Need info on Romanian Tank Unit

Gents,

Please, can anyone share some info on the 22nd Tank Btl ?

Many thanks,

Al

Hallo Alexei,
Can you be more specific : the year you heard about that unit operating, where, in what operation?

\hello Andreas,

1 Year is 1943
2 Eastern front
3. I will post pics ASAP.

Alex

My assumption, based on the data that you have given me so far, is that the unit you ask about is the T-38 Tank Battalion (in the organic of the 2nd Tank Regiment), the single romanian armored unit which operated in 1943 on the Eastern Front. I'm not sure so please take it as a assumption... Anyway I wait for the pictures!

I agree, with Andreas. The only frontline tank unit in 43.
The only other thing i can add is there were sometimes captured armour in the unit also, mainly Lend Lease Stuarts.

FYI

Could you translate the writing for me, i am Australian and i only speak english (sorry for my ignorance)

The tanks are R-35's
So initially they were in the 2nd tank battalion 1st armoured division until the were taken from the front in late 1941.

There 8 which equals a tank company.

if the photo is 1943 then they are a training unit in Romania later commited to battle in 1944 maybe with R35/45 (up gunned)

The Recce troop (The motocyclists) are generally attached to the Cavalry Divisions.

Could this be a training unit of the 8th Cavalry which was destined to be 2nd Armoured?

Anyway nice pictures.

The resolution is too small, I can only understand this:

"Frumoasa amintire. Gata de plecare spre front. Compania 2 Bat. 22 C. Lupta"

A nice remembrance. Ready to go to the front. 2nd Company, 22nd Armored Bat.

and "asteptand inspectia"

waiting for an inspection (probably from the 2nd Arm. Reg. commander, it's too small for me).

1. Couldn't it be "Compania 2, Batalionul 2[, Regimentul ]2 Care de lupta? It would just make more sense.

2. Is it sure that the photos are from 1943? What indicates that? I'd put my bet on an earlier date, especially given the "ready to go to the front" line.

3. What car is that, in the photos? Could it be the French Laffly which is asociated with Regimentul 2 Care de lupta in a well-known photo from 1940?

This post has been edited by Agarici on December 10, 2011 10:08 am

Also interesting in the picture is the railroad track and a steam engined train arriving probably to take the Company to front.

Possible Malmaison garrison in Bucharest ???

The car is a staff car. A Horch ?

Also interesting in the picture is the motorcycles group. The first moto is a solo NSU 350 sport ( civil painted) with his driver in black leather suit in the front. Could be the motorcycle group commander ( the NSU 350 was a faster bike at that time) ?
The other motorcycles in the group are Zundapp KS 600 with side car ( the standard motorcycle in romanian army). Their drivers had different suit (textile) than the first one.

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on December 11, 2011 04:53 pm

On the back of the 2nd photo it is written:

"Ofiterii subofiterii si trupa Comp 2 din ? in fata materialului asteptand inspectia comand. al Reg. 2 CL"

Officers, NCOs and soldiers of 2nd Company in front of materiel waiting for inspection of 2nd Tank Regiment commander.

My guess is that in 1943 could have been detached to Transdnestra for security duties.

Volunteers that owned Motorcycles where asked to join up with there own motorcycles due to a lack of motor vehicles within the army. That would explain the civilian motorcycle. I sustain the arguemnt that it is 2nd tank battalion 1st Armoured division. 2 Company 1941 about to entrain to join in Operation Barbarossa.

By the landscape and the clothing looks like winter. So it's more likely to be February or March as it is written on the back of the photo.