Romanian Renault R35s faced the latest panzer models in 1945, with the expected results. If I remember right, R35s attacked an Austrian village where German Panthers were entrenched and a single shell fired by a Panther destroyed 2 or 3 R35s in a row. But these old tanks were sent there only because the Soviets demanded for all Romanian tanks, no matter how obsolete, to be sent to the front. Even FT 17s were sent, even if they weren't eventually employed in operations.alecu wrote:I dunno what survival ratio the Romanian tank crews had, but it must have been horrible to face the Tiger or the IS in a Renault R 35.
During the Iasi-Chisinau operation, Romanian Panzer IVs from the 1st Armoured Division destroyed several IS 2 tanks, using special AP shells. In the tank engagement near Scobalteni on 20 August 1944, the 1st Armoured lost 34 tanks and assault guns, while around 60 Soviet tanks (including IS 2s) were destroyed. According to the account of Cpt. Ion S. Dumitru, it was the destruction of the IS 2s that made the Soviets change tactics, and try to encircle the Romanian unit, instead of trying another head-on assault.