Romanian Army During the Cold War

Re: Denes:

- exactly this may be one of the causes for paranoids... I remember reading in many stories (a while ago, it's true) that the Romanian Revolution (I shall continue naming it like that from utter respect for the dead) was made by the secret services of USA, USSR, Hungary (the order being irrelevant), acting on our national territory. That's another ballgame, however... I repeat an earlier question to you, as Hungarian citizen: what's the name of your Vadim?
Re: ANDREAS: the laser story is arguably one of the biggest and most shameless legends about 1968! I wonder what the Soviets would have said hearing this - I guess they would have "ROFL", at least; maybe even they would have thought to give us another opportunity to use our lasers by invading the country "for real". How about "The Socialist Sovietic Republic of Romania"? BRRRRR...
Re: Cantacuzino: of course he should continue! After all, this could be seen as a dissuasion method for our enemies
Re: dragos: You have to remember that in those days most of the people believed the TV like the Bible. Should I remember you what was "Ilich"'s percent at the elections in 1990 (at which FSN promised in december 1989 it won't run )? Almost all Romanians believed in him - some still do even now!
Re: myself: don't answer to everybody!

This post has been edited by MMM on March 23, 2009 11:58 am

ANDREAS, please continue with the list of romanian army in 1989.

The 3nd Army Command -direct subordinated units:

-59th Artillery Brigade -Lugoj : 1 battalion with 122mm A-19/M-1937/ gun-how, 1 battalion with 130mm Md.1982 guns, 1 battalion with 152mm Md.1981 howitzers, 1 battalion with 152mm Md.1985 gun-how, 1 battalion with M-1943 160mm mortars,
1 mrls battery with APR-40 122mm, DAC and SR trucks and AT-S and TAR tractors,

-24th Antitank Artillery Regiment -Lugoj :
with Md.1977 100mm at guns, 9P133 BRDM atgw-s, ATS-59G and TAR-76 tractors, DAC and SR trucks, BRDM-2U command vehicles,

-54th Engineer Regiment -Deva :
with one pontoon-bridge battalion based on PR-60/SR-132G, BAT-M bulldozers, IMR engineer tanks, MDK-2M sapper vehicles, posible UR-67 mine-clearing vehicles, MTU-20 bridge tanks, TCG-80 recon vehicles based on TABC,

-46th Communications Regiment -Craiova :
no information available

The 4nd Army /Transylvania/ HQ -Cluj-Napoca :

-317th recon battalion -Huedin

-11th Mechanised Division /Carei/ -Oradea :
-21st Mech. Rgt. -Oradea : with TR-77 tanks, TAB-71/-71M apc-s, TABC-79 recon vehicles, SU-76 sp guns, ZiS-3 76mm field guns, Md.1982 120mm mortars, ?? TAB-71AR with 82mm mortars, AG-9 rr-s, MR-4 quad 14,5mm aa hmg-s, DAC-443T and -665T trucks, TER-580 evacuation tank, TERA-71L recovery apc-s,
-23th Mech. Rgt. -Beius -same
-19th Mech. Rgt. -Arad -same
-23rd Tank Rgt. -Oradea : with TR-77 tanks, BTR-50PK and PU apc-s, TABC-79 recon vehicles, TAB-71A R-1451 command apc, MR-2 quad 14,5mm aa hmg-s, DAC-443T and -665T trucks, TER-580 evacuation tanks, MTP/BTR-50P recovery apc-s,
-26th Artillery Regiment -Ineu :
with M-30 122mm how., Md.1981 152mm how., APR-40 122mm mrls, SR-114 and DAC-444 trucks, TMA-83 arty tractors, TABC-79A-POMA and TAB-77A-PCOMA command vehicles,
-119th Recon Battalion -Oradea :
with TABC-79 recon vehicles and DAC-444T trucks,

-81th Mechanised Division /Somes/ -Dej :
-221st Mech. Rgt. -Bistrita : with T-55/A tanks, TAB-71/-71M apc-s, TABC-79 recon vehicles, SU-76 sp guns, ZiS-3 76mm field guns, Md.1982 120mm mortars, ?? TAB-71AR with 82mm mortars, AG-9 rr-s, MR-4 quad 14,5mm aa hmg-s, DAC-443T and -665T trucks, TER-580 evacuation tank, TERA-71L recovery apc-s,
-223th Mech. Rgt. -Dej -same
-227th Mech. Rgt. -Cluj -with TR-85M tanks, MLI-84 ifv-s, TAB-71/-71M apc-s, TABC-79 recon vehicles, SU-76 sp guns, ZiS-3 76mm field guns, Md.1982 120mm mortars, ?? TAB-71AR with 82mm mortars, AG-9 rr-s, MR-4 quad 14,5mm aa hmg-s, DAC-443T and -665T trucks, TER-800 evacuation tank, TERA-71L recovery apc-s,
-230rd Tank Rgt. -Baia Mare : with T-55/A/AM2 tanks, BTR-60PB and PU apc-s, BRDM-2 recon vehicles, MR-4 quad 14,5mm aa hmg-s, SR-114/-132, DAC-443T and -665T trucks, T-55T evacuation tanks, MTP-2/BTR-60 recovery apc-s,
-315th Artillery Regiment -Simleu Silvaniei : with M-30 122mm how., Md.1981 152mm how., APR-40 122mm mrls, SR-114 and DAC-444 trucks, TMA-83 arty tractors, TAB-77A-PCOMA command vehicles,
-422th Recon Battalion -Satu Mare :
with TABC-79 recon vehicles and DAC-444T trucks,
-424th Communication Battalion -Dej :
-55th Antiaircraft Battalion -Dej :

-6th Tank Division /Horea, Closca si Crisan/ -Targu-Mures :
-2nd Tank Regiment -Targu Mures : with T-55/A/AM2 tanks, TAB-71M and R-1451 apc-s, TABC-79 recon vehicles, MR-4 quad 14,5mm aa hmg-s, SR-114/-132, DAC-443T and -665T trucks, T-55T evacuation tanks, MTP-2/BTR-60 recovery apc-s,
-5th Tank Regiment -Turda : same as the 2nd
-6th Tank Regiment -Aiud : same
-4th Mechanised Regiment -Zalau : with TR-77 tanks, TAB-71/-71M apc-s, TABC-79 recon vehicles, SU-76 sp guns, ZiS-3 76mm field guns, Md.1982 120mm mortars, ?? TAB-71AR with 82mm mortars, AG-9 rr-s, MR-4 quad 14,5mm aa hmg-s, DAC-443T and -665T trucks, TER-800 evacuation tank, TERA-71L recovery apc-s,
-20th Artillery Regiment -Tarnaveni ??: with with M-30 122mm how., D-20 152mm how., APR-21 122mm mrls, SR-114 and DAC-444 trucks, ATS-59G or TAR-76 arty tractors, TAB-71A-PCOMA command vehicles,
-166th Recon Battalion -Targu Mures :
with BRDM-2 recon vehicles and DAC-444T and SR-114D trucks,
-216th AA Artillery Battalion -Targu Mures :

-69th Artillery Brigade -Simleu Silvaniei : 1 battalion with 122mm A-19/M-1937/ gun-how, 1 battalion with 130mm Md.1982 guns, 2 battalions with 152mm Md.1981 howitzers, 1 battalion with M-1943 160mm mortars, 1 mrls battery with APR-40 122mm, DAC and SR trucks and AT-S and TAR tractors,

-7th Artillery Regiment -Cluj : with M-30 122mm how., ML-20 152mm how., APR-40 122mm mrls, SR-114 and DAC-444 trucks, TMA-83 arty tractors, TAB-77A-PCOMA command vehicles,

-612th Antitank Artillery Regiment -Baia Mare :
with Md.1977 100mm at guns, 9P133 BRDM atgw-s, ATS-59G and TAR-76 tractors, DAC and SR trucks, BRDM-2U command vehicles,

-52th Engineer Regiment -Alba Iulia :
with one pontoon-bridge battalion based on PR-71/DAC-665G, BAT-M bulldozers, IMR engineer tanks, MDK-2M sapper vehicles, MT-55 bridge tanks, TCG-80 recon vehicles based on TABC,

-55th Communications Regiment -Cluj-Napoca :
no information available

-1st Mountain Hunters Brigade -Bistrita : 3 mountain hunters battalions, 1 gun battalion 76mm Md.1982, 1 recce company with TABC-79,

-5th Mountain Hunters Brigade -Alba Iulia : 4 mountain hunters battalions -one MLVM apc company, 1 gun battalion with 76mm Md.1982 and few 100mm Md.1988, 1 recce company with TABC-79,

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You certainly filled in a few blanks that I had! Thanks a ton!

I was trying the same approach to finding these details, but not speaking or reading Romanian is a big hindrance!

Keep up the good work! If you're bored, I'd love to learn more about the airborne and border guard units, along with any reserve units!

Thanks, I'm still in shock!!!!

So, first of all I need to say that not all this material is 100% correct. For instance a couple of days ago I spoke with a former army officer who served at an artillery regiment in Medgidia, and he was absolutely sure that the claimed 43th Rocket Brigade near Sibiu is a fantasy, but a real 43th Artillery Regiment existed at Mihai Bravu near Bucharest. He supposed that this regiment was part of the 57th Tank Division Bucharest-Pantelimon, and had new materiel like Md.1981 152mm howitsers -2 battalions and APRA-40 122mm mlrs -1 battery. This was in 1988 he claimed. Have no idea of all that. But I write it to you.
Military Schools and Training Facilities
-The Infantry and Armor Command -Bucharest -direct subordinated units:
-The Superior Military School for Officers and Technicals -Sibiu:
1-2 command apc TAB-77A R-145-1/-2, 10-13 tanks T-55/-A and ?? TR-85, 3-5 sp guns SU-100M, 30-35 apc-s TAB-71M and TAB-77, 3 recon TABC-79, 3-6 ifv-s MLI-84, DAC-444T and 665T trucks, ...can't be sure
-Infantry Training Center -Fagaras:
1-2 command apc TAB-77A R-145-1/-2, 10 tanks T-55/-A and ?? TR-85, 30 apc-s TAB-71M and TAB-77, 6-7 recon TABC-79, 10-13 ifv-s MLI-84, DAC-444T and 665T trucks,...again not sure
-Military School for Reserve Officers -at Lipova /Arad and Bacau -
infos only for Lipova : 3 Infantry Battalions with 62-68 TAB-71/BTR-60PB and 3-5 TAB-71A R-145 command apc-s, 3-6 BRDM-2 recon, ZiS-3 76mm field guns-1 or 2 batteries, 18 x 82mm and 6 x 120mm soviet-type mortars, 12 -18 heavy aa mg 14,5mm romanian or soviet type, 1 Tank Battalion with 21-22 tanks -T-55-100 and T-34-85, -infos from former sergeant activating there in 1989-1990. He claimed that the school had over 1.100 conscripts in 1989 and the strength of an mechanised infantry regiment.
-Military School for Armor and Auto Officers -Pitesti :
1-2 command apc TAB-71A R-145-1/-2, 21-22 tanks TR-85/-M and 2-3 TR-125, 1-2 sp guns SU-100M, 10-13 apc-s TAB-71M and TAB-77, 3 recon TABC-79, 1-2 ifv-s MLI-84, DAC-444T and 665T trucks,
-Artillery Training Center -Ploiesti : no info
-Tank and SP Guns Training Center -Bacau ??: no infos

Hallo chico20854,
For you especially :
The Military Aviation Command direct subordinated units /in 1989 remember/:
-98th Special Objective Guard Battalion -Otopeni -airfields, facilities,
-60th Paratrooper Regiment -Buzau -2 battalions,
-64th Paratrooper Regiment -Titu -2 battalions,
-56th Paratrooper Regiment -Caracal -2 battalions,
-62th Paratrooper Regiment -Campia Turzii -2 battalions,
-90th ?? Air Transport Regiment -Bucharest Otopeni- with 2 AN-12, 9 AN-24 and 14 AN-26 transport planes /in 1990/
-70th Engineer Aviation Regiment -Galati,
-85th Communication (Transmission) Aviation Regiment -Bucuresti,

Thank you!

I found the following equipment list - from the 1990-1991 International Institute of Strategic Studies Military Balance. I think it reflects information submitted as part of the CFE treaty data exchanges.

2817 tanks: 1060 T-34, 757 T-55, 30 T-72, 556 T-80, 414 TR-580(T-10). (I have no idea what they mean by the TR-580/T-10 - did Romania produce heavy tanks?)

430 Assault guns: 326 Su-76, 84 Su-100, 20 ISU-152.

650 recce: BRDM-1/2

127 MLI-84s.

2572 APC: 28 BTR-40, 50 BTR-60, 156 TAB-77, 387 TABC-79, 1912 TAB-71, 39 MLVM (MTLB).

3803 Artillery:
1549 Towed: 268 Skoda 100mm of various models, 87 Schneider 105mm, 496 M-30 122mm, 14 A-19 122mm, 138 Gun 8Z 130mm, 128 Skoda 150mm M-1934, 6 Model 1937 150mm, 85 D-20, 10 M-1985 152mm gun-howitzers, 61 Model 1938 152mm, 256 Model 81 152mm.
18 Self-propelled: 6 2S1, 12 Model 89.
532 rocket launchers: 134 APR-21, 290 APR-40, 108 R-2 130mm
1704 Mortars: 1126 M-120, 516 Model 1982, 50 M-160, 12 M-240

Missiles: 32 FROG, 18 SCUD

300 AT Guns: M-1943 57mm, D-44 85mm, T-12 100mm.

400 Anti-Aircraft guns: 30mm, 37mm, 57mm, 85mm and 100mm.

160 SA-6 SAMs.

I'm not sure what the organization of units were (how many tanks, APCs, artillery, etc in a regiment and so on) but it looks (on paper) like an impressive amount of gear!

WOW! Over 3.000 tanks and assault guns! Who cares if most of them were obsolete - I guess our local "possible" enemies had the same; as for the NATO opponents, that's another dish of food! But it's really nice to see in the same army tanks from before WW2 (such as T-34 and assault gun Su-76) and self-propelled artillery from 1989! Contrasts we're kinda used to...

Hello chico20854,
Thanks for your informations, it explaines a lot for those who doubted the size of our army the way I presented. I read somewhere that in 1990 there were around 320.000 active soldier in the army -ground, air and navy- /source: Niculae Spiroiu ex-defence minister/ and around 600.000 reserve. That's big, real big.
Some corrections I wish to make in the weapon systems, the way I believe it's closer to reality:
-the 556 tanks were not T-80 (EVEN IF I WISH THEY WERE), but TR-800 or TR-85 romanian made medium tanks. These are an improved version of the TR-77 or TR-580 romanian made tanks. The TR-580 or TR-77 tank was the first build romanian tank, concept drawn and even build in cooperation with China, inspired it's trough of the soviet T-55A, but also different. See chinese tank Type 80, except the gun, cvasi-identical to ours. The T-10/soviet heavy tank/ has nothing to do with the romanian TR-77/-580.
Very, very interesting -romania had ISU-152 heavy sp guns. Everybody who knows more, please write it. Unit, location, year, anything.
The MLVM is an mountain armoured fighting vehicle, close to BMP-1 design, but much modified, with a BTR-60PB type of turret. Totally different from soviet-made MT-LB multipurpose armored vehicles.
The number for recce vehicles BRDM is enormous -but it can be real only if there were included the antitank versions BRDM with atgw.
The Gun 82 130mm were in fact romanian made 'Tunul model 1982 cal. 130mm.' build in cooperation/or inspired/ with China /see chinese Type 59-I 130mm field gun/.
Romania produced also the M-1985 152mm gun-howitzer, or 'Tunul-obuzier model 1985 cal.152mm.', in fact a long-range version of the 'Obuzierul model 1981 cal.152mm.', a romanian improved (??) version of soviet D-20/M-1955/ 152mm gun-howitzer. The design of 'model 1985 cal.152mm.' is somewhat similar of the jugoslav M-84 Nora-A gun-howitzer.
In the antitank guns inventory the romanian 'Tunul antitanc model 1977 cal.100mm.' are missing, and definitely there were several tens of those in romanian army use in 1989. But it can be they were included in the total numbers.
The 160 SA-6 a.a. missile systems are totaly unreal. But a number of 160 systems of the tipes -S-75M Volkhov, S-125M Nyeva- not including the mobile 3K9M KUB and 9K33BM2 OSA-AKM is very possible. I am pretty sure that Romania had some 60 mobile launchers KUB and around 20 more modern OSA-AKM in 1989 and over 100 S-75M Volkhov. Romania had 4 mobile aa rocket regiments in 1989, the Chitila, Braila and Craiova-based KUB regiments and the Cluj-Napoca-based OSA-AKM regiment.
But thanks a lot chico, realy interesting stuff you posted.
Asking everybody who read this topic : should I continue to the Aircraft and Air Defense TO&E in 1989 ? Cause I wish not to waste time to write it if nobody is interested. Thanks.

Andreas-

Glad I could help!

I typed wrong with the T-80... I meant to type TR-80, just missed the "R"!

I remember reading somewhere that SU-100 were assigned to army-level Anti-tank regiments, maybe the ISU-152 were too?

As for tank assignments, if each tank regiment was assigned 90 tanks, the force you list would require about 90 T-72s and 2070 T-55/TR-800/TR-77/TR-58/TR-85 medium tanks. It appears to need 60 more T-72s and about 250-300 more medium tanks. Of course, there were over 1000 T-34/85s in the inventory and lots of Su-76, if the information I had is accurate. I also remember reading that T-34s were used by a unit at Laculete, near Targoviste, in 1989. A fascinating issue!

For the Air Forces, please go on!

I have found the following information (here):

"As of 1989, the AM had approximately 32.000 personnel, of which less than one third were conscripts. The air force operated 512 combat aircraft, and was responsible for transport, reconnaissance, helicopters and the national air defence system, with the primary mission of protecting and supporting the ground forces and defending the country against invasion. Divided into three tactical divisions, each of which had two regiments of two or three squadrons of interceptors and one of ground-attack aircraft, the AM mainly flew Soviet-made MiG-21s and MiG-23s, but the first MiG-29s were available as well as a large number of IAR-93s. Finally, in December 1989, just a few days before the revolution against Communism began, the first 4 MiG-29s arrived in Romania.

Ianca AB
49 Fighter-Bomber Regiment
- 1/49 Squadron IAR-93
- 2/49 Squadron MiG-15/S-102

Boboc AB (School of the AM)
54 School Fighter-Bomber Regiment
- one squadron of L-29
- two squadrons of L-39 ZA

Mihail Kogalniceanu (Black Sea)
57 Fighter Regiment
- 1/57 Squadron, MiG-29A/29UB (not operational)
- 2/57 Squadron, conversion to MiG-29
- 2/57 Squadron, MiG-23MF/23UB
- 3/57 Squadron, MiG-21MF/21UM

Turnisor AB (Sibiu)
58 Helicopter Regiment
- 1/58 Helicopter Squadron, IAR-316
- 2/58 Helicopter Squadron, IAR-330

Ghimbav Airfield/ICA Brasov (Brasov)
58 Helicopter Regiment (det.)
- 1/58 Helicopter Squadron, IAR-316

Tuzla AB
59 Helicopter Regiment
- 1/59 Helicopter Squadron, IAR-316, IAR-330

Titu AB (north-west of Bucharest, also known as Boteni)
61 Helicopter Regiment
- 1/61 Helicopter Squadron, IAR-316, IAR-330

Tecuci AB
60 Helicopter Regiment
- 1/60 Helicopter Squadron, IAR-316

Craiova AB
67 Fighter-Bomber Regiment
- 1/67 Fighter-Bomber Squadron, IAR-93
- 2/67 Fighter-Bomber Squadron, IAR-93

Luna AB (Campia Turzii)
71 Fighter Regiment
- 1/71 Squadron, MiG-21MF/UM
- 2/71 Squadron, MiG-21M/UM

Caransebes AB
73 Helicopter Regiment
- 1/73 Helicopter Squadron, IAR-316, IAR-330L

Borcea AB (Fetesti)
86 Fighter Regiment
- 1/86 Squadron, MiG-21 MF/UM
- 2/86 Squadron, MiG-21 PFM/US
- 38 Reconaissance Squadron, Harbin H-5B, HJ-5

Otopeni AB (Bucharest)
90 Transport Regiment An-2, 24, 26, 30

Deveselu AB
91 Fighter Regiment
- 1/91 Squadron MiG-21 MF/UM
- 2/91 Squadron MiG-21 PFM/US

Alexeni AB (east of Bucharest)
94 Helicopter Regiment
- 1/94 Helicopter Squadron, Mi-8T
- 2/94 Helicopter Squadron, Mi-8T

Giarmata AB (Timisoara)
93 Fighter Regiment
- 1/93 Squadron, MiG-23 MF/UB
- 2/93 Squadron, MiG-21 MF/UM
- 31 Reconnaissance Squadron MiG-21R

Bacau AB
95 Fighter Regiment
- 1/95 Squadron MiG-21 PF/U
- 2/95 Squadron MiG-21 PF/U

Someseni airport (Cluj)
- 132 Helicopter Squadron, IAR-316B

In addition to aircraft, as of 1989, the Romanian air defences have had around 3.000 SA-2, SA-3, SA-6, SA-7, SA-8 and SA-9 missiles. Most of SA-7s and SA-9s were operated by the army, as were some SA-6s and SA-8s, together with a large number of quadruple 14.5 mm machine guns (ZPU-4), and heavier 57 mm (S-60) and 85 mm anti-aircraft guns.

1st Missile Brigade, composed of nine battalions spread at a distance of 30 to 40 kilometres around Bucharest

and

51 Missile Regiment, based at Craiova, fired SA-6"

Some people have questioned the accuracy of this author's writings about other conflicts. I am not sure, I will leave the judgement of accuracy and the implications to others... I am more interested in the structure and equipment of the Romanian armed forces of the time!

Hallo again,
First I wish to answer your question -trough the only Tank Regiment TO&E I am 100% sure about : the 1st Tank Regiment of the 1st Mechanised Infantry Division 'Tudor Vladimirescu-Debretin' had in 1982 95 tanks in 4 battalions - 3 T-55 based battalions and 1 T-72 battalion. In the regiment there were 64 T-55 tanks and 31 T-72 tanks. Info taken from Observatorul Militar the newspaper of the Romanian Ministry of Defence in 2000. So it's easy to estimate that a T-55 based battalion had 21 tanks and the T-72 based battalion 31 tanks. As I presume that not all tank regiment were so strong/or special as long as this regiment was the only one fitted with T-72 tanks/, I believe it exists also 64 type tank regiments together with 94 type tank regiments /I mean with 64 or 94 tanks per regiment/. So the total number could fit.
I also read that every Mechanised Infantry Regiment had 1 SU-76 battery, but still the number doesn't fit. Can you tell more about SU-76 deployment?
And also that in the romanian army only two of the three infantry battalions were mechanised -TAB-71/-77/-79 based, so no more than 65-70 apc's per regiment in place of over 100 in soviet MRR. The third battalion was infantry on trucks. Do you know anything about that? And also about recce company of the MRR or TkR. I heard that in the MRR the recce comp had 7 BRDM or TABC and in the TkR only 3 BRDM. Any idea? Thanks again and waiting your reply.

I'm sorry, I was hoping you had more details on TO&Es. I have something coming in the mail that may help, I will let you know when I get it!

It makes sense, having 2 battalions in APCs and 1 in trucks. I guess that maybe the tank regiments you show that have SU-100s, if they are not in the AT Regiments, may be 64-tank regiments with SU-100s to fill them out?

What I've been able to find with SU-76:
"A few were captured 1942-1944. In 1949 more were purchased officially from the USSR. In 1966 upgraded to Romanian SR-114M Truck motors. 1992 out of service."

I will keep looking! But mostly I have falling back to Soviet models, which is wrong as much as it is right!

IAR-99?

I think that between 1988 (when the first IAR99 was put into operational use) and 1990 when Communism "officially" ended, the total inventory was 18 IAR99s.
Radu

Also, Romania had more Missile Ground to Air Regiments and two Radiolocation Brigades.

Tell us more about ground to air units!!!!!!