The TACAM R-1 (Tun Anticar pe Afet Mobil R-1 – "Anti-tank gun on R-1 mobile gun carriage") was a small tank destroyer used by Romania during World War II. It was designed on 22 November 1943 at the request of the Romanian General Staff. Fourteen R-1 vehicles were to be rearmed with 45 mm 20-K guns. Although this vehicle was designed to be used only for security duties, the project was cancelled because it was eventually regarded as a waste of badly needed industrial capacity, the 45 mm gun having been obsolete against most Soviet tanks by then such as the T-34 and KV-1.[1]

TACAM R-1
Reconstruction of what the TACAM R-1 would have looked like, based on its description.
TypeTank Destroyer
Place of origin Kingdom of Romania
Service history
WarsWorld War II
Production history
Designed1943
No. built14
Specifications (R-1)
Length3.2 metres (10 ft)
Width1.73 metres (5.7 ft)

Main
armament
1 x 45 mm 45 mm 20-K
Secondary
armament
1 x 7.92 mm ZB-53 machine gun
Engine6-cylinder, water-cooled Praga RHP
55 horsepower (41 kW)
Transmission5-speed Praga-Wilson
Suspensionleaf spring

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Axworthy, p. 228

References

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  • Mark Axworthy, Cornel Scafeș, Cristian Crăciunoiu,Third Axis. Fourth Ally. Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941-1945, Arms and Armour, London, 1995. ISBN 1-85409-267-7