Romanian equipment in Irak

What equipment do the Romanian troops in Irak have?
I imagine they'll be crack troops, with the latest equipment, such as kevlar helmets, new vehicles etc.
What guns ate they using, the AK, or others?
What vehicles, jeeps, truck armoured cars etc?
Thanks in advance for any info on the matter.

Forget the equipment... I have good news.

Romania may pull out from Iraq by June 2005.
This I saw on the site of AFP (France Presse) on Sunday, November 14, 2004.

This post has been edited by Florin on November 15, 2004 05:14 am

Indeed, good news! MAB38 try to visit www.mapn.ro, and here you may find pictures gallery with our troops in Irak.

Iama

The fact that Romanian troops will be leaving Irak is good news to me to!
In my opinion armies are for defending their homeland not for giving manpower to the USof A's colonial battles. I'm also against the presence of foreign soldiers in one's country, whether they pay a good rent to the goverment or not!
I had a look at the site signalled by Iamandi, it's interesting, there are no photos of Irak, but what I saw regarding the international manouvers with naeighbouring countries satisfied my question.
Thanks again!

They are generally experienced troops who already made some international missions or battalions brought up to NATO standards.

The firearms are Romanian-made: PA md. 1986 (AK-74), AG-7 (RPGs), PSL etc. Only the new 9 mm pistol I am not to sure on. For protection they wear PASGT helmets, Romanian designation ST 4 model 2003. The Kevlar vests are III/IV protection level model 2002 with ceramic plates. They are also in camo colors and have the possibility to attach the radio and the bayonet.

The APCs used are the TAB B-33 Zimbru (8 wheels) and the smaller TAB C-79 (4 wheels) recon APC. As for trucks the DAC 665 T and the DAC 10215 FA. The all terrain car is the ARO 243 D

Florin, the pull out is in case the situation in Irak will stabilize, something I would not count on too much. Plus, there will be a new government next month, which might decide otherwise. Hopefully there will be no fatalities among the Romanian soldiers.

The Hungarian Parliament voted down a government proposal to extend the mission of its 300-strong military contingent in Iraq on Monday, obliging Budapest to withdraw its forces by the end of 2004. As far as I know, Poland also intends to withdraw its men.

In this case, the presence of the Romanian troops will become even more precious for the US, not for their strength, but for political reasons. Whoever wins the Romanian elections should request some American support for our problems with Ukraine, and especially regarding the Serpent Island. If the Romanian politicians will not do that, it will be as stupid as their attitude in 1991...1992 during the conflict opposing the young Republic of Moldavia to the guys backed by the 14th Russian Army.

Iraqi security forces continued to receive large shipments of weapons and materiel from the Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq in November, including large deliveries of armor for the Iraqi army's growing mechanized force element.

"November's rollout totaled more than 2 million RPK/PKM machine-gun rounds; 1.2 million 9 mm pistol rounds; 2.8 million AK-47 assault-rifle rounds; 450,000 12 gauge shotgun rounds, including 200,000 slug rounds; 999,000 5.6 mm rounds; 48 shotguns; 1,000 various-make 9 mm pistols; nearly 1,000 RPK and PKM machine guns; 1,120 smoke and riot grenades; roughly 1,900 9 mm Glock pistols; 5,400 AK-47s; 20 Walther pistols; 78 rocket-propelled grenade launchers; 16,000 sets of body armor; more than 7,400 helmets, including 150 riot helmets; 44 French- designed Panhard M-3 armored personnel carriers; four T-55 Russian-designed heavy tanks; 18 multi-purposed armored vehicles; and four Comp Air 7SL light reconnaissance aircraft.

The rollout also included nearly 200 vehicle and handheld radios; 150 night- vision goggles; some 11,000 field jackets; 3,000 cold-weather jackets; 2,200 mattresses and beds; 40,000 desert combat uniforms; 11,000 pairs of running shoes; 300 kneepads; 600 tactical vests; 1,000 holsters; 9,500 T-shirts; 1,200 binocular pairs; 1,000 handcuff sets; 20 blunt-trauma suits; 1,450 compasses; 132 global positioning systems; 800 "MAG" lights; 750 whistles; 4,150 hats; 344 first aid kits; 2,000 canteens; 1,500 police shirts; 2,000 police uniforms; two 2-ton trucks; 14 ambulances; 10 Russian-made GAZ heavy transport trucks; 15 Chevy trucks; 20 Chevy Trailblazers; four Dodge Durangos; and 52 Chevy Lumina police sedans.

All equipment has either been issued to Iraqi army, National Guard or police forces or delivered throughout the country for distribution to personnel.

The Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq is specifically tasked with assisting the Iraqi government to train, mentor and equip Iraq's security forces. "

US DOD (source)

Iama

http://www.jurnalul.ro/modules.php?op=modl...243892&topic=32

"Jurnalul National", today issue. An article about mehcanics of T.A.B. Zimbru and 3 pictures.

Iama

The 9 mm pistol was issued as the standard side weapon for Romanian officers and NCO’s in Irak (and , in small amounts, to the enlisted men).
Also you can add on Victor’s list the two barrel ZU 2 heavy machine gun (14.5 mm), in fact two machine guns of the same type as those used on the ZIMBRU APC’s mounted on a 2 wheel chassis .
And a short mention- the PA md 1986 is not the same assault rifle as the AK 74. There are some differences between them…

ZU 2 = ZPU 2?

Iama

Yes, ZPU 2 (ZU 2 is the shortened name used among Romanian Army personnel).
And it’s a heavy machine gun, originally AA purpose designed, (not an AA gun, as seen on different web sites).
It could be used in two modes:
- the original one (using the AA sighting system);
- ground attack/defence (using the issued scope).
Romanian Army used it in Irak for camp defence (fixed position, on building's roof) or convoy defence (mobile, mounted on DAC 10215 FA’s platform).

Yes, i know about this and about the ZPU 4 variant. I've seen thme first time at the momment when i was only 6 year old, at an uncle "juramant". He was soldier at one transmission unit and after the parade, we see an exposition of theyr equipment. At Military Museum is one.

Iama

P.S. Romanian Army had the single barrell version?

As far as I know, the single barrel version (known as ZPU 1) hasn’t been issued in service with Romanian Army in significant numbers, the small amount of them being soon replaced by ZPU 2 and it’s bigger sister, ZPU 4 (for obvious reasons, the chassis requiring few modifications and being able to deliver doubled/quadrupled fire power obtained by increasing the number of crew members only by one-from 3 to 4 for AA purpose and from 2 to 3 for ground attack/defence). That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been produced in Romania for export purpose, being used in the Irakian Army and some African countries. Anyway, it hasn’t been by far the bulk of mainframes based on the 14.5 mm heavy machine gun domestic produced (that prize belongs to the steroids fed ZPU 4).