The tank forces of North Korea began to form in 1948 with the active participation of China and the Soviet Union. A small number of tankers were trained in China on captured Japanese and American tanks, as well as on Soviet T-34s. American tanks, mainly the light M3A3 Stewart and medium M4A4 Sherman, were captured from the Chinese National Army during the Chinese Civil War, which was still raging at the time. In 1948, the 15th training tank regiment was formed in Sadong with the participation of the Soviet occupation forces, which was stationed in the suburbs of Pyongyang. In this unit there were only two T-34-85s, about 30 Soviet tank officers trained the Koreans. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Yu Kyong-soo, who previously served as a lieutenant in the Red Army during World War II, and later, already in North Korea, commanded the 4th Infantry Regiment. The appointment of this person to such a responsible position is due to the fact that Kyong Soo was a relative of Kim Il Sung.
In May 1949, the 15th Tank Training Regiment was disbanded, and the cadets became officers of the new 105th Tank Brigade. This part of Kim Il Sung intended to deliver the main attack on South Korea, so neither effort nor money was spared to prepare the brigade. The 105th brigade consisted of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tank regiments, which later received numbers: 107th, 109th and 203rd, respectively. By October 1949, the brigade was fully equipped with T-34-85 tanks. The brigade also included the 206th Motorized Infantry Regiment. The infantrymen were supported by the 308th armored battalion, which consisted of six SU-76M self-propelled guns. The brigade 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 105th Tank Brigade. About 20 "thirty-fours" were in the 208th training tank regiment, which was supposed to be used as a reserve. The rest of the tanks were distributed among several newly formed tank regiments - 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th and 46th (in reality they were tank battalions, in which there were about 15 tanks) and the 16th and 17th tank brigades, which, in terms of equipment, were more likely to correspond to tank regiments (40-45 tanks). In addition to the T-34-85, the KPA was armed with 75 SU-76M self-propelled guns. Self-propelled artillery divisions provided fire support for the North Korean infantry divisions. Two more tank brigades were formed during the war and entered the battle in September at Busan, and new tank regiments, formed by September, fought at Incheon.
North Korean tanks and infantry attack
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 terms of the number of tanks. The Japanese tank forces were defeated during the war, and the Chinese tank forces were a motley collection of captured Japanese and American vehicles. The United States had no significant tank formations in the East, with the exception of a few companies of M24 Chaffee light tanks in Japan. Until 1949, a significant number of tanks were in the occupation forces located in South Korea, but all of them had already been withdrawn by that time. South Korea did not have its own tank forces at all. The Americans, alarmed by the belligerent plans of the Singman Rhee government, did not provide tanks to South Korea, fearing that the Southerners would be able to launch military action against the communists. As a result, by the beginning of the invasion, South Korea had only 37 M-8 armored vehicles and a small number of M-3 half-track armored personnel carriers, which were in service with the cavalry regiment of the 1st capital's infantry division stationed in Seoul.
Equally important, the South Korean army was less equipped and trained than the HACK. There were few anti-tank weapons, and the means available were mostly inconvenient and ineffective 57-mm anti-tank guns (American copy of the British 6-pounder cannon).
The North Korean T-34-85 was most intensively used in the first two months of the war, but after the losses incurred, their participation in battles was rarely noted and only in small groups of 3-4 tanks. Most South Korean soldiers had never seen a tank in their lives, and the ineffectiveness of 57 mm anti-tank guns and 2, 36-inch (60-mm) bazookas only increased the demoralizing effect of armored vehicles. Some Korean infantrymen tried to stop the tanks with improvised knapsack high-explosive charges and TNT bombs tied with grenades. Many brave soldiers died in vain attempts to stop the tanks, for example, in the 1st Infantry Division alone, about 90 soldiers were lost as a result of these desperate attacks. The helplessness of the South Korean infantry caused a panic fear of tanks, which significantly weakened the defense.
Seoul, South Korea. June 1950
The situation changed when the Americans entered the war. To stop the tank breakthrough, the US Army, having barely entered the war, hastily deployed M24 Chaffee light tanks 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 in battle with enemy tanks, since the T-34's cannons pierced American armor at any distances. In Japan, several M4A3E8s were hastily prepared, armed with 76mm M3 guns and howitzers. The Shermans, with the same armor as the T-34-85, had an advantage in the accuracy and rate of fire of the gun, as well as due to better optics and the presence of a stabilizer. With their appearance, North Korean tanks were no longer masters on the battlefield, and the appearance of the M26 "Pershing" in Korea finally tipped the balance in favor of the American army.
Destroyed T-34-85 KPA
Over the entire period of the war, 119 tank battles took place, of which 104 were carried out by tanks of the US Army and 15 more tankers of the USMC. During these battles, North Korean tankers on the T-34-85 managed to knock out 34 American tanks (16 M4A3E8 Sherman, 4 M24 Chaffee, 6 M26 Pershing and 8 M46 Patton), 15 of which were irrevocably lost. In turn, the Americans claim to destroy 97 T-34-85 in tank battles.
To rectify the situation, heavy Soviet tanks IS-2 with a 122-mm cannon were deployed in the units of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV). However, they were also unable to help the North Koreans regain their lost advantage. The USSR was in no hurry to supply the Koreans with more modern tanks, as a result, the tank advantage was finally assigned to the American army.
Heavy tank IS-2 at the parade in Beijing
Significant losses were inflicted on the North Korean T-34-85 by American aviation. Against the background of this fact, the incident that occurred on July 3, 1950 looks unexpected, when four F-80C "Shooting Star" jet fighter-bombers, led by the commander of the 80th Ibae, Mr. Amos Sluder, went to the Pyeonggyo-Ri area to attack enemy vehicles moving towards the front line. Finding a convoy of about 90 vehicles and tanks, the Americans went on the attack, using unguided rockets from a low altitude and fire onboard 12, 7-mm machine guns. An unexpected response came from North Korean T-34s, which opened fire on low-flying aircraft from 85-mm guns. A successfully fired projectile exploded in front of the leader's plane and damaged the fuel tanks with shrapnel, and a fire broke out on board. Mr. Verne Peterson, who was walking as a wingman, reported to Major Sluder by radio: "Boss, you are on fire! You had 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 Fleet to die in the fighting on the Korean Peninsula.
The crew of the North Korean T-34-85 that destroyed the American F-80C "Shooting Star" jet fighter on July 3, 1950
By July 27, 1953, that is, by the date of the end of the Korean War, the KPA 382 was armed with the T-34-85 medium tank, and in total, along with the KND-773 tank units and self-propelled artillery mounts.
According to The Military Balance, in 2010 the KPA had a certain number of T-34s (p. 412), other sources estimate the North Korean T-34 fleet at 700 units.
T-34-85 at the parade in Pyongyang. August 15, 1960
Moreover, along with the T-34-85, the KPA is armed with earlier models with a 76-mm cannon.
T-34-76 model 1942 (tower-"pie") KPA
T-34-76 model 1943 (turret "nut") KPA
How to explain the presence of such outdated models in the KPA and why they have not been converted into auxiliary vehicles or chassis for other weapons systems, I do not know. In addition to the thirty-fours, the KPA also has a number of heavy tanks IS-2 and IS-3.
Heavy tank IS-3
However, it is believed that both the T-34-85 and the IS-2 and IS-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 3,500 main battle and medium tanks (Soviet T-54, T-55, T-62, Chinese "Type 59", various versions of "Cheonma-ho" - North Korean copies of the T-62 and Sŏn 'gun-915 or "Pokpung-ho" (the newest North Korean tank of its own production)), as well as more than 1000 light tanks (Soviet PT-76 - 560, domestic production "Type 82" - about 500, some Chinese "Type 62" and "Type 63"). The tank forces include one tank corps (consisting of three tank divisions) and 15 tank brigades. The tank corps has five tank regiments (each with 4 heavy tank battalions, 1 light tank battalion, 1 motorized infantry battalion, 2 self-propelled guns battalions).
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 T-54 units were delivered from the USSR: 400 T-54 units were delivered in the period from 1967 to 1970, 300 T-54 units were delivered (possibly, they were assembled on the territory of the DPRK from tank sets) in the period from 1969 to 1974. For comparison, the first South Korean K1 tanks ("Type 88") began to be produced in 1985, that is, after 16 years.
South Korean tank K-1 ("Type 88")
The T-54 is still in service with the KPA.
In 1973, from 50 to 175 units of Chinese copies of the T-54A-"Type 59" were delivered from China.
In addition, 250 ZSU-57-2 turrets were installed on the Type 59 chassis, delivered from the USSR in the period from 1968 to 1977.
A number of Type 59s, according to The Military Balance, were in service with the KPA in 2013 (p. 310)
Moreover, on some of them, MANPADS are installed as additional weapons.
The next tank delivered from the USSR was the T-55: 300 T-55 units were supplied from the USSR: 250 T-55 units were delivered in the period from 1967 to 1970, 50 T-55 units were delivered in the period from 1972 to 1973. 500 units of T-55 or Type 59 were assembled under license from 1975 to 1979.
The fleet of T-54 / T-55 and Type 59 KPA, both supplied from the USSR and China, and the North Korean assembly, is estimated at approximately 2,100 vehicles.
In the late 1970s. The DPRK began to strengthen the combat power of its ground forces, primarily 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 supplied from the USSR (as well as their Chinese counterparts "Type 59") and a number of heavy IS-2 and IS-3 of the Soviet main battle tank T- 62 with a powerful 115-mm smoothbore cannon, the production of which was also established by the North Korean defense industry.
500 T-62 units were delivered from the USSR: 350 T-62 units were delivered in the period from 1971 to 1975, 150 T-62 units were delivered in the period from 1976 to 1978.
470 T-62 units were produced under license under the designation Chonma-Ho between 1980 and 1989.
Chonma-Ho I tank variant with MANPADS
150 tanks were delivered to Iran in 1982-1985. and took part in the Iran-Iraq war. Some of them were captured by the Iraqis.
Plundered Iraqi Chonma-Ho I, captured by the Americans in 2003
About 75 Chonma-Ho I are still in service with the Iranian army.
Tank Chonma-Ho I of the Iranian army
Subsequently, the Chonma-Ho tank was modernized several times.
Tank Chonma-Ho II with a modified turret shape and a new fire control system, similar to the Czechoslovak Kladivo (with a laser rangefinder and a ballistic computer).
Tank Chonma-Ho II in the KPA Museum (in the background)
Tank Chonma-Ho III or IV-1992 with a fire control system, with a laser rangefinder and a ballistic computer with a modified turret shape, with smoke grenade launchers installed similar to the Soviet T-72, with dynamic armor along the sides. Perhaps the armament is a 125 mm cannon, similar to the 2A46, with an automatic loader. According to other sources, loading is still manual.
Medium tank mod. 1992 "Chonma-2". Equipped with dynamic protection (equivalent to protection against KS 500 mm).
Medium tank mod. 89 years old Juche (that is, 2000 according to the "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 composite armor with the equivalent of 900 mm armor steel for the forehead (turret).
Medium tank of 90 Juche (that is, 2001) "Chonma-214" - weight 38 tons.
Medium tank 92 years old Juche (that is, 2003) "Chonma-215" - weight 39 tons.
Medium tank 93 Juche (that is, 2004) "Chonma-216" - weight 39 tons, 6 road wheels.
Tank "Chonma-216" with ATGM and MANPADS installed
Tanks "Cheonma-ho" of all modifications, according to various sources, from 800 to 1200 pieces.
Medium Tank Juche '98 (that is, 2009) "Songun-915" ("Seon'gun-915") - a new turret. Weight 44 tons, width 3, 502 m, height 2, 416 m, the tank is able to overcome a trench with a width of 2, 8 m, a ford with a depth of 1, 2 m and a river (apparently with OPVT) 5 m deep. Declared specific power 27, 3 h.p. per ton (giving an engine power of 1200 hp) and a top speed of over 70 km / h. The tank is equipped with a dome-shaped cast turret with a composite filler, an upper frontal part with a combined filler, an equivalent of 900 mm steel armor. On the upper part of the hull and the turret, dynamic protection is installed with the equivalent of a KS of 500 mm. The tank has side anti-cumulative screens and additional dynamic protection on the upper frontal part of the hull and the front of the turret, with an equivalent of 500 mm from the COP. The driver's seat in most variants is located in the center. Tower - cast domed, with composite filler, upper frontal part with combined filler, equivalent in terms of steel armor 900 mm. It is armed with a 125-mm cannon, a 14.5-mm anti-aircraft machine gun, mounted above the cannon's mask with two Bulsae-3 ATGM launchers, which is claimed to be an analogue of the Kornet ATGM and has a firing range of up to 5.5 km. A twin Hwa'Seong Chong MANPADS with a firing range of up to 5 km and an altitude reach of 3.5 km is also installed on the turret. The tank is equipped with infrared night vision devices, a laser rangefinder, a digital fire control system with an on-board computer, infrared jamming equipment, a fire extinguishing system and a system of protection against weapons of mass destruction.
ATGM "Bulsae-3"
Presumably, when designing the Songun-915 (Seon'gun-915) tank, the Soviet export main tank T-72S was obtained somewhere in the Middle East. There is information that in 2001, a relatively new Russian main battle tank T-90S was secretly delivered to the DPRK, whose some "know-how" was also allegedly partially introduced on the "Songun-915"). According to military analyst Joseph Bermudez, the tank is an evolution of the Cheonmaho. In favor of this, in his opinion, the features of the T-62 speak, such as: a 115-mm cannon, a chassis identical to the T-62 and the location of the driver on the left. At the same time, another military analyst, Jim Warford, analyzing the history of the Korean versions of the T-62, drew attention to the clear 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 about 200 such tanks, which are supplied to the elite formations and units of the KPA - in particular, to the 105th Seoul Guards Tank Division. It is possible that they all belong to this one division.
Despite its obvious "advancement" against the background of the rest of the North Korean armored fleet, the latest modifications of the Chongmaho and Songun-915 are still inferior in combat qualities to modern enemy tanks - South Korean K-1 and T-80U, American M1 Abrams. Nevertheless, equipping South Korean Rockets in the new K-1A1 modification with 120-mm smoothbore cannons (the same as on German Leopard-2 tanks and American M1A2 Abrams) instead of the previous 105-mm the Jucheists "Songun-915". And from the newest South Korean tank XK-2 "Black Panther" (also with a 120-mm German cannon, produced under license), capable of firing homing shells that hit enemy tanks from above, "Songun-915" is actually 30 years behind.
As you know, the DPRK is a mountainous country and is crossed by a large number of rivers, which is the reason for such a large number (more than 1000) of light amphibious tanks in service with the KPA, often consolidated into separate light tank battalions. They can be used only as reconnaissance vehicles, since the survivability of such tanks on the field of modern battle from the very first minutes will tend to zero. Nevertheless, with skillful crews, they may well withstand enemy tanks from among the outdated - medium M47 and M48, especially operating from ambushes.
The first North Korean light tank was the Soviet PT-76; the DPRK ordered the first 100 of them from the USSR in 1965. They were delivered between 1966 and 1967. In total, according to some reports, the DPRK was supplied with 600 PT-76s, 560 units of which are still in service with the KPA.
Kim Jong-un "bypasses" PT-76
From the PRC, 100 Type 63 amphibious tanks were delivered, which are a copy of the PT-76, with a turret of a different shape with an 85-mm cannon installed.
And in 1972, 50 Type 62 tanks - a lightweight version of the Type 59 with an 85 mm cannon.
At present, the Type 62 and Type 63 light tanks have been removed from service by the KPA, however, given the thriftiness of the North Koreans, they may well be in mobilization depots in case of war.
The first North Korean tank is considered a light tank, known by the American designation "M 1985".
Since the data on the tank is classified, in various reference books only speculative data on this vehicle are given. 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. Which makes it one of the largest floating combat vehicles ever. Only the landing transporters are larger, but our "Sprut", probably. Assumptions are made that the tank can serve as a means for ferrying infantrymen across water obstacles. The tank is well armed for its class: 85mm cannon, 7.62mm machine gun. As well as a large-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun and an installation for launching the Malyutka ATGM.
"Type 82" on parade with the installed ATGM "Baby"
The mobility of this "floater" should be good. If it has a 500 hp engine. with., then it must develop at least 65 km / h.
Despite the good chassis, which is an elongated version of the VTT-323 (licensed Chinese Type 63) and a decent engine, its tactical and strategic niche is completely unclear. In what amphibious assault forces should they go? Who to shoot at? For lightly armored vehicles, his weapon is completely redundant, but for tanks it is useless. The Malyutka ATGM (or its Chinese counterpart) does not save the state of affairs either - a slow and difficult-to-control (exclusively from a stationary vehicle) missile will not show miracles in the fight against enemy armored vehicles. Moreover, the 30-mm steel armor does not leave a chance to survive under the fire of any rapid-fire from any infantry fighting vehicle or armored personnel carrier, even the middle of the last quarter of the last century.
Consider the vehicle as a cannon artillery support system for the landing? The OFS is rather weak, and a large ammunition load cannot be taken away. I believe that it is most correct (given the clearly excessive displacement) to assume that these vehicles were originally designed to carry a couple of dozen soldiers in the form of a tank assault. This at least explains the size of the vehicle and the strange composition of the weapons - "what fits." However, there may also be the inertia of the North Korean military, who demanded a "floating tank of maximum parameters" - and this is what the North Korean industry was able to dream up.
According to some estimates, at least 500 of these "M 1985" were produced. It is possible that several modernized tanks are still being produced.
Video of 2013: the passage of equipment after the end of the military parade in honor of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War of 1950-1953.
Well, we are waiting for the next novelties of the North Korean military-industrial complex, but for now we will listen to the favorite song of the "New Star", "The Brilliant Comrade" and "Genius among geniuses in military strategy" by Kim Jong-un, performed by Mister Psy, whom he ordered to shoot immediately after taking Seoul.
Well, who disagrees …
