“All terrain” commandment and liaison vehicles in, What types, models and how many of them?

Were there any of this kind of vehicles (Kubelwagen-type) in service with the Romanian army? Were there different types/models used for liaison and commandment duties? I presume that at a certain moment during the war Romania imported the Kubelwagen type 82 from Germany. Is that correct, and if yes when and in what quantity? Does anybody know to what units where the vehicles distributed? However, I’m most interested by the vehicles used before and immediately after the beginning of the war. In a photo with the 2nd Tank regiment, taken in 1940 (see the Weapon/Armor section from the site) there are a couple of what seem to be Laffly French field cars. How many of them (or similar vehicles) were use in late 30’s-early 40’s, and how were they distributed to the units? Did the Romanian army General Staff use field cars in early 40's? Is there any comparative situation with other armies available? Thanks in advance!

I know there were a few Horch vehicles in service for commanding and liaison duties. As of February 1945, there was still at least a section of them.

These were robust, 4x4, 12 cylinder, technically advanced vehicles which performed exceptionally well.

I'm sure there were other types of vehicles in service for these duties as well, but this is the one type I know of.

This post has been edited by mabadesc on October 02, 2005 08:10 pm

Cpt. Serbanescu Alexandru was driven a Kubelwagen in summer 44. It was given to him as a reward ( togheter with 6 new Bf109G6) from G-ral Otto Desloch.

Another widely used "tout-terrain" (as it was designated in the Romanian Army then) was the Stoewer R. 200 4/4. It was used before the Kubekwagen appeared in service.

However, in 1941 the number of command cars was limited. The 1st Armored Division lacked many of its required command cars and officers often rode in motorcycle sidecars or truck cabins, complicating things.

Kubelwagen in romanian service . Picture courtesy D.M.

Hello, my friends:
I can tell you they also used TempoG1200 field cars.
I cannot find the photo just now but I have also seen a 1935 Ford Phaeton used as a staff car by Romanian forces.
Also up to 1940, Ford Dagenham (UK) supplied CKD kits for 90 Staff Cars and 50 4 seat Tourers which may have been of the British Ford style instead of American. I have never seen photos of these last two types.
Most of this information comes from Wheels & Tracks #30 which I have scanned and sent to Gen. Denes.
Cheers
Bill

On 22nd June 1941 the Romanian army had 186 6x6 command vehicles: “Tatra 93 C” (command) and “Tatra 93R” (reconnaissance).

It seems that from 1942, 360 “Horch 901” and 200 “Stoewer R.200”, 4x4 command vehicles were bought from Germany.

As small field cars, Romanian army used “Volkswagen (KdF) 82” and “Mercedes Benz 170V”, 4x2 vehicles.

A lot of civilian cars were also used as command vehicles. The most important types were: “Ford Taunus”, “Ford 60 C.P”, “Ford 85 C.P”, “Praga Lady”, “Praga Alfa”.

(Mark Axworthy, Cornel Scafes, Cristian Craciunoiu, Third Axis, Forth Ally, Arms and Armour, 1995, and Autovehiculele in Armata Romana, Editura Militara, Bucuresti, 1991)

Is there any way in finding this book? If yes, how?

Thanks,

Gen. Dénes

Here are a few photos of various all-terrain vehicles used by the Rumanian Army.





Same model as above, this time with solid rubber tyres:


Gen. Dénes

This post has been edited by Dénes on October 05, 2005 02:20 am

And, finally, here is an early post-war shot, with a Willys Jeep in Rumanian Army service. The uniforms are already Soviet style...



Gen. Dénes

Is there any way in finding this book? If yes, how?

Thanks,

Gen. Dénes

Unfortunately this book is out of print by now. It was in fact written before 1989, and has the same style of presentation as other historical books of the communist period. It was revised in a hurry to include also some information about the 1941-45 campaign, and released in 1991.

There is a lot of useless information inside but, sometimes you could pick up some interesting data. The quality of the print is very poor too.

I think the only possibility to find a copy is in a old books shop.

Thank you all for your answers and thanks Cantacuzino and Denes for the photos (and Dan Melinte for his courtesy ).

Does anybody know what vehicles are those in the photos above (apparently two different models)? When did they enter in service in the Romanian army? When and where were the photos taken? By the way, great pictures, Denes...

I am sorry, but I am not very good in identifying vehicles.
I'll leave it to the specialists...

Gen. Dénes

I think the first one, with the mountain troops, is a Tatra 93 C. The last two are Stöwer R. 200

The first car seems to be a Mercedes Benz L1500A, heavy personnel car. The other two are Stoewer. Its interesting to see the adaptation of the second Stoewer into a railroad vehicle (?).
Tatra 93 C and R were 6WD vehicles.