Mareşal tank destroyer

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The Mareşal tank destroyer was a Romanian armored vehicle produced in limited numbers during the Second World War.

[edit] History

Romania, a member of the Axis Powers in WWII, had few modern fighting vehicles when war began. Most vehicles were captured obsolete Allied vehicles, which were quickly destroyed by superior Soviet armor. After the German army provided armor replacement and modernization assistance to Romania, the latter began to receive 38t, Stug III, and Panzer IV tanks. The Romanian military began development of a modern AFV in 1944. The new design was of a contemporary appearance, having an enclosed fighting compartment, and it was armed with a captured Soviet 76mm gun. Development stopped when a coup overthrew Marshall Ion Antonescu, the Romanian leader, and the country switched sides.