Strength of 1st Armored Division

[PanzerKing]

I know that a total of 48 Pz IVs were alloted to the division, but what other tanks and armored vehicles fought with the division? The history seems to be sketchy at best. For example, does anyone know how many trucks and half tracks it was equipped with? What about AT, AA, and artillery pieces?

Thanks

[mabadesc]

I like this question and I would also like to learn more about Romania's 1st Armored Division capabilities. And not only in terms of flat numbers, but also in terms of combat effectiveness, whether it lived up to its reputation, and whether there were other Romanian units with similar strength. I'm thinking, for instance, of the 6th Mechanized Regiment (Regimentul 6 Purtat) from the 8th cavalry division, or of Colonel Korne's Mechanized/Armored Detachment in Crimea.

So, any informed comments, please? I would like to hear your opinions on the 1st Armored Division's capacity and potential. Was it well trained, by German Panzer unit standards? Could it face a Soviet Armored Division made up of a combination of older and newer tanks (B/T 2, T-34, KV-1)?

In other words, was it a capable and efficient armored unit by ANY military standards of the time, including German, Soviet, English, and American standards?

I realize it did not have any heavy tanks, but neither did General Raus's panzer division (I forget the exact division name), and yet in 1941 he successfully fought off T-34's and KV-1's using a combination of fast raids performed by light tanks (35's and 38's), anti-tank weapons, and artillery fire.

[PanzerKing]

Why is it such a mystery when trying to learn about the Romanian Army? Did the communists destroy national archives or something? So many things I would like to know are always left to my imagination.

[dragos]

At the beginning of war, the 1st Armored Division had:
155 LMGs, 38 HMGs, 46 13.2mm AA guns, 12 20mm AA guns, 38 47mm AT guns, 12 60mm mortars, 8 81.4mm mortars, 6 flamethrowers, 12 75mm field guns, 12 105mm field guns, 12 100mm howitzers, 70 R-35 tanks, 106 R-2 tanks.

November 1942:
262 LMGs, 56 HMGs, 8 13.2mm AA guns, 18 20mm AA guns, 52 47mm AT guns, 9 50mm AT guns, 9 75mm AT guns, 20 60mm mortars, 8 81.4mm mortars, 12 120mm mortars, 17 flamethrowers, 12 105mm field guns, 24 100mm howitzers, 109 R-2 tanks, 11 T-3 tanks, 11 T-4 tanks, 2 captured light tanks, 10 SdKfz 222 armored cars, 8 SPW 251 halftracked carriers.

August 1944:
105 LMGs, 36 HMGs, 4 13.2mm AA guns, 12 20mm AA guns, 4 25mm AA guns, 8 47mm AT guns, 6 50mm AT guns, 28 75mm AT guns, 9 60mm mortars, 6 81.4mm mortars, 6 120mm mortars, 9 flamethrowers, 12 105mm field guns, 12 100mm howitzers, 48 T-4 tanks, 12 TAs assault guns, 10 TACAM T-60 self-propelled guns, 12 AB armored cars, 24 SPW halftracked carriers.

March 1945:
9 T-4 tanks, 28 R-35 and R-35/45 tanks, 9 T-38 tanks, 2 R-2 tanks, 5 TACAM R-2 self-propelled guns, 14 TAs assault guns, 8 AB armored cars, 5 SPW carriers, 37 motor cars, 26 motorcycles, 4 Zugkraftwagen halftracked carriers.

Source: Armata Romana 1941-1945, RAI, Bucharest 1996.

[Victor]

Have you read this:
http://www.worldwar2.ro/organizare/?article=21&language=en?

[PanzerKing]

Thank you very much! And yes, I've managed to read almost your entire website, but I suppose I missed it!

As a side note, I never fully realised how potent the 1st Arm Div was!

Thanks!

This post has been edited by PanzerKing on January 14, 2005 12:19 am

[PanzerKing]

Here are some tables I created for easy reading regarding the equipment of the 1st Armored Division. Thanks to Victor for the info. I hope they're helpful:

June 1941
Light Machine Guns: 155
Heavy Machine Guns: 38
13.2mm AA Guns: 46
20mm AA Guns: 12
47mm AT Guns: 38
60mm Mortars: 12
81.4mm Mortars: 8
Flamethrowers : 6
75mm Field Guns: 12
105mm Field Guns: 12
100mm Howitzers: 12
R-35 Tanks: 70
R-2 Tanks: 106

Nov. 1942
Light Machine Guns: 262
Heavy Machine Guns: 56
13.2mm AA Guns: 8
20mm AA Guns: 18
47mm AT Guns: 52
50mm AT Guns: 9
75mm AT Guns: 9
60mm Mortars: 20
81.4mm Mortars: 8
120mm Mortars 12
Flamethrowers : 17
105mm Field Guns: 12
100mm Howitzers: 24
R-2 Tanks: 109
T-3 Tanks: 11
T-4 Tanks: 11
SdKfz 222 AC: 10
SPW 251 HT: 8
Captured Light Tanks: 2


Aug. 1944
Light Machine Guns: 105
Heavy Machine Guns: 36
13.2mm AA Guns: 4
20mm AA Guns: 12
25mm AA Guns: 4
47mm AT Guns: 8
50mm AT Guns: 6
75mm AT Guns: 28
60mm Mortars: 9
81.4mm Mortars: 6
120mm Mortars 6
Flamethrowers : 9
105mm Field Guns: 12
100mm Howitzers: 12
T-4 Tanks: 48
TAs (Stug III) AG: 12
TACAM T60 SPG: 10
AB AC: 12
SPW Half Tracks: 24


Mar. 1945
T-4 Tanks: 9
TACAM R-2 SPG: 5
R-35 & R-35/45 28
R-2 Tanks: 2
TAs (Stug III): 14
AB AC: 8
SPW Carriers: 5
Motor Cars: 37
Motorcycles: 26
Zugkraftwagen: 4


Source: Armata Romana 1941-1945, RAI, Bucharest 1996.

This post has been edited by PanzerKing on January 14, 2005 02:42 am