagonRogiferUnknownHotchkiss H-39 (120 hp)
M-05275 mm DT-UDR
1 x ZB-53 machine gun		10-20 mm armour plate (Bohler)Half-hexagonRogifer10 tonsHotchkiss H-39 (120 hp)
M-06375 mm DT-UDR10-20 mm armour plate (Reșița under Bohler licence)Half-hexagonRogifer10 tonsHotchkiss H-39 (120 hp)

Table of vehicles

Produced from scratch or assembled from captured components
Model Type Number Manufacturer Note
MalaxaArmored tractor126MalaxaLicence-made enlarged Renault UE
AH-IVTankette1Malaxa
TACAM T-60Tank destroyer34LeonidaFitted with F-22 field gun
MareșalTank destroyer6RogiferFour armed with 122 mm howitzer and two armed with 75 mm anti-tank gun

Converted existing tanks in service with the Romanian Army
Model Type Number Manufacturer Conversion
TACAM R-2Tank destroyer21LeonidaFitted with ZiS-3 field gun (prototype fitted with F-22 field gun)
Vânătorul de care R-35Tank destroyer30LeonidaRearmed with 45 mm tank gun

Improved
Model Type Number Main improvement Note
Renault R35Light tank30Rubber-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 KomsomoletsArmored tractor34Hook fitted, enabling the towing of
German 50 mm anti-tank guns

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)[15]
  • 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[16] (140+ produced under licence by Romania at the Concordia Works, production rate being of 14 pieces per month as of October 1942)[17]
  • 75 mm Reșița Model 1943
  • 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)[18]
  • Ford Marmon Herrington 3-ton 4x4 truck - locally assembled 4WD Ford truck, able to tow guns of 75 mm caliber (450 built)[19]

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. 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
  16. Franz Kosar, Motorbuch-Verlag, 1978, Panzerabwehrkanonen: 1916-1977, p. 165 (in German)
  17. 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
  18. Mark Axworthy, London: Arms and Armour, 1995, Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, pp. 237 and 149
  19. 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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