Pokpung-ho
The P'okpoong-Ho (Chosŏn'gŭl: 폭풍호; Hanja: 暴風虎), which means "Storm Tank" in Korean, is a North Korean tank developed in the 1990s. The tank may incorporate technology found in the T-62, T-72, T-80, T-90, Type 88 and/or Ch'onma-ho MBTs. Outside parties codemane the tank M-2002.
| P'okpoong-Ho | |
|---|---|
| Type | Main Battle Tank |
| Place of origin |  North Korea |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1993 - present |
| Used by | North Korea |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Second Machine Industry Bureau |
| Manufacturer | Ryu Kyong-su Tank Factory |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 44 (±3) tonnes |
| Crew | 4 |
Main armament | 125 mm smoothbore gun (43 [±3] rounds) with possible ATGM capability (4 missiles) |
Secondary armament | 14.5 mm heavy anti-aircraft machine gun (300 rounds), 7.62mm coaxial machine gun (2,000 rounds), possible equipment of short-range SAM or chassis-mounted MANPADS (4 missiles) |
| Engine | V-46-6 12-cylinder diesel (or similar) 900 (±150) hp |
| Power/weight | 21 hp/tonne |
Operational range | 450 km |
| Maximum speed | 60 km/h on road 40 km/h cross country |
Origin
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, massive numbers of T-72s were decommissioned from Soviet service and scrapped for metal. North Korea purchased several of these scrapped T-72s, revitalizing them through reverse engineering after being brought into the country. North Korea is also believed to have obtained technology used in the Russian T-80 and T-90 tanks during this period, and may have utilized both this information and Chinese technology (reported to be from the Type 88 tank) to build the P'okpoong-Ho, with goals of creating a tank to match the T-90. North Korea's interest in the T-90 was demonstrated in August 2001 when Kim Jong-il visited the Transmash defense plant which builds the T-90 during his trip to Russia. It has also been reported that North Korea has acquired a single T-90S during the same period. North Korea may have since then used the T-90S as a reference to retrofitting the T-72s with parts from the T-90.
What initiated the need to develop a new tank was likely the poor combat performance the T-72 displayed during the Gulf War. Shocked at the onslaught of Iraqi T-72s by western tanks, North Korea decided to significantly modernize their tank fleet, compounded with the fact that South Korea owns the K1 MBT, which has similar performance to the American M1 Abrams MBT used during the Gulf War. However, economic struggles prevented North Korea from achieving a significant modernization of their tank fleet, and even existing P'okpoong-Ho tanks are considered inferior to the basic model K1 tank.
Production history
The first P'okpoong-Ho is believed to have been produced in 1993 in the Ryu Kyong-su Tank Factory, located in Sinhung, South Hamgyong Province. [1] The capabilities of later variants may have been augmented, although only to a minimal degree. Because of North Korea's limited industrial capability, compounded by the fact that North Korea has also spent most of the resources allotted for the development of the P'okpoong-Ho on their nuclear program, North Korea is believed to possess less than 250 of these tanks. The tank was discovered by outside parties in 2002 and codenamed the M-2002.
Design characteristics
As no pictures of the P'okpoong-Ho exist in public circulation, most publicly available information regarding the P'okpoong-Ho is derived from defecting North Koreans and speculation, and as a result, is fairly unreliable. All information presented in this article is according to such sources. [2] [3]
North Korean propaganda claims that the P'okpoong-Ho is comparable or superior to the Russian T-90, which was developed in the 1990s. Although the design and size of the P'okpoong-Ho closely resembles the T-80 or T-90, its capabilities are more or less comparable to export variants of the T-72 or other 2.5th generation tanks.
Armament
The P'okpoong-Ho's primary armament is 125mm smoothbore gun, which fires Armor Piercing shells produced in North Korea. The gun has been altered to be flat and round to resemble that of the T-80, although the purpose of this alteration is unknown. The tank also has a heavy anti-aircraft machine gun, a coaxial machine gun and four missiles of unknown type, which may be either MANPADS or ATGMs. If the missiles are ATGMs, it is likely a copy of the 3M6 Shmel or 9M14 Malyutka (Susong-Po). If the missiles are MANPADs, then it is likely a copy of the 9K38 Igla or 9K32 Strela-2 (Hwasung-Chong).
Chassis
The P'okpoong-Ho is built on a T-72 chassis, with six sets of driving wheels within the caterpillar. The P'okpoong-Ho has as much armor as the T-80U or a late-model T-72, able to withstand an average strike by a TOW or an anti-tank gun. However, the tank's frontal armor is expected to be penetrated by the new South Korean 105mm APFSDS or 120mm APFSDS. The tank weighs roughly 45 tons and utilizes explosive-reactive armor. The tank is also capable of submerging 5 meters underwater when the apparatus is equipped.
Engine
Although the horsepower of the P'okpoong-Ho's engine has been expected to be as high as 1500, the engine is likely a V-46-6 Diesel engine, with around 800-850 horsepower. It has been reported that North Korea rejected developing the 1250 hp engine of the T-80, judging that it would not be suitable for a tank engagement within the narrow, mountainous terrain of Korea, and that it would prove to be of little difference on defensive missions. During aggressive missions, the P'okpoong-Ho can quickly engage the enemy due to its already excellent speed and acceleration, which is the basis of North Korean tank tactics.
Internal systems
When developing the P'okpoong-Ho, North Korea has opted to remove much of the redundant systems of the T-72 to increase its speed and maneuverability within Korean terrain, enhancing its ability to cross mountainous terrain, mudflats, and to submerge when crossing rivers. The systems removed include the autoloader, which North Korea traditionally disfavors due to the unreliability of North Korean maintenance. North Korea also realized that more rounds could be stored within the tank if the autoloader was removed, as well as improving its mobility due to the decreased weight. The Fire Control System of the P'okpoong-Ho has been improved from the baseline T-72 FCS, and some reports claim that it may be based on the Chieftain FCS, which Iran may have illegally exchanged for North Korean nuclear weapons. While it is unlikely that the P'okpoong-Ho is equipped with an Active Protection System, some reports claim that the P'okpoong-Ho may possibly be equipped with the Arena APS, although of dubious quality. The P'okpoong-Ho also has an infrared sensor, a laser range-finder and a search light, all of which allow the P'okpoong-Ho to operate during the night. Although the quality of the equipment are likely inferior to the South Korean counterparts, the P'okpoong-Ho is believed to be a considerable threat at medium/short range engagements, although lacking when firing from long ranges.
Operators
North Korea - 250 or less
Notes and references
- ^ North Korea rolls out new tank. Retrieved on November 26, 2007.
- ^ Yoo, Yong Won & Hweori (2007-10-28). "유용원의 군사세계". Chosun. Retrieved 2007-10-28.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Hong, Gyung Hwan (2007-03-03). "The North Korean P'okpoong-Ho tank". Gonews. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
See also
External links
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