TACAM T-38
TACAM T-38 (Tun Anticar pe Afet Mobil – "Self-propelled Anti-tank Gun") was a Romanian tank destroyer design for use in World War II. In 1943, forty captured Soviet 76.2 mm field guns were in storage to rearm the T-38 tanks used by the Romanian Army. The tank destroyer would have resembled the German Marder III.[1] Because the TACAM R-2 project was never completed, the project was cancelled after King Michael's Coup.
The TACAM T-38 was going to be built by removing the turret of the T-38 light tank and building a pedestal to mount an ex-Soviet 76.2 mm (3.00 in) Zis 3 field gun in its place. A three-sided fighting compartment was built to protect the gun and its crew. The fighting compartment was to be built using armor salvaged from captured Soviet tanks. These modifications would have taken place at Leonida Works in Bucharest. The TACAM R-2 tank destroyer production was halted in July 1944 because the gun was thought inadequate to face the new heavily armored IS-2 tanks being fielded by the Soviets. After King Michael's Coup, the TACAM T-38 project was completely abandoned.
Notes
- ^ Axworthy, p.228
References
- Mark Axworthy, Cornel Scafeș, Cristian Crãciunoiu,Third Axis. Fourth Ally. Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941-1945, Arms and Armour, London, 1995. ISBN 1-85409-267-7