Well, let's continue with the North Korean theme. It's time to talk about anti-tank weapons. Trust me, there are really a lot of interesting things here.
The Korean People's Army (KPA) is armed with about 2,000 ATGM installations, 2,000 recoilless guns and a large number of anti-tank guns of Soviet models of caliber from 57 to 100 mm.
Let's start with the ATGM. The first KPA ATGM was, of course, the Soviet 3M6 "Bumblebee", namely its version of the 2K15 "Bumblebee" - with a 2P26 combat vehicle based on the chassis of the GAZ-69 all-terrain vehicle with four rail-type guides located in the rear of the body.
ATGM was supplied to the DPRK in the 60s of the last century, the number of delivered complexes is unknown. It is also unknown on which chassis the complex was installed - on the "native" Soviet or on its North Korean copy, produced under the designation Kaengsaeng 68.
At present, the ATGM is considered obsolete, withdrawn from combat units and is stored in the warehouses of the mobilization reserve.
The next ATGM delivered to North Korea was the 3M11 missile of the 2K8 Phalanx complex.
Rocket 3M11 complex 2K8 "Phalanx"
Moreover, only helicopter versions of the Falanga-M and Falanga-P missiles, which are armed with the Mi-4 helicopters and its Chinese clone Z-5, Mi-8, Mi-24D, which are in service with the DPRK Air Force, were transferred to the DPRK.
Multipurpose Mi-4 helicopter armed with 3M11 anti-tank missiles of the 2K8 Phalanx complex
But the main KPA ATGM was the famous 9K11 "Baby", which the DPRK began to receive in the early 70s. According to experts, about 3000 "Babies" were delivered to the DPRK, and not only Soviet, but also Chinese HJ-73 "Red Arrow". The North Koreans liked Malyutka so much that, under the designation Susong-Po, they began to produce its version of the 9M14P Malyutka-P independently.
There are several options for using the Malyutka ATGM:
Portable frame 9P14M:
Launch of the 9M14 ATGM of the Malyutka anti-tank complex at the KPA exercises
On the basis of the North Korean-made VTT-323 armored personnel carrier, a combat vehicle was created, armed with the Malyutka anti-tank missile system, bearing the designation Type 85, on which a rotary support from the Soviet 9P110 anti-tank system was installed on the BRDM-1 chassis.
As an auxiliary weapon, "Baby" is used on amphibious tanks "Type 82" (PT-85) of North Korean production, which is a very dubious decision, since a slow and difficult to control (exclusively from a stationary vehicle) missile will not show miracles in the fight against enemy armored vehicles. …
Amphibious tank "Type 82" manufactured by the DPRK
The "Baby" is armed with light helicopters Mi-2 and Hughes 369E (MD 500E), as well as Mi-4 and its Chinese clone Z-5, Mi-8/17 of the DPRK Air Force. For example, North Korean MD 500Es carry 4 Malyutka ATGMs.
Of course, the Malyutka / HJ-73 / Susong-Po ATGM line is still developing, but it is already difficult to consider them as modern anti-tank weapons. However, they cost mere pennies, and the DPRK can afford to change a couple of such ATGMs for one enemy tank, and you won’t go bankrupt with the consumption of ammunition.
Since the end of the 70s, the DPRK began to receive ATGMs of the new generation 9K111 "Fagot", and the DPRK also established its production under a Soviet license. According to some reports, 110 9M111 ATGMs were produced. Under what designation it is produced in the DPRK, I do not know. Perhaps the KPA also has an improved version of the complex with the 9M111M Factoria / Fagot-M missile, in which the design of the hull and warhead funnel has been changed to accommodate a charge of increased mass and armor penetration. The maximum firing range of the improved complex is 2500 meters.
There are several variants of the 9K111 "Fagot" complex: a portable one with a 9P135 launcher.
As well as its self-propelled options, installed:
- on a Soviet-made cross-country vehicle UAZ-469;
- truck ZIL-130, manufactured in the DPRK under a Soviet license;
- light wheeled armored vehicle "M-1992" (analogue of the Soviet BRDM-2), its own design, manufactured in the DPRK.
Light wheeled North Korean armored vehicle "M-1992", armed with an AGS-17 easel grenade launcher and 9M111 "Fagot" ATGM
Also, a number of 9K111-1 "Konkurs" anti-tank systems based on the BRDM-2 (9P148) were delivered to the DPRK, but how many are unknown. There is information that the Konkurs ATGM is also issued under license.
However, the DPRK would not be the DPRK if it once again failed to surprise the whole world. And at the parade, on the newest North Korean tank Seon'gun-915, they saw a launcher mounted above the gun mask for two Bulsae-3 anti-tank missiles (presumably an analogue of the Russian Kornet ATGM) with a firing range of up to 5.5 km.
How the Konkurs ATGM could end up in the DPRK is not known for certain. Presumably, from Iran, which received the Kornet-E ATGM, from Syria, where they were supplied from Russia, set up its own unlicensed production, called Dehlavieh.
Iranian copy of "Cornet" -Dehlavieh
However, it is possible that the complex will come from Russia as well.
The KPA got acquainted with recoilless guns during the Korean War, during which the North Koreans captured a large number of 75-mm M-20 recoilless guns from the Americans and South Koreans.
75-mm American M-20 recoilless gun during the Korean War
Having appreciated their simplicity and ease of movement across the battlefield, the North Koreans adopted the Soviet 82-mm B-10 recoilless guns and their Chinese copies of the Type 65 and Type 65-1.
North Korean sailor fires an 82-mm Chinese Type 65 recoilless gun
Also received were 107-mm recoilless guns B-11.
It is possible that both the B-10 and their Chinese counterparts and the B-11 are currently withdrawn from service and transferred to the RKKG or are stored in the warehouses of the mobilization reserve.
The KPA also has the SPG-9M "Kopye" mounted grenade launcher, but in what quantity is unknown.
As anti-tank weapons in the KPA are used:
- 45-mm anti-tank guns of the 1942 model, delivered before and during the Korean War. Despite the fact that modern tanks cannot be hit from them, they can effectively deal with light armored vehicles (armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles). However, they were removed from service and transferred to the RKKG or are stored in the warehouses of the mobilization reserve.
American Soldiers Examining Trophy Forty-Five During the Korean War
Also in the RKKG and in storage in the warehouses of the mobilization reserve there are 57-mm anti-tank guns ZiS-2 of the 1942 model.
The 76-mm divisional gun ZiS-3 of the 1942 model and its Chinese copy "Type 54" are also used as anti-tank guns. Moreover, it is still part of the KPA so-called. "second line", at the borders of Russia and China. However, some of the guns were still transferred to the RKKG.
Also, 85-mm divisional guns D-44 of the 1944 model and its Chinese clone "Type 56" and D-48 of the 1953 model are used as anti-tank guns of the KPA.
The KPA artillery crew fires during the exercise from the 85-mm divisional gun D-44
The KPA is also armed with a number of BS-3 100-mm divisional guns, used as anti-tank guns, perhaps they are used in the coastal defense system.
Whether or not the 100-mm T-12 and MT-12 Rapier anti-tank guns are in service with the KPA is unknown to me. Data on their deliveries to the DPRK did not come across to me. Perhaps their Chinese copies of the Type 86 were supplied to the DPRK. However, there is no photo or video evidence of their finding.
Presumably a photo of a North Korean anti-tank gun, made on the basis of the Soviet 152-mm howitzer cannon D-20
In addition to towed ones, the DPRK (probably one of the last countries in the world) also has self-propelled anti-tank guns.
Chinese anti-tank gun "Type 86" -clone MT-12 "Rapier"
During the Korean War, a number of 100-mm SU-100 anti-tank self-propelled guns were supplied from the USSR. Currently, they have been removed from service and are stored in the warehouses of the mobilization reserve.
However, North Korean designers have developed a number of their own self-propelled guns. So, on the basis of the tracked armored personnel carrier VTT-323 of North Korean production and the 85-mm divisional gun D-44, a tank destroyer was created. In this case, the gun is installed in the stern in an open fighting compartment similar to the Soviet SU-76 or the German Marder.
A tank destroyer with a 100 mm gun called Tŏkch'ŏn has a similar layout.
A tank destroyer with a 103-mm gun was also made according to this scheme.
However, a tank destroyer was also created with a fully rotating turret located in the rear of the hull. Armed with a self-propelled gun, presumably a 100-mm gun, similar to the MT-12 Rapier.
