On the ground floor of the Military Museum of the Chinese Revolution in Beijing, there is an exhibition hall that displays a rich collection of artillery pieces, mortars, multiple launch rocket systems, anti-aircraft guns and armored vehicles of Japanese, American, Soviet and Chinese production.
At the entrance to the hall, visitors are greeted by the Soviet T-62 medium tank and the American M26 Pershing heavy tank. Both of these vehicles are trophies of the People's Liberation Army of China.
During the fighting on the Korean Peninsula, it turned out that the M24 Chaffee and M4 Sherman tanks are very vulnerable to anti-tank fire at the disposal of the North Korean army and Chinese volunteers. In this regard, the American command wanted to have a tank, whose frontal armor at real battle distances could withstand the hits of armor-piercing shells fired from the T-34-85 cannon.
According to US official data, 309 Pershing tanks were sent to Korea. The M26 crews chalked up 29 North Korean T-34-85s. However, the Americans admit that in the course of tank duels, the thirty-fours knocked out 6 Pershing. From July 1950 to January 21, 1951, 252 Pershing tanks took part in the hostilities, of which 156 tanks failed, including 50 tanks were completely destroyed or captured. From January 21 to October 6, 1951, 170 M26 tanks went out of action for technical reasons and from enemy fire, how many of them were irretrievably lost is not known.
The frontal armor of the hull and turret 102 mm thick could only be penetrated by a thirty-four gun from a very close range. In turn, the 90-mm cannon, which was armed with "Pershing", hit the T-34-85 at a distance of up to 2 km. Thus, in terms of firepower and level of protection, the M26 was approximately equivalent to the German "Tiger". However, heavy tanks were not suitable for the conditions of Korea. "Pershing" skidded on the mountain slopes, and the flimsy Korean bridges across numerous rivers and streams could not withstand vehicles weighing more than 43 tons.
After the front line stabilized, the main function of the American heavy tanks that participated in the Korean War was to provide fire support for infantry units and fight enemy manpower. For this, in addition to the 90 mm gun, a 12.7 mm machine gun mounted on the turret and two 7.62 mm machine guns were used. Although the Pershing's firepower was quite high, due to poor mobility and low technical reliability, the M26 was used only in the first half of the war on the Korean Peninsula.
An information plate installed next to the Soviet T-62 tank says that this vehicle was captured by the PLA border guard troops in March 1969 during the border conflict with the USSR on Damansky Island.
Several T-62 tanks were sent by the command of the KDVO to provide support to the Soviet border guards, who were experiencing a shortage of heavy equipment. At the same time, one Soviet tank, while trying to bypass the Chinese troops stationed on the island, was hit by a reactive cumulative grenade. After dark, from the tank, which remained in the location of the Chinese troops, the Chinese soldiers managed to dismantle the night vision devices and the weapon stabilizer, which at that time were secret. Subsequently, the ice around the damaged tank was broken by fire from 120-mm mortars, and it sank. Nevertheless, after the ceasefire, the Chinese managed to raise the T-62, return it to a working condition and test it.
The T-62 became the first serial tank in the USSR armed with the U-5TS Molot smoothbore 115-mm gun. Compared to the 100-mm D-10T tank gun installed on the T-54 and T-55 tanks, the U-5TS gun had better armor penetration, but the practical rate of fire of the 115-mm gun was lower than that of the 100-mm gun. By its design, the T-62 was close to the T-54 / T-55, with these machines there was a high degree of continuity in internal equipment, components and assemblies. The protection of the T-62 hull remained at the level of the T-55, but the turret armor became thicker.
Chinese experts thoroughly studied the captured T-62, revealing its advantages and disadvantages. Of particular interest were the smoothbore cannon with feathered shells, the fire control system, the weapon stabilizer, and night vision devices. At the same time, the PRC refrained from copying the 115-mm U-5TS gun. The captured T-62 was at the test site until the mid-1980s, after which it was transferred to the Beijing War Museum of the Chinese Revolution.
The detachments of the Chinese communists fighting the Kuomintang troops were armed with many captured Japanese-made armored vehicles. In particular, the museum exhibits the Type 94 tankette. Vehicles of this type were used by the Japanese Imperial Army as light tractors and for reconnaissance.
An armored tracked vehicle armed with one 6, 5-mm machine gun Type 91 or 7, 7-mm machine gun Type 97, developed in 1933 by specialists from Tokyo Electric Gas Co., Ltd. The thickness of the strongly inclined front plate and the machine gun mask was 12 mm, the stern plate was 10 mm, the walls of the turret and sides of the hull were 8 mm, and the roof and bottom were 4 mm thick. Crew - 2 people. Carburetor engine with a power of 32 hp. accelerated on the highway a car weighing 3.5 tons up to 40 km / h.
During the fighting in the second half of the 1940s, the Chinese communists captured several Japanese Type 97 tanks. In Japan, the Type 97 was considered a medium tank, but according to the generally accepted classification, it was rather light. The combat weight of the tank was 15, 8 tons. At the same time, in terms of security, it was approximately on the same level with the Soviet BT-7. The upper part of the Type 97 front plate was 27 mm thick, the middle part was 20 mm, and the lower part was 27 mm. Side armor - 20 mm. Tower and stern - 25 mm. The tank was armed with a 57mm cannon and two 7.7mm machine guns. Diesel 170 hp allowed to develop a speed of 38 km / h on the highway. Crew - 4 people. The Type 97 tank was in production from 1938 to 1943. During this period, more than 2,100 copies were collected.
The museum exhibits a Type 97 tank with a new turret and a long-barreled 47-mm cannon. Serial production of this model began in 1940. This modification was created with the aim of increasing anti-tank capabilities. Despite the smaller caliber, due to the high muzzle velocity, the 47 mm gun significantly exceeded the 57 mm gun in terms of armor penetration. Tanks of this modification were produced in parallel with the basic version.
The "hero tank" Type 97 with a 47-mm cannon is placed on a place of honor in the museum's exposition. According to official Chinese history, this is the very first tank used by the communist forces led by Mao Zedong. The Type 97 tank was captured at a Japanese tank repair plant in Shenyang in November 1945. This combat vehicle took part in the battles in Jiangnan, Jinzhou and Tianjin. During the battles for Jinzhou in 1948, the tank crew under the command of Dong Life broke through the defenses of the Kuomintang troops. In 1949, this tank took part in the military parade dedicated to the founding of the PRC.
The collection of captured armored vehicles includes the Italian CV33 tankette, captured by the PLA in 1949 after the liberation of Shanghai. Vehicles of this type were used by the Kuomintang for communications and reconnaissance.
The CV33 wedge, produced by the Italian firms Fiat and Ansaldo since the mid-1930s, is based on the British Carden-Loyd Mk VI. In total, more than 1,500 tankettes were built until 1940. Most of them are exported. About 100 units were delivered to China.
Initially, the CV33 was armed with a 6, 5 mm Fiat Mod. 14 machine gun, but in China, the vehicles were rearmed with Japanese 7, 7 mm machine guns. The thickness of the frontal armor of the hull and wheelhouse was 15 mm, the side and stern were 9 mm. With a mass of 3.5 tons, a tankette equipped with a 43 hp carburetor engine could accelerate to 42 km / h.
Another trophy in the museum is the American-made M3A3 Stuart light tank captured from the Kuomintang. From 1941 to 1944, more than 23,000 light tanks of the M3 family were built in the United States. In addition to the American army, these vehicles were widely supplied to the Allies. More than a hundred Stuart tanks were handed over to the Kuomintang, some of which went to the PLA.
For a light tank, the M3 was well protected. The upper part of the frontal plate with an angle of inclination of 17 ° had a thickness of 38 mm, the middle armor plate with an angle of inclination of 69 ° had a thickness of 16 mm, and the lower armor plate was 44 mm. The thickness of the side armor and stern is 25 mm. The front of the tower is 38 mm, the side of the tower is 25 mm. The turret had a 37 mm cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun paired with it. Another machine gun was located in a ball mount in the frontal sheet of the hull and was serviced by the shooter. On the roof of the tower, on a pivot mount, an anti-aircraft machine gun of a rifle caliber was mounted. Carburetor engine with a capacity of 250 hp provided a vehicle with a mass of 12, 7 tons good mobility. On a good road, "Stewart" could accelerate to 60 km / h.
This tank was recaptured from the Chiang Kai-shekists during the battles for South Shandong in January 1947. Later, this M3A3 entered the tank forces of the East China Field Army, and it participated in the Jinan and Huaihai campaigns. During the Battle of Jinan in Yonggumen, the crew of the 568 tank under the leadership of Shen Xu played an important role. After the end of the battle "Stuart" received the honorary title "Meritorious Tank", and the tank commander Shen Xu - "Iron Man Hero". In 1959, it was transferred from the No. 1 Tank Academy to the Military Museum in Beijing.
An armored amphibious tracked vehicle LVT (A) 1 is installed in the showroom next to the Stuart. The vehicle has 6-12 mm bulletproof armor, and the turret of the M5A1 tank with a 37-mm cannon and a 7.62-mm machine gun paired with it. Additionally, two rifle caliber machine guns could be installed in the aft section above the hatches. Hatches in the stern were intended for the safe disembarkation of the crew. The mass of the combat vehicle was 15 tons, the crew was 6 people. The 250-horsepower engine provided a speed of 32 km / h on land and 12 km / h on water. Outwardly, the car looked tall and awkward, but it turned out to be a rather useful means of fire support for the landing force when landing on the shore. For their time, these amphibious tanks, capable of providing fire support to an assault force, were a big step forward, but due to poor protection, large dimensions and low mobility, they turned out to be very vulnerable to anti-tank weapons.
In May 1949, the People's Liberation Army captured several LVT (A) 1 tracked amphibians during the liberation of Shanghai. After the formation of the PRC, these machines were equipped with a battalion, which was included in the 1st PLA Marine Regiment. In addition to the LVT (A) 1 with a 37-mm cannon, the PLA had at its disposal amphibious fire support tanks LVT (A) 4, armed with a 75-mm howitzer, 7, 62 and 12, 7-mm machine guns. To enhance the anti-tank properties of the LVT (A) 4, Chinese specialists in the mid-1950s installed the Soviet 57-mm ZiS-2 cannon on some vehicles instead of a tower with a 75-mm howitzer.
Together with amphibious tanks in the vicinity of Shanghai in 1949, floating transporters LVT-3 were captured. The armament of this vehicle usually included one 12.7 mm M2NV machine gun and two 7.62 mm M1919A4 pivot mountings. Armored plates could be attached to the LVT-3 hull, but at the same time its carrying capacity decreased from 3, 6 to 1.3 tons. The floating LVT-3 conveyor could carry 30 armed soldiers or a jeep. The operation of American amphibious tanks and transporters in the PRC continued until the early 1970s.
The first American tank used in combat in Korea was the M24 Chaffee. This light tank was comparable to the M3A3 Stuart in terms of security, but significantly surpassed it in armament. The main weapon of the Chaffee was the 75 mm lightweight M6 cannon, which in terms of ballistic characteristics matched the 75 mm M2 and M3 tank guns mounted on the M3 Lee and M4 Sherman medium tanks. A 7.62 mm M1919A4 machine gun was paired with the cannon, another one was placed in a ball mount in the front of the hull. On the turret, on the roof of the turret, an anti-aircraft 12, 7-mm M2NV machine gun was installed.
On July 10, 1950, the Chaffee clashed in the first tank battle of the Korean War with the T-34-85, which formed the backbone of the North Korean tank forces. At the same time, the inability of the light M24 to fight on equal terms with the "thirty-fours" was revealed. The thin armor of light American tanks proved to be highly vulnerable not only to 85-mm shells from tank guns, it was also easily penetrated by the armor-piercing shells of the 76-mm ZiS-3 divisions, 57-mm ZiS-2 cannons and 45-mm M-42 cannons. When operating against the infantry, the Chaffee suffered greatly from the fire of 14.5 mm anti-tank rifles. American "Chaffee" suffered serious losses, only from July 1, 1950 to October 6, 1951 195 M24 tanks were disabled, about half of them were irretrievably lost.
Already in August 1950, the M24 in the American tank units operating in Korea began to be replaced by the medium M4 Sherman and the heavy M26 Pershing. However, until the conclusion of the armistice in July 1953, the Chaffee continued to be used as auxiliary and reconnaissance tanks, aided by the difficult terrain in Korea. Often, the heavier tanks were unable to climb hillsides or force the steep banks of streams.
This M24 was captured by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army in December 1950. After that, he was taken to the territory of the PRC for study. Several of these vehicles, which became trophies of the Chinese volunteers, were briefly used against the "UN troops" and were destroyed by American aircraft in March 1951.
The main enemy of the North Korean and Chinese T-34-85s since the fall of 1950 was the American Sherman medium tanks of the M4A3 and M4A4 modifications. The British forces were armed with the Sherman Firefly. According to official American data, from July 21, 1950 to January 21, 1951, 516 M4A3s were involved in the hostilities, of which more than 220 tanks failed, 120 vehicles were lost irretrievably. On April 1, 1951, there were 442 M4A3 tanks in Korea. From January 21 to October 6, 1951, 178 tanks of this type were lost. From April 8 to October 6, 1951, more than 500 Sherman tanks of all modifications went out of action and were destroyed.
The museum exhibits two Sherman tanks of the M4A3 modification. Apparently, one M4A3 was captured damaged, as this vehicle had a small stump from the gun barrel.
A significant number of broken and damaged tanks were captured by the North Koreans and the Chinese. It is known that about two dozen captured Shermans fought against their former owners. An explanatory plate for the M4A3E8 tank says that this machine with a long-barreled 76-mm cannon became a trophy of Chinese volunteers in December 1950, in the Jiechuan region in the north of the Korean Peninsula.
In terms of the combination of fire characteristics and security, the Sherman and T-34-85 tanks were roughly equivalent. The long-barreled 76-mm M4A3 cannon and the 85-mm T-34-85 cannon confidently penetrated the armor of their opponent at real battle distances. At the same time, the high-explosive and fragmentation effect of the 85-mm projectile was significantly higher, and it was better suited for the destruction of field fortifications and the destruction of enemy manpower. At the same time, American tank crews had a higher level of training, which affected the results of tank battles.
The M36 anti-tank self-propelled guns, which had much in common with the Sherman, also took part in the fighting in Korea. Serial production of this tank destroyer began in the second half of 1944. Depending on the modification, the chassis of the M10 self-propelled gun or the M4A3 tank was used. Unlike line tanks and tank destroyers M10 with a 76-mm gun, the M36 self-propelled gun was armed with a 90-mm M3 cannon, designed on the basis of an anti-aircraft gun. The 90mm M3 cannon was one of the most powerful mass-produced anti-tank weapons available to the US Army in the early 1950s. The protection of the M36 hull, depending on the modification, corresponded to the M10 tank destroyer or the M4A3 tank. The cast turret with a 90 mm gun in front was covered with 76 mm armor, the sides of the turret were 32 mm thick. On self-propelled guns of the first series, the tower was open, later a roof made of light anti-splinter armor was installed. The auxiliary armament of the M36 consisted of a 12.7 mm M2HB machine gun, located in a pivot mount on the roof of the turret aft niche.
After the "UN troops" arrived in Korea, the USSR began supplying heavy tanks IS-2 and self-propelled guns ISU-122 to the DPRK and China, and anti-tank self-propelled guns with a 90-mm gun were in great demand.
The explanatory plate for this M36 says that the self-propelled gun was at the disposal of the Chinese in the fall of 1951. It was abandoned by the Americans on the territory of the DPRK in the vicinity of Wonsan.
Since the fall of 1951, the Americans have very intensively used the ZSU M19A1 in combat. This vehicle on the chassis of the M24 Chaffee light tank is armed with paired 40-mm anti-aircraft guns with a total rate of fire of 240 rounds per minute. The ammunition load was 352 rounds. Taking into account the fact that the American aviation dominated the air over South Korea, and the Soviet MiG-15 did not cross the 38th parallel, anti-aircraft self-propelled guns were actively used against ground targets.
The M19 anti-aircraft guns did not have the destructive power of tanks or self-propelled guns, but they had their own trump card - a high rate of fire, accuracy and density of fire. Light anti-aircraft self-propelled guns were an indispensable means of repelling massive attacks by the Chinese and North Korean infantry. In mountainous and hilly terrain, accurate direct fire and the ability to fire the maximum number of shells in a short period of time were especially appreciated. Therefore, self-propelled guns tried to raise as high as possible. In this respect, the ZSU M19 were more preferable than the Sherman tanks. At the same time, the fighting compartments of these vehicles, open from above, did not provide reliable protection for the crew from rifle and machine gun fire and artillery and mortar shelling.
Shortly before the cessation of full-scale hostilities on the Korean Peninsula in July 1953, during a counteroffensive, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army in the Pyeongkang area captured an American self-propelled 155-mm howitzer M41 Gorilla. Although there were only 85 of these vehicles in the American army, they actively fought in Korea.
The chassis of the M24 Chaffee light tank was used as the base of the ACS, on which the 155-mm M114 howitzer was installed. To ensure stability during firing, a forage opener was used. This device consisted of two support beams and a blade with stops for burrowing into the ground. The mass of the M41 ACS in the firing position was 19.3 tons. Two 110 hp engines. each allowed acceleration on the highway to 56 km / h. The crew of the self-propelled gun was 5 people, the maximum firing range was 14 km, the rate of fire was 2 rounds per minute.
The light tracked amphibious transporter М29С Water Weasel is placed between the American "Shermans" and the Soviet T-34-85 in the museum exposition. In order to ensure buoyancy, removable rigid pontoons could be attached to the bow and stern of the M29S hull. The movement afloat was carried out by rewinding the tracks. The mass of the vehicle without cargo was 1.8 tons, it was possible to transport 4 paratroopers. 70 hp engine on land, it provided speeds up to 55 km / h and 6 km / h afloat.
This vehicle has shown itself very well in Korea as a transporter of personnel and various cargoes. Small mobile all-terrain vehicles with a carrying capacity of 700 kg, passing even through a swamp, have earned recognition among the troops. Large-caliber machine guns and recoilless 57 and 75-mm guns were also sometimes installed on the Wiesel, turning them into fire support vehicles. To protect against bullets and splinters, additional armor was hung on the hull, but at the same time the car was deprived of the ability to swim across water obstacles and the carrying capacity was reduced.
In addition to М29С Water Weasel "UN troops" used other tracked transporters in Korea. The museum exhibits a British-made Oxford Carrier MK I transporter and a Canadian Wasp Mk IIС self-propelled flamethrower.
The Oxford Carrier MK I in Korea was at the disposal of the British, Canadian and Australian contingents. It was operated as an armored personnel carrier and a light artillery tractor. The vehicle, which weighed about 7.5 tons, was covered with bulletproof armor, and thanks to a 110 hp carburetor engine. developed a speed of up to 50 km / h. A British-made armored personnel carrier on display in the museum was captured by Chinese forces in December 1950.
The Canadian-made Wasp Mk IIC self-propelled flamethrower on the Universal Carrier chassis had a 341 liter capacity for the fire mixture, placed on the mounts behind the rear hull sheet. The gas bottle was located inside the car. The range of application of the flamethrower, depending on the direction and strength of the wind, was 60-70 m. For self-defense, a BREN light machine gun was used, fire from which could be fired from a turret or from loopholes, while under the protection of an armored body. It was possible to transport several soldiers, although in this case there was a risk of reduced mobility due to exceeding the maximum carrying capacity.
In the "UN troops" and in the South Korean army in the initial period of the war, there were several dozen American wheeled armored vehicles M8 Greyhound. These fairly successful armored cars were mainly used for reconnaissance, patrolling, delivering messages and escorting transport convoys.
Serial production of the "Hounds" began in 1943, and before the end of World War II, more than 8500 vehicles were produced. The armament of the M8 armored car was the same as that of the M3A3 Stuart tank. The frontal armor was 13-19 mm thick, the side and stern were 10 mm thick, and the turret was 19 mm thick. Crew - 4 people. The machine, which weighed more than 7800 kg, with a 110 hp engine. accelerated on the highway to 85 km / h.
With the correct use of the M8 armored vehicles, they fully justified themselves, but in the event of a collision with tanks or falling under artillery and mortar shelling, they suffered heavy losses. The M8 armored car in the Military Museum of the Chinese Revolution was recaptured from the Chiang Kai-shekists during the battle for Shanghai in May 1949.
In the following parts of the photo tour of the Military Museum of the Chinese Revolution in Beijing, we will look at the Chinese-made armored vehicles available here, multiple launch rocket systems, anti-aircraft guns and artillery pieces.
