North Korean tanks
In May, the 1949 of the 15 training tank regiment was disbanded, and the students became officers of the new 105 tank brigade. This part of Kim Il Sung intended to deliver the main attack on South Korea, therefore, to prepare the brigade spared neither forces nor means. The 105-th brigade consisted of 1-th, 2-th and 3-th tank regiments, which later received the numbers: 107-th, 109-th and 203-th, respectively. By October 1949, the brigade was fully equipped with T-34-85 tanks. The brigade also included the 206 Motorized Infantry Regiment. Supported infantry 308 th armored battalion, consisting of six self-propelled guns SU-76M. The team spent the entire spring of 1950 in intensive exercises.
By the time the war began, the KPA was armed with 258 T-34-85 tanks, of which about half were in the 105 tank tank brigade. Around 20, the thirty-fours were located in the 208 training tank regiment, which they were supposed to use as a reserve. The remaining tanks were distributed between several newly formed tank regiments — 41, 42, 43, 45, and 46 (in reality they were tank battalions somewhere in 15 tanks) and 16-y and 17-y tank brigades, which equipment rather corresponded to tank regiments (40-45 tanks). In addition to the T-34-85, the KPA was armed with 75 self-propelled guns SU-76М. Divisions of self-propelled artillery provided fire support for the North Korean infantry divisions. Two more tank brigades were formed during the war and entered the battle in September near Busan, and the new tank regiments formed by September fought at Incheon.
Although by modern standards the tank forces of North Korea were rather poorly equipped, in Asia in 1950 the KPA was second only to the Red Army in the number of tanks. Japanese tank forces were defeated during the war, and Chinese tank troops were a motley collection of captured Japanese and American vehicles. The United States did not have significant tank formations in the East, with the exception of a few mouths of light tanks M24 "Chaffee" located in Japan. Before 1949, a significant number of tanks were in the occupying forces located in South Korea, but all of them had already been withdrawn by this time. South Korea did not have its own tank forces at all. The Americans, alarmed by the militant plans of the Singman Rea government, did not provide tanks to South Korea, fearing that the Southerners would be able to launch military operations against the Communists. As a result, by the beginning of the invasion, South Korea had only 37 armored vehicles M-8 and a small number of half-tracked M-3 armored personnel carriers, which were in service with the cavalry regiment 1 of the capital's infantry division deployed in Seoul.
Equally important, the South Korean army was less equipped and trained compared to the HACK. Antitank weapons it was not enough, and the available means were mostly uncomfortable and ineffective 57-mm caliber anti-tank guns (American copy of the British 6-pound gun).
The North Korean T-34-85 was used most intensively in the first two months of the war, but after the losses they suffered their participation in battles was rarely observed and only in small groups in the 3-4 tank. Most South Korean soldiers have never seen tanks in their lives, and the inefficiency of 57-mm anti-tank guns and 2,36-inch (60-mm) bazook only increased the demoralizing effect of armored vehicles. Some Korean infantrymen tried to stop the tanks with improvised high-explosive satchel charges and trotyl stitches tied with grenades. Many brave warriors died in vain attempts to stop tanks, for example, only in the 1 Infantry Division about 90 soldiers were lost as a result of these desperate attacks. The helplessness of the South Korean infantry caused panic fear of tanks, which significantly weakened the defenses.
The situation has changed since the Americans entered the war. To stop the tank breakthrough, the US Army, barely entering the war, hastily flies light tanks M24 Chaffee to Korea. But already in the first battles, these tanks showed their helplessness against the T-34-85, the American tankers even had a fear of engaging with the enemy’s tanks, since the T-34's guns pierced American armor at any distances. In Japan, several M4A3E8 were quickly prepared, equipping them with 76-mm M3 guns and howitzers. Shermans, with equal booking with T-34-85, had the advantage in accuracy and rate of fire of the gun as well as due to better optics and the presence of a stabilizer. With their appearance, the North Korean tanks were no longer masters of the battlefields, and the appearance of M26 "Pershing" in Korea finally tipped the scales in favor of the American army.
Over the entire period of the war, 119 tank battles took place, of which 104 was conducted by the tanks of the US Army and 15 by the tank commanders of the USA. During these battles the North Korean tank crews on T-34-85 managed to incite 34 American tank (16 M4A3E8 "Sherman", 4 M24 "Chaffee", 6 M26 "Pershing" and 8 M46 "Patton"), 15 of which have been lost forever. In turn, the Americans claim to be subdued in the tank battles 97 T-34-85.
To rectify the situation in the composition of the units of the Chinese people's volunteers (KND), heavy Soviet IS-2 tanks with an 122-mm cannon were deployed. However, they could not help the North Koreans regain their lost advantage. The USSR was in no hurry to supply more modern tanks to the Koreans, and as a result, the tank advantage was finally assigned to the American army.
Significant losses of the North Korean T-34-85 caused an American aviation. Against the background of this fact, the incident that occurred on July 3, 1950, when the four F-80C Shooting Star jet fighters, led by 80th Ibae Commander Mr. Amos Sluder, went to the Pyongyo Ri area to attack enemy vehicles moving to the front line. Having discovered a convoy of about 90 vehicles and tanks, the Americans launched an attack, using unguided rockets and low-flying 12,7-mm machine guns from low altitude. An unexpected answer came from the North Korean T-34s, which opened fire on low-flying aircraft from 85-mm guns. A successfully fired projectile exploded in front of the host’s plane and damaged fuel tanks with fragments, and a fire broke out on board. Mr. Vernet Peterson, a follower, told Major Sluder on the radio: "Boss, you're on fire! You better jump." In response, the commander asked to indicate the direction to the South, where he was going to continue to pull, but at the same moment the plane collapsed and fell to the ground with a burning torch. Major Amos Sluder became the first pilot of the 5th Air fleetkilled in the fighting on the Korean Peninsula.
By July 27 1953, i.e., by the date of the end of the war in Korea, the 382 KPA had a medium-sized T-34-85 tank, and only along with parts of the CPV-773 tank and self-propelled artillery.
According to the directory The Military Balance, on the 2010 year in service with the KPA there was a certain amount of T-34 (p. 412), other sources estimate the North Korean T-34 fleet in 700 units.
And along with the T-34-85, the KPA is armed with earlier models with the 76-mm gun.
How do I explain the presence of such outdated models in the composition of the KPA and why they are not converted into auxiliary machines or chassis for other weapons systems, I do not know. In addition to the Thirty-Fours, the KPA is armed with a number of heavy tanks EC-2 and EC-3.
However, it is believed that both the T-34-85 and the EC-2 and EC-3 are stored in mobilization depots or used as firing points in the coastal defense system or in fortified areas at the DMZ.
In total, the North Korean tank fleet is currently estimated at 3500 of main combat and medium tanks (Soviet T-54, T-55, T-62, Chinese "Type 59", various versions of "Chonma-ho" - North Korean copy of T-62 and Sŏn 'gun-915 or Pokpung-ho "(the newest North Korean tank of own production)), as well as more 1000 light tanks (Soviet PT-76 - 560, domestic production" Type 82 "- about 500, some Chinese" Type 62 " and "Type 63"). Tank troops have one tank corps (consisting of three tank divisions) and 15 tank brigades. In the tank building there are five tank regiments (each with 4 battalions of heavy tanks, 1 battalions of light tanks 1 battalions of motorized infantry, 2 battalions of SAU).
The North Korean military industrial complex produces three types of tanks, and its annual production capacity is estimated at 200 tanks.
The first Soviet tank delivered after the end of the Korean War, of course, was the T-54.
700 units of T-54 shipped from the USSR: 400 units of T-54 shipped from 1967 to 1970 year, 300 units of T-54 shipped (may have been assembled in the DPRK from tank sets) from 1969 to 1974. For comparison, the first South Korean tanks K1 ("Type 88") began to be produced from the 1985 of the year, i.e. in 16 years.
T-54 is still in service with the KPA.
In 1973, China supplied from 50 to 175 units of Chinese copies of T-54A- "Type 59".
In addition, on the chassis "Type 59" was installed 250 towers ZSU-57-2, supplied from the USSR in the period from 1968 to 1977.
A certain amount of "Type 59", according to The Military Balance, was in service with the KPA on the 2013 year (p. 310)
And on some of them, MANPADS were installed as additional weapons.
The next tank delivered from the USSR was the T-55: 300 units T-55 delivered from the USSR: 250 units T-55 delivered during the period from 1967 to 1970 year, 50 units of T-55 delivered from 1972 to 1973 year. 500 units T-55 or Type 59 are assembled under license from 1975 to 1979 year.
The T-54 / T-55 and KNA Type 59 fleets from both the USSR and the PRC and the North Korean assembly are estimated at approximately 2100 machines.
At the end of the 1970's The DPRK began to strengthen the combat power of its ground forces, especially in terms of saturating them with armored vehicles. An important point was the entry into service in addition to the T-54 and T-55 medium tanks previously delivered from the USSR (as well as their Chinese counterparts "Type 59") and a certain amount of heavy EC-2 and EC-3 of the Soviet main battle tank T- 62 with a powerful 115-mm smoothbore gun, the release of which was adjusted and the North Korean defense industry.
500 T-62 units were supplied from the USSR: 350 T-62 units were delivered from 1971 to 1975 years, 150 T-62 units were delivered from 1976 to 1978 years.
The 470 T-62 units were produced under license under the designation Chonma-Ho from 1980 to 1989 years.
150 tanks delivered to Iran in 1982 — 1985. and took part in the Iran-Iraq war. Some of them were captured by the Iraqis.
Around 75 Chonma-Ho I is still in service with the Iranian army.
In the future, the tank Chonma-Ho was repeatedly upgraded.
Tank Chonma-Ho II with a modified form of the tower and installed a new fire control system, similar to the Czechoslovak "Kladivo" ("Kladivo") (with a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer).
Tank Chonma-Ho III or IV-1992 with a fire control system, with a laser rangefinder and a ballistic computer with a modified tower shape, with smoke grenade launchers of the Soviet T-72 type, with dynamic armor along the sides. It is possible that an 125-mm gun, similar to the 2-46, with an automatic loader, is used as a weapon. According to others, the loading is still manual.
Medium tank arr. 1992 "Jonma-2". Equipped with dynamic protection (equivalent to protect against 500 KS mm).
Medium tank arr. Juche 89 (i.e. 2000 of the year in terms of "global" calculation) "Chonma-98" - the tank has a mass of 38 tons. It is declared that all tanks of the Chonma series, starting with Chonma-98, have a composite reservation with equivalent armor steel for the forehead (tower) in 900 mm.
The average tank JNUMX, the Juche (that is, the 90 of the year) "Chonma-2001" - the mass of 214 tons.
The average tank JNUMX, the Juche (that is, the 92 of the year) "Chonma-2003" - the mass of 215 tons.
The average tank 93, the Juche (that is, the 2004 of the year) "Chonma-216" - the mass of 39 tons, 6 road wheels.
Tanks "Chonma-ho" of all modifications, according to various sources, from 800 to 1200 pieces.
The average tank 98, the Juche (that is, the 2009 of the year) "Songun-915" ("Seon'gun-915") - a new tower. The mass of 44 tons, width 3,502 m, height 2,416 m, the tank is able to overcome a trench width 2,8 m, a ford depth 1,2 m and a river (apparently with OPVT) depth 5 m. The specific power of 27,3 hp is declared. per ton (which gives the engine power in 1200 hp) and the maximum speed of more than 70 km / h. The tank is equipped with a dome-shaped cast turret with a composite filler, the upper frontal part with a combined filler, an equivalent for steel armor 900 mm. On the upper part of the hull and the tower, dynamic protection is established by equivalent to KS in 500 mm. The tank has side protivokumulyativnye screens and additional dynamic protection on the upper frontal parts of the hull and the front of the tower, with the equivalent of the COP in 500 mm. The driver's seat in most options is located in the center. The turret is a cast dome-shaped, with a composite filling, the upper frontal part with a combined filling, equivalent in steel armor 900 mm. Armed with a 125-mm cannon, an 14,5-mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounted above the cannon mask of two Bulsae-3 ATGM missiles, which are claimed to be analogous to the Kornet ATGM and have a firing range of up to 5,5 km. The tower also establishes a paired PU "Hwa'Seong Chong" launcher with a range of up to 5 km and an accessibility of 3,5 km. The tank is equipped with infrared night vision devices, a laser range finder, a digital fire control system with onboard computers, interference equipment in the infrared range, a fire extinguishing system and a system for protecting against weapons of mass destruction.
Presumably, the Soviet export main tank T-915C, extracted somewhere in the Middle East, was used in the design of the Songun-915 tank (Seon'gun-72). There is information that a comparatively new Russian main battle tank T-2001С, some of which know-how was also allegedly partially introduced on the Songun-90 (Seon'gun-915), was secretly delivered to 915 in the DPRK. ). According to military analyst Joseph Bermudez, the tank is an evolution of the Cheonmaho. In his favor, in his opinion, the features of the T-62, such as: 115-mm gun, chassis, identical to the T-62 and the location of the driver on the left. In doing so, another military analyst, Jim Warford, analyzing history Korean versions of the T-62, drew attention to the obvious features of the Romanian modification of the Soviet T-72 TR-125 and the Chinese Type 85.
In total, it is believed that the KPA is armed with 200-like tanks, which enter elite units and KPA units, in particular, into the 105-th Seoul Guards Tank Division. It is possible that all of them are listed in this division alone.
Despite its obvious "advancement" against the background of the rest of the North Korean armored fleet, the latest modifications of the Cheonmaho and Songun-915 are still inferior in combat qualities to modern enemy tanks - the South Korean K-1 and T-80, the American M1 "Abrams". Nevertheless, the equipment of the South Korean "Rokitov" in the new version of the K-1А1 120-mm smooth-bore guns (the same as on the German tanks "Leopard-2" and the American М1А2 "Abrams") instead of the previous 105-mm was exactly the answer to the appearance Juche "Songun-915". And from the newest South Korean tank XK-2 "Black Panther" (also with 120-mm German cannon, produced under license), capable of firing self-guided shells, hitting enemy tanks from above, "Songun-915" is actually behind 30 years.
As is known, the DPRK is a mountainous country and crossed by a large number of rivers, and this is the reason for such a large number (more than 1000) of light amphibious tanks in the KPA armament, often consolidated into separate light tank battalions. They can only be used as reconnaissance vehicles, since the survivability of such tanks on the field of modern combat from the very first minutes will tend to zero. However, with skillful crews, they can easily resist the outdated enemy tanks - the average M47 and M48, especially operating from ambushes.
The Soviet PT-76 became the first North Korean light tank, the DPRK ordered the first 100 of them to the USSR in the USSR in 1965. They were delivered between 1966 and 1967. In total, according to some sources, the DPRK was supplied 600 PT-76, 560 units of which are still in service with the KPA.
100 of 63 Type amphibious tanks, a copy of PT-76, with a different form turret with an installed 85-mm cannon were supplied from China.
And in the 1972, 50 tanks "Type 62" - a lightweight version of the "Type 59" with 85-mm gun.
Currently, light tanks "Type 62" and "Type 63" are removed from the weapons of the KPA, however, given the thrift of the North Koreans, they may well be in the mobilization depots in case of war.
The first North Korean tank is considered a light tank, known under the American designation "M 1985".
Since the data on the tank are classified, in various directories are given only estimated data on this machine. Foreign experts consider the "M 1985" the largest amphibious tank in the world. The displacement of this North Korean amphibious tank is estimated at about 20 tons, if not more. What makes it one of the largest floating combat vehicles in general. Larger only landing transporters, but our Sprut, I guess. Assumptions are being made that a tank can serve as a means for crossing infantrymen through water obstacles. The tank is well armed for its class: 85-mm cannon, machine gun caliber 7,62 mm. As well as large-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun and installation to launch ATGM "Baby".
The mobility of this "floating" should be good. If it has an engine in 500 l. with. then he must develop at least 65 km / h.
Despite the good chassis, which is a long version of the VTT-323 (licensed Chinese Type 63) and a decent engine, its tactical and strategic niche is completely unclear. In which amphibious landings should they go? Who to shoot? For lightly armored vehicles, his gun is completely redundant, and for tanks it is useless. The situation does not save the situation and the “Malyutka” ATGM (or the Chinese equivalent) - a slow and hard-to-control (exclusively from a fixed vehicle) rocket wonders in the fight against enemy armored vehicles will not show. Moreover, 30-mm steel booking does not leave a chance to survive under the fire of any riflemen from any BMP or BTR, even in the middle of the last quarter of the last century.
View the machine as a cannon artillery support system for troops? CFC is weak, and the big ammunition is not to take away. I believe that the most correct (given the clearly excessive displacement) is to assume that these vehicles were originally designed for the transport of a couple of dozen soldiers in the form of a tank landing force. It at least explains the size of the car and the strange composition of weapons - "what fit." However, it may be the inertia of the North Korean military, who requested a "floating tank limit parameters" - and this is what the North Korean industry was able to make up.
By some estimates, there are at least 1985 units of such "M 500". It is possible that several modernized tanks are still being produced.
2013 video of the year: the passage of vehicles after the end of the military parade in honor of the 60 anniversary of the end of the Korean war 1950-1953.
Well, we are waiting for the next innovations of the North Korean military industrial complex, but for now we will listen to the favorite song of “New Star”, “Brilliant Comrade” and “Genius among Geniuses in Military Strategy” Kim Jong-un, played by Mister Psy, whom he ordered to shoot immediately after taking Seoul
Well, who does not agree ...
On the materials of the sites:
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http://forums.airbase.ru/
http://www.militaryphotos.net/
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http://shushpanzer-ru.livejournal.com/
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http://spioenkop.blogspot.ru
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