R-3 was a proposed Romaniantank design for use in World War II. It was basically a variant of the Czechoslovak S-II-c tank prototype (known as the T-21 tank after 1939), which was itself a variant of the Panzer 35(t) tank with pneumatic steering[1] which was going to be built in Romania because of the repeated acquisition failures. Because of political reasons and the limited industrial capacities of both Škoda Works and the Romanian industry, the design never entered production.
In the summer of 1940, Romania's traditional interwar arms delivery partners, France and Czechoslovakia, were under German occupation. Romania's armored forces were equipped with 126 light R-2 tanks (LT vz. 35s), 75 Renault R-35 tanks (41 of which were interned Polish tanks), 35 R-1 tankettes and 75 obsolete Renault FT tanks. As the country was basically surrounded by hostile neighbours from all sides and the Renault R-35 tank deliveries were stopped, the Romanian Army sought to buy a medium tank.
The Škoda S-II-c prototype, on which the R-3 would have been based
The chosen design was the Czechoslovak S-II-c prototype, the successor of the LT vz. 35 light tank. The Romanian trials and field testing of the tank started in late 1939. This choice came naturally, as Romanian troops were already familiar with its predecessor. The prototype was later designated by Škoda Works as the T-21 medium tank. Nazi Germany refused to deliver tanks to Romania because the country was not yet part of the Axis.[2]
In August 1940, the talks were resumed, as Germany sold the license of an improved variant of the T-21 tank to Hungary. The Hungarian engineers improved the two T-22 prototypes sent to them by Germany and used these as the basis for their 40M Turán I medium tank.[3] Romania, now part of the Axis, placed an order for 216 tanks in January 1941, but Germany couldn't deliver the tanks because of the limited resources. The delivery would have disrupted the production of other tanks.
In June 1941, Romania ordered 287 R-3 tanks from Škoda, but Germany only delivered 26 worn-out Panzer 35(t)s.[4] Rebuffed repeatedly, Romania eventually offered to build the tanks locally, but the country lacked the industrial resources to produce medium tanks and the project was eventually canceled.[5][6]
Mark Axworthy, Cornel Scafeș, Cristian Crăciunoiu,Third Axis. Fourth Ally. Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941-1945, Arms and Armour, London, 1995. ISBN1-85409-267-7
External linksedit
Pictures of T-22 during trials in Hungary
January 01, 1970
tank, proposed, romanian, tank, design, world, basically, variant, czechoslovak, tank, prototype, known, tank, after, 1939, which, itself, variant, panzer, tank, with, pneumatic, steering, which, going, built, romania, because, repeated, acquisition, failures,. R 3 was a proposed Romanian tank design for use in World War II It was basically a variant of the Czechoslovak S II c tank prototype known as the T 21 tank after 1939 which was itself a variant of the Panzer 35 t tank with pneumatic steering 1 which was going to be built in Romania because of the repeated acquisition failures Because of political reasons and the limited industrial capacities of both Skoda Works and the Romanian industry the design never entered production R 3TypeMedium tankPlace of originRomania CzechoslovakiaProduction historyDesignerSkodaDesigned1938 1940No built0 remained a proposal onlySpecifications S II c Mass17 tonnes 17 long tons 19 short tons Crew4Armor30 millimetres 1 2 in Mainarmament4 7 cm KPUV vz 38 gunSecondaryarmament2 x 7 92 mm machine gunEngine4 cylinder water cooled 13 8 litre Skoda gasoline250 horsepower 190 kW Suspensionleaf springMaximum speed50 kilometres per hour 31 mph Contents 1 History 2 References 3 References 4 External linksHistory editIn the summer of 1940 Romania s traditional interwar arms delivery partners France and Czechoslovakia were under German occupation Romania s armored forces were equipped with 126 light R 2 tanks LT vz 35s 75 Renault R 35 tanks 41 of which were interned Polish tanks 35 R 1 tankettes and 75 obsolete Renault FT tanks As the country was basically surrounded by hostile neighbours from all sides and the Renault R 35 tank deliveries were stopped the Romanian Army sought to buy a medium tank nbsp The Skoda S II c prototype on which the R 3 would have been based The chosen design was the Czechoslovak S II c prototype the successor of the LT vz 35 light tank The Romanian trials and field testing of the tank started in late 1939 This choice came naturally as Romanian troops were already familiar with its predecessor The prototype was later designated by Skoda Works as the T 21 medium tank Nazi Germany refused to deliver tanks to Romania because the country was not yet part of the Axis 2 In August 1940 the talks were resumed as Germany sold the license of an improved variant of the T 21 tank to Hungary The Hungarian engineers improved the two T 22 prototypes sent to them by Germany and used these as the basis for their 40M Turan I medium tank 3 Romania now part of the Axis placed an order for 216 tanks in January 1941 but Germany couldn t deliver the tanks because of the limited resources The delivery would have disrupted the production of other tanks In June 1941 Romania ordered 287 R 3 tanks from Skoda but Germany only delivered 26 worn out Panzer 35 t s 4 Rebuffed repeatedly Romania eventually offered to build the tanks locally but the country lacked the industrial resources to produce medium tanks and the project was eventually canceled 5 6 References edit https tanks encyclopedia com ww2 czech ww2 czech tanks php Axworthy 1995 p 37 https tanks encyclopedia com ww2 hungary 40m turan php Axworthy 1995 p 76 Axworthy 1995 p 219 Skoda S II c Archived 2013 09 27 at the Wayback MachineReferences editMark 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 7External links editPicture of a S II c prototype Pictures of T 22 during trials in Hungary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title R 3 tank amp oldid 1165684623, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
