The first self-propelled guns in the KPA were the Soviet SU-76s, from 75 to 91 units of which were supplied from the USSR before the start of the Korean War. Thus, in the artillery regiment of each North Korean infantry division there was a self-propelled artillery division (12 light self-propelled artillery units SU-76 with a 76-mm cannon). However, most of the SU-76s did not survive the war.
Padded SU-76 KNA
During the war, anti-tank SU-100s were supplied from the USSR. There is information that heavy 122-mm self-propelled guns ISU-122 were also supplied from the USSR, but who exactly - the KPA or the Chinese people's volunteers, and in what quantity - is unknown.
Heavy SPG ISU-122
Whether the SU-76 and ISU-122 remained in service with the KPA, I cannot say for sure, however, given that the SU-100 is still in service, we can say with some degree of certainty that they remained either in mobilization depots or are used as firing points in the fortified zone near the DMZ or in the coastal defense system.
In 1966, the DPRK ordered and in 1967-1968. received 200 airborne installations ASU-57, removed from the armament of the USSR. In what condition they are now, I do not know, probably also in the warehouses of the mobilization reserve.
Airborne self-propelled gun ASU-57
A great success of the military leadership of North Korea should be recognized the transfer of about 60% of the barrel artillery of Soviet models to tracked self-propelled chassis, which provides artillery formations and units with good mobility. As such chassis, the Sinhun VTT-323 armored personnel carrier (with the installation of a 122-mm D-30 howitzer), the Tokchon chassis based on the Soviet medium artillery tractor ATS-59 (with the installation of a 122-mm howitzer based on the M-30, 122-mm D-74 cannon, 130-mm M-46 cannon and 152-mm D-20 cannon-howitzer) and the Chuche-po armored chassis based on the Cheonma-ho medium tank - copies of the Soviet T-62 (with the installation, for example, of the 122 mm D-74 cannon).
The domestic industry has also created original samples of self-propelled artillery - 120-mm self-propelled mortar howitzers (on the chassis of the North Korean armored personnel carrier VTT-323) and long-range 170-mm self-propelled guns of high power "Koksan" (the name given in the West; on the chassis of a Chinese medium tank " type 59 "and a modified highway of the" Juche-po "type). The latter became a worthy response to the American 175-mm M107 self-propelled guns and 203-mm M110 self-propelled howitzers available in South Korea.
At present, the North Korean fleet of self-propelled guns is estimated by experts at 4,400 units, which, together with 3,500 towed ones, is 7,900 guns, not counting anti-tank guns, in the warehouses of the mobilization reserve and RKKG. In total, the KPA artillery park is estimated at 10,400 units, 8,000 of which are located near the demilitarized zone near the border with South Korea.
Consider samples of North Korean self-propelled guns:
- 120-mm self-propelled mortar howitzer "M-1992" (all Western names, after the year of the first appearance of the guns at parades), is similar to the Soviet SAO 2S9 "Nona-S" and has a combat weight of about 15 tons. The maximum firing range is presumably 7-8 km for a mine, 8-9 km for OFS;
- 122-mm self-propelled howitzer "M-1974" on the tracked chassis "Tokchon" based on the Soviet medium artillery tractor ATS-59, the artillery unit - the barrel of a 122-mm howitzer M-30 or its Chinese copy "Type-54" with a muzzle brake as on the D-30 howitzer, installed in an open top and rear wheelhouse, covered with side armor plates;
- 122-mm self-propelled howitzer "M-1977" on the chassis of the North Korean armored personnel carrier "Sinhun" VTT-323. The artillery unit is a 122-mm D-30 howitzer, installed in an open top and rear wheelhouse, covered with side armor plates. There is evidence that the self-propelled howitzer was exported to African countries, but where exactly is unknown;
- its further development was the 122-mm self-propelled howitzer "M-1985" on the same chassis with 4 MANPADS additionally installed on rotary support devices. (Honestly, I can hardly understand why so many at once. Well, one or two missiles in packing back and forth, given the global technical lag of aviation, they will be heavily nailed from the sky. But a special slewing ring? And even in the immediate vicinity from the muzzle brake … I can’t even vouch for the serviceability of the missiles if the gun fires. So there are some considerations of my own that are beyond my reach.
- 122-mm self-propelled gun "M-1981" on the tracked chassis "Tokchon" based on the Soviet medium artillery tractor ATS-59, the artillery unit - the barrel of the 122-mm gun D-74 or its Chinese copy "Type 60" installed in the open above and behind the wheelhouse, covered with side armor plates;
122-mm self-propelled gun "M-1981" in the KPA Museum
And, of course, the North Koreans could not help but create a variant with MANPADS, this time with two.
- 122-mm self-propelled gun "M-1991" on the armored chassis "Chuchkhe-po" based on the medium tank "Chhonma-ho" - a copy of the Soviet T-62, and the gun was already installed in a closed rotating armored turret installed at the rear;
- 130-mm self-propelled gun "M-1975" on the tracked chassis "Tokchon" on the basis of the Soviet medium artillery tractor ATS-59, artillery unit-130 mm gun M-46 or its Chinese clone "Type 59", mounted openly on the turntable … The funny thing is that with such a simple decision, the designers "got into the stream" and created a completely modern machine in terms of integral characteristics. It is also interesting where the machine got into the frame: this photo dates back to the period 1998-2000 and was taken in East Africa, where the self-propelled guns were used during the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict. To be honest, I can't even say which side of the front line she fought on, but given the support of the Eritreans from the Western countries - I believe that most likely M1975 fought for the Ethiopians;
- 130-mm self-propelled gun "M-1991" on the tracked chassis "Tokchon" on the basis of the Soviet medium artillery tractor ATS-59, artillery unit - 130 mm gun M-46 or its Chinese clone "Type 59", installed in the open top and behind the wheelhouse, covered with side armor plates.
- 130-mm self-propelled gun "M-1992" on the tracked chassis "Tokchon" based on the Soviet medium artillery tractor ATS-59, artillery unit - 130-mm coastal artillery system SM-4-1, installed in the open top and rear wheelhouse, covered with side armor plates. Most likely, this weapon is used in coastal artillery;
130-mm self-propelled gun "M-1991" in the Museum of the history of the KPA
Option with two MANPADS.
- 152-mm self-propelled gun-howitzer "M-1977" on the tracked chassis "Tokchon" based on the Soviet medium artillery tractor ATS-59, artillery unit - 152 mm gun-howitzer D-20 or its Chinese clone "Type 66", installed in the open top and rear wheelhouse, covered with side armor plates;
152-mm self-propelled gun-howitzer "M-1985" in the Museum of the History of the KPA
- 152-mm self-propelled gun-howitzer "M-1985" on the tracked chassis "Tokchon" based on the Soviet medium artillery tractor ATS-59, artillery unit - 152 mm gun-howitzer D-20 or its Chinese clone "Type 66", installed in the open top and rear wheelhouse, covered with side armor plates.
- 170-mm self-propelled gun M-1978 "Koksan", which is a 170-mm gun produced (and presumably developed) in the DPRK, installed in an open-type turret on the chassis of a T-54 or "Type 59" tank, and also, most likely based on the Cheonma-ho medium tank - a copy of the Soviet T-62. The self-propelled guns were first publicly demonstrated at the 1985 military parade. The estimated speed is 40 km / h on the highway with a fuel reserve of 300 km. The firing range of conventional projectiles is up to 40 km, with active-reactive ammunition - up to 60 km (according to some unconfirmed reports, up to 70 km.). The Koksan is one of the longest-range weapons in the world. The M-1978 has a low rate of fire: 1-2 shots per 5 minutes, but this is fully paid off by its range. Given the likelihood of the presence of chemical and biological weapons - downright strategic weapon!
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects an artillery unit armed with Koksans
Seoul Sweet Dream …
30 guns on the chassis of Chinese Type 59 tanks were delivered to Iran in 1987-1988. and took part in the Iranian-Iraqi war. Iranian "Koksans" caused a lot of trouble for the Iraqis, as they hit targets from a distance unattainable for their artillery.
Iranian self-propelled guns M-1978 "Koksan" during the Iran-Iraq war
It is known that several of these self-propelled guns were captured or destroyed by Iraqi troops during the capture of the Fao Peninsula in 1988. However, there is evidence that the North Koreans sold the Koksans to both Iraq and Iran. And the Iraqis fired from these guns at the Iranian oil development from the Al-Fao Peninsula.
Trophy Iranian self-propelled guns "Koksan", captured in 2003 by the Americans
10 "Koksans" are in service in Iran as of 2010.
170-mm self-propelled guns M1978 Koksan at the Iranian parade
The fighting in the Middle East revealed the real shortcomings of the first modifications in combat use: a low rate of fire and a small barrel resource, which the North Koreans took into account, creating a new modification:
- 170-mm self-propelled gun "M-1989", carrying 12 rounds of ammunition, made according to the type of the Soviet 203-mm self-propelled gun 2S7 "Pion", on a modified armored chassis "Chuche-po" based on the medium tank "Cheonma-ho" - copies Soviet T-62.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is present at the exercises of the unit of the armed 170-mm self-propelled gun M-1989 "Koksan"
ACS "M 1978" and "M 1989" deployed by the DPRK troops in batteries of 36 vehicles, mainly along the Korean demilitarized zone. The guns are usually hidden in well-camouflaged concrete structures. The self-propelled guns are aimed at Seoul in order to manage to inflict sensitive losses on the enemy capital in the event of a military conflict - since the firing range is sufficient, and the time for deploying self-propelled guns in prepared positions will make it possible to make several volleys even in conditions of total enemy air domination. According to estimates of American analysts, the Koksanov battalion (division?) Consists of 12 self-propelled guns (three batteries) and 20-30 heavy and medium trucks. In such a battalion, there are 150-190 soldiers and officers. From 3 to 6 such battalions make up a separate brigade, directly subordinate to the Choson Yingming Gun Artillery Command, KPA.
Comparative drawing of ACS "M 1978" and "M 1989"
However, besides the "Koksans" and the North Koreans, there is another "surprise" - a giant three-barreled recoilless system with characteristic thickenings of chambers and nozzles and presumably a caliber of 370 millimeters. Self-propelled battery on a single chassis … Why? What's the point in it? It's not even possible to dream up a tactical niche for this monster on a sober head. Functional analogue of TOS-1 "Buratino"? Its rate of fire is not funny. Replacing tactical MLRS? More expensive and worse. YAO delivery vehicle? The salvo firing of atomic shells is generally something monstrous, in the spirit of dystopias. No, my mind resolutely refuses to recognize this as anything other than a propaganda machine for parades and shows.
This is the Juche. And whoever is against, will be eaten by dogs and shot from a premium "Koksan" or a giant recoilless drive, like this North Korean general. Kim Jong-un guarantees it.
And finally, a video from the North Korean parade. You can see some interesting samples from the 2nd minute.
