TAM Pionir (M38/50)

_YugoSlav · July 19, 2023, 9:00pm

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TAM Pionir (M38/50)

Parade in Titograd, 1960

History and Description

After the Second World War, the long process of building and rearming the newly formed Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) was underway. In spite of receiving military equipment from both Eastern and Western countries, they wanted to repurpose German and Italian captured weapons. One such example was 2 cm/65 Flakzwilling 38, a twin mount of 2 cm/65 C/38 (20 mm). It was a German WWII light naval dual anti-aircraft cannon mount found on many submarines and light surface ships. After WWII Yugoslavia remounted these guns onto lightweight towed pedestals, designated as M38/50. These “trailers” were widely used on parades and military exercises throughout the 1950s, along with towed Flakvierling 38s. Some examples were later installed on TAM Pionir trucks. A licensed version of the Czechoslovak Praga RN and the first trucks built in Yugoslavia. The truck versions were simple modifications and, in reality, of little combat value as they had no armor protection nor sophisticated tracking sights. They appear to have been used only in military parades. These, together with the American-made M15 CGMC, formed the core of Yugoslav SPAAG units up until the acquisition of Praga M53/59s and ZSU-57/2s in the 1960s.

Specifications

Essentials
- Length; 6.78 m
- Width; 2.20 m
- Height without the gun; 2.18 m
- Wheelbase; 4.20 m
- Mass; 3 t
- Crew; 3
- Layout; Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Protection
- Armor; 1 mm
- APS; N/A
- ERA; N/A
- Smoke; N/A
Mobility
- Engine; 3,468 cc I6 petrol, 72 hp at 3500 rpm
- Power/weight; 24 hp/t
- Transmission; 1 reverse gear, 4 forward gears
- Top speed; 80 kph
- Cross-country; 35 kph
- Amphibious; No
Firepower
- Main; M38/50 2x 20 mm gun
  - Rate of fire: 500 rounds per minute per gun
  - Penetration at 10 m: 36 mm
  - Muzzle velocity: 800-835 m/s
  - Magazine capacity; 40 rounds
  - Stabilizer; No
  - Vertical; -11° / +85°
  - Horizontal; 360°
  - Rotation speed; 35°/s
  - Zoom; none