T-1 tractor
The T-1 tractor (also known as DT-1, Direcția Tehnică 1) was a project developed by the Romanian Army during World War II. A total of 1,000 were ordered. It was designed to tow a Romanian 75 mm gun. After five prototypes were produced, the project was canceled due to the lack of priority.
| T-1 | |
|---|---|
 Soviet STZ tractor, the vehicle the T-1 was likely based on | |
| Type | Artillery tractor |
| Place of origin |  Romania |
| Service history | |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Direcția Tehnică |
| Designed | 1943 |
| Manufacturer | Rogifer, Reșița, Ford |
| Produced | 1943–44 |
| No. built | 5 prototypes |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 7 t (7.7 short tons) |
| Engine | 4-cylinder 56 kW (75 hp) at 1800 rpm |
| Power/weight | 10.7 hp/tonne |
| Payload capacity | 4 tonnes (4.4 short tons) (towing: 6 tonnes (6.6 short tons)) |
| Transmission | 5 gears |
| Maximum speed | 32 km/h (20 mph) |
Specifications
The T-1 weighed 7 tons (7.7 short tons) and could carry up to 4 tons and tow as much as 6 tons. It had a 4-cylinder 56 kilowatt (75 hp) engine and transmission consisting of five gears. It could go up to 32 km/h (20 mph) and had a power to weight ratio of 10.7 hp/tonne.[1][2]
Development
The Romanian General Staff ordered the construction of 1,000 tractors between 1944 and 1945 at the Ford truck plant in Bucharest. The vehicles were officially designated as T-1 (Tractor 1).[3] It was also named the "DT-1".[1] It was going to be used as a prime mover towing the Romanian-built 75 mm antitank gun Reşiţa Model 1943.[3]
Production
The vehicle was based on the STZ agricultural tractor. Only five prototypes were built, because the "Mareşal" tank destroyer project had more priority.[3]
Notes
- Tudor, p. 126
- Romanian Government, p. 217.
- Axworthy, p. 149
References
- Axworthy, Mark; Scafeș, Cornel; Crăciunoiu, Cristian (1995). Third Axis. Fourth Ally. Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941–1945, Arms and Armour, London. ISBN 1-85409-267-7
- Romanian Parliament (1990). Monitorul oficial al României. Partea a III-a, Publicații și anunțuri. Bucharest: Romanian Government. OCLC 22434393
- Tudor, Gheorghe (1982). Forța de șoc. Schiță istorică a trupelor de tancuri din armata română, Editura Militară, București.