ARMAMENT OF THE RUMANIAN ARMY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R013400280002-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 17, 2006
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: August 20, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2006/03/03 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO134002800
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
CLASSIFICATION SECRET/CONTROL U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
INFORMATION REPORT REPORT NO.
COUNTRY Rumania
SUBJECT Armament of the Rumanian Army
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE
ACQUIRED
25.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
There follows a description of the pistols and machine pistols issued
for use by the Rumanian Army:
a. All officers of the Rumanian Army as well as. the personnel of the
.machine gun and mortar companies are equipped with Parabellum
pistols (German model). This pistol has a caliber of 9 milli-
meters and a magazine of nine cartridges. The pistol is protected
by a leather holster worn on the left shoulder.
In the Border Guard regiments, all squad leaders and members of
reconnaissance companies are equipped with PPS Soviet-made machine
pistols. These pistols have a caliber of 9 millimeters and a
circular magazine containing 72 cartridges. The soldiers who had
these pistols complained of the pistol stock which allegedly broke
. very often.
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D
S.:3 iCU ATE
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CD NO..
DATE DISTR.
20 August 1952
NO. OF PAGES
4
NO. OF ENCLS.
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
25X
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE.
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE 18, SECTIONS 793
AND 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS"TRANSMISSION OR REYE-
LATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
PROHIBITED BY LAW, THE REPRODUCTION OF?THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
STATE
ARM
c. The Rumanian-made "Orita" machine pistols were recently distributed
to some units. The "0rita.." manufactured.by the Cugir arsenal, has
a caliber of 9 millimeters and a curved magazine attached to the
gun which holds approximately 25 long cartridges. The pistol ejects
the shells b recoil. There are no cooling blades on the barrel of
the pistol. these pistols were superior :#
design and workmanship to the. oviet-made PP6*9. (See attached
sketch.)
d. the Rumanian infantry is equipped with Hungarian-
made mac nine pistols. These weapons have a straight magazine and are
described as having cooling blades slightly larger than the barrel.
The pistols were allegedly in use shortly after the end of World War
II'.
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NAVY
Approved For Release 2006/03/03 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO13400280002-5
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2
2. There follows a description of the rifles issued to the Rumanian Army;
a. The Array was equipped with the ZB (Zbrojowska Brno) rifles which
have a caliber of 7.92 millimeters and a clip for five cartridges.
b. The Manlicher rifle (caliber 7.92 millimeters) has a theoretic fire
velocity of from 15 to 17 cartridges per minute; actually the rifle
fires only 10 to 12 cartridges per minute. It also has a clip for
five cartridges.
c. Recently; Soviet-made rifles have been distributed to various units,
These rifles had a folding bayonet.
3. The ZB (Zbrojowska Brno) submachine guns are used in training the Border
Guards. These weapons have a caliber of 7.92 millimeters and a straight
magazine containing 20 (or 40) cartridges. The magazine clip is attached
to the upper part of the sub-machine gun.
4. There follows a description of the machine guns issued to the Rumanian
Army.
a. The ZB machine gun (caliber of 7.92 millimeters) has flexible metal
belts fed into the gun, each holding 100 cartridges. The machine
gun has a theoretic.fire velocity of 600 rounds per minute but could
fire only from 350 to 400 cartridges per minute.
b. In the winter of 1950, German-made machine guns with changeable
barrels were introduced in the Rumanian Army. These weapons were
new, "had never been fired" and had flexible metal belts each with
100 cartridges. These 7.92 millimeter- caliber guns can, theoretically,
fire 1,200 rounds per minute; actually the fire velocity is 800
rounds per minute. There are two spare barrels which are easily
mounted. The machine guns are packed in boxes easily transported
by one soldier. these machine guns as excellent.
machine guns 0 identified as identical to the
photos of the DPM Light Machine Guns),, which are used in infantry
training.
d. In Bucharest, at the First Border Guard Regiment,
machine guns which 0 were the same as a photo of the M1910
Sokolov type (with water cooler).
5. great emphasis is placed during recruit training
on instruction for the firing of the Manlicher rifle equipped for firing
grenades.
6. There follows a description of the mortars used by the Rumanian Army:
a. Small mortars (caliber 60 millimeters) which are portable and have
a small-sized circular base are very much in use in the Rumanian
Army.
b. Mortars similar in design to one shown in a photo of the M1938, are
used in the Rumanian Army. These mortars (caliber 81.4 millimeters)
are of German or Czechoslovak design, have a tripod and a rectangular
shaped base.
c. The Border Guards are also trained in the handling of 120 millimeter
caliber heavy mortars. These weapons are mounted on four wheels and
SECRET/CONTROL -- U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
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Approved For Release 2006/03/03 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO13400280002-5
 Approved For Release 2006/03/03 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO13400280002-5
SECRET/CONTROL - U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
reportedly built at the Skoda (Stalin) works in Czechoslovakia.
7. There follows a description of-some of the guns used by the Rumanian
Army:
a. The Border Guards had 75 millimeter field guns with short range; they
were mounted on two wheels with rubber tires and equipped with a
front armor plate approximately 9 millimeters thick. These guns
were manufactured by the Skoda (Stalin) works in Czechoslovakia.
b. The Border Guards are trained in the handling of 33 millimeter
Oerlikon type (German-made)guns. These weapons are mounted on four
wheels with rubber tires.
8. For anti-tank warfare, the Border Guard imeter
rifle. During the last maneuvers a
projectile from such a rifle pene is armor
plate. These rifles are similar to a photo of those described as PTRS-41
and PTRD-41.
9. The Rumanian Army is equipped with the old "Marshal Antonescu" type
helmets; however, recent rumors are that these helmets are to be replaced
by Soviet models.
10. All members of Border Guard forces who were issued automatic arms were
also given combat knives.
11. Drill and training of the members of the Border Guards is made without
the.army field pack, but all soldiers must wear their gas masks. Many
are equipped with an entrenching tool.
SECRET/CONTROL - U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/03/03 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO13400280002-5
 Approved For Release 2006/03/03 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO13400280002-5
SECRET/CONTROL -- U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
25X1
The Orita, new R rnanian-made automatic pistol.
1. Screw for disassembly
2. Ejector window
3. Barrel
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Approved For Release 2006/03/03 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO13400280002-5