Maresal tank destroyer
Encyclopedia
The Mareşal tank destroyer was a Romania
n armored vehicle produced in limited numbers during the Second World War.
in World War II, had few modern fighting vehicles when war began. Most vehicles were captured obsolete Allied vehicles, which were quickly destroyed by superior Soviet
armor. After the German army provided armor replacement and modernization assistance to Romania, the latter began to receive 38t, Stug III, and Panzer IV tanks.
The Romanian military began development of a modern AFV
at the end of 1942. The new design was of a contemporary appearance, having an enclosed fighting compartment, and it was armed with a captured Soviet 122 mm Putilov-Obluchov M1904/30 howitzer on modified captured Soviet T-60 undercarriage with special 4-piece turtle-shaped armour much like Hetzer
. Later prototypes incorporated the 76 mm divisional gun M1942 (ZiS-3) on a modified Czech TNHP undercarriage using German technical support, and Romanian built 75 mm anti-tank gun DT-UDR M1943 Resita on a widened T-60 (captured) Soviet light tank chassis. Orders placed for 1,000 vehicles (from November 1944), but development stopped when a coup overthrew Marshall Ion Antonescu
, the Romanian leader, and the country switched sides. All prototypes were confiscated by the Soviets which stopped any further work on the project.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n armored vehicle produced in limited numbers during the Second World War.
History
Romania, a member of the Axis PowersAxis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
in World War II, had few modern fighting vehicles when war began. Most vehicles were captured obsolete Allied vehicles, which were quickly destroyed by superior Soviet
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
armor. After the German army provided armor replacement and modernization assistance to Romania, the latter began to receive 38t, Stug III, and Panzer IV tanks.
The Romanian military began development of a modern AFV
AFV
AFV may stand for:* Alianza Fidelidad por Veracruz, an electoral alliance that fought the 2007 election in the Mexican state of Veracruz* Alternative fuel vehicle* The on-air abbreviation for America's Funniest Home Videos, a U.S...
at the end of 1942. The new design was of a contemporary appearance, having an enclosed fighting compartment, and it was armed with a captured Soviet 122 mm Putilov-Obluchov M1904/30 howitzer on modified captured Soviet T-60 undercarriage with special 4-piece turtle-shaped armour much like Hetzer
Hetzer
The Jagdpanzer 38 , later known as Hetzer , was a German light tank destroyer of the Second World War based on a modified Czechoslovakian Panzer 38 chassis. The project was inspired by the Romanian "Mareşal" tank destroyer.The name Hetzer was at the time not commonly used for this vehicle...
. Later prototypes incorporated the 76 mm divisional gun M1942 (ZiS-3) on a modified Czech TNHP undercarriage using German technical support, and Romanian built 75 mm anti-tank gun DT-UDR M1943 Resita on a widened T-60 (captured) Soviet light tank chassis. Orders placed for 1,000 vehicles (from November 1944), but development stopped when a coup overthrew Marshall Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu
Ion Victor Antonescu was a Romanian soldier, authoritarian politician and convicted war criminal. The Prime Minister and Conducător during most of World War II, he presided over two successive wartime dictatorships...
, the Romanian leader, and the country switched sides. All prototypes were confiscated by the Soviets which stopped any further work on the project.