- Yes
- No
- North Korea sub-tree in China
- United Korea tree
- Other
- I said no
TL;DR: North Korean domestically-produced SPH, armed with a domestic 122mm cannon based on the D-74, on an artillery-tractor (Tŏkch’ŏn) chassis
History
During the Korean War, the Korean People’s Army (KPA) was primarily equipped with T-34-85s, alongside SU-76 SPGs. These were used to great effect at the start of the war, but were very quickly outmatched by UN / US armoured vehicles. The SU-76s remained in service after the war, alongside smaller numbers of SU-100s, and even smaller numbers of ISU-122s — likely obtained from the Chinese PVA. The KPA was also armed with very large numbers of towed artillery (and MRLs), which, prior to the 1970s, constituted virtually all of the country’s artillery. In the late 1960s and well into the 1970s, the KPA underwent a large-scale modernisation program. Part of this program surrounded the development of self-propelled artillery, which was sorely lacking from the KPA’s arsenal.
1. SU-76s and; 2. SU-100s during parades
The first attempts at this were made in the late 1960s, when a 152mm D-20 and modified 130mm M-46 (with the muzzle-brake of the SM-4-1) were mounted on a Soviet ATS-59 artillery tractor chassis. These did not enter production, but did pave the way for a number of very successful designs. Production began in earnest in the 1970s, with the development of five separate SPGs (alongside a few other vehicle types) on the aforementioned ATS-59 chassis — these are collectively called the Tŏkch’ŏn (Tokchon) by the US DoD, although this name does not appear to official. The first vehicle was first built in 1972, and was armed with a domestically-produced 152mm howitzer, based on the Soviet D-20, but fitted with a new muzzle-brake. The second was built in 1974, and was armed with an open-turreted 130mm M-46 (modified as above). The third was likely built around the same time (1974–75), and armed with the same 130mm M-46 cannon, but without a turret. The fourth was built in 1978, and armed with a domestic 122mm cannon, based heavily on the D-74. The fifth was built sometime in the 1980s, and was armed with the same 152mm howitzer as the first type, but in a fully-enclosed turret.
SPGs at the KPA Exhibition of Arms and Equipment in Pyongyang. The five vehicles along the front row, from closest to camera to furthest are the: 1972 152mm SPH; 1978 122mm SPG; 1974 130mm SPG; 1973 170mm SPG (Chuch’ep’o); 1983 170mm SPG (Chuch’ep’o)
The focus of this suggestion is on the fourth vehicle in the series. The US DoD ascribes the name ‘M1981’ to this design. The official KPA designation is 1978-model 122m self-propelled howitzer [1978년식 122mm 자행곡사포] — for brevity, I will refer to it as the 1978 122mm SPH. The 1978 122mm SPH entered production in 1978, and is seen somewhat frequently, albeit less than other SPGs in the family. The CIA reported that they had seen these vehicles since at least July 1979, at the Tŏkch’ŏn Artillery Plant. Much like other SPGs in the family, the 1978 122mm SPH has been seen with MANPADS — two crew members at the rear of the cabin carry shoulder-mounted 9K310 Igla-1s. This configuration was first seen during the parade on April 25th, 1992, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Korean People’s Army.
1978 122mm SPH with MANPADS
Note on Naming Scheme
North Korea split their self-propelled guns into three main categories:
- Self-Propelled ‘Direct-Fire’ Guns [자행직사포], e.g. the 100mm-armed ATS-59- and 323-based vehicles
- Self-Propelled ‘Level-Fire’ Guns [자행평사포], e.g. the 1974 130mm SPG, and the 170mm-armed Chuch’ep’o
- Self-Propelled ‘Curved-Fire’ Guns [자행곡사포], e.g. this vehicle, the 1972 152mm SPG, and the Chuch’e 107 155mm SPG
I have chosen to translate them as follows:
- Self-Propelled ‘Direct-Fire’ Guns → Tank Destroyer. A more literal translation would be Self-Propelled Anti Tank Gun (SPATG), but this is not a very common name anyway
- Self-Propelled ‘Level-Fire’ Guns → Self-Propelled Gun (SPG)
- Self-Propelled ‘Curved-Fire’ Guns → Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH)
Characteristics
The 1978 122mm SPH is armed with a domestically-produced 122mm howitzer. This cannon is heavily based on the Soviet D-74, and while specifics aren’t available, it is likely to have the same characteristics. Notably, it does not fire the same ammunition as other Soviet 122mm howitzers, and is limited to HE and APHE rounds. BR-472 APCBC is fired at 882m/s, and penetrates 265mm @ 0° @ 10m. OF-472 HE has 3kg of TNT, is fired at 885m/s, and can penetrate 35mm @ 0°. The number of rounds carried is unknown.
The towed domestic 122mm howitzer based on the D-74
The howitzer typically has a rate of fire of 6–7rpm. This is likely to be reduced on the 1978 122mm SPH, as the crew typically operate the howitzer (partially) from outside the vehicle, and the actual space around the gun is limited. The gun is mounted in a standard gun-shield, and has limited traverse. If mounted the same as the standalone howitzer, it could elevate from -5° to +45°, and traverse 58° total (+29°/-29°). 4–6 crew are seen travelling in the vehicle during parades.
1978 122mm SPH during a parade
Some vehicles have been seen armed with MANPADS — two crew members are situated at the rear of the cabin, with shoulder-mounted 9K310 Igla-1s. The 9K310 fires the 9M313 missile, an IR-guided missile with a range of 5km and a ceiling of 2.5km. It has a top speed of 570m/s — it is overall similar to the 9M39 Igla, but with slightly worse performance.
The 1978 122mm SPH is based on the ATS-59 chassis, but the superstructure has been heavily modified. The cab has been removed and replaced by sloped armour, with the driver’s position appearing to have been lowered slightly. The hull has been opened up in the rear 2/3rds of the vehicle, with the 122mm mounted centrally, and with thin armoured plates surrounding it. The thickness of the armour is unknown, and unlikely to resist much more than small arms fire. Occasionally, it has been seen — like with most other vehicles in this family — with (presumably bullet-proof) glass windows for the two crew members in the hull.
The ATS-59 is fitted with an A-650 V12 diesel engine, producing 300hp @ 1700rpm. It is impossible to verify if the engine fitted to the 1978 122mm SPH, and other ATS-59-based SPGs, is the same, although it seems likely. The exhaust and engine deck appear to be unmodified. The ATS-59 has a top speed of 39km/h. It weighs 13.5t — unladen. Like most other details, once again, the weight of the SPGs is unknown. A rough calculation would put the weight at around 20t, given the weight of the cannon (~5.5t), ammunition, and modifications to the hull. This would give the vehicle a power-to-weight ratio of roughly 15hp/t.
Conclusion
The 1978 122mm SPH would be an excellent addition to a future United Korean tech tree, as a low-tier SPG. It would have a very powerful APHE round — an additional 60mm over the APHE rounds used on the IS-2/-3/-4 / ISU-122-series — but is limited by its complete lack of armour and average mobility. As such, it would go nicely at around 5.3–5.7. Alternatively, it could be added with the additional MANPADS — although this may force it to go at a higher BR, that it otherwise wouldn’t do well at.
Specifications
Armament
- 122mm D-74 (mod.)
- Unknown ammunition capacity
- Ammunition
- BR-472 APCBC
- 265mm @ 0° @ 10m
- OF-472 HE
- 35mm @ 0°
- BR-472 APCBC
- Vertical Guidance
- -5°/+63°
- Horizontal Guidance
- 58° (-29°/+29°)
- 2x 9K310 Igla-1 launchers
- 9M313 SAM
- Guidance
- IR-guided
- Range
- 5km
- 2.5km ceiling
- Speed
- 570m/s
- Guidance
- 9M313 SAM
Armour
- Hull
- Unknown — likely <10mm all around
- Gun Shield
- Unknown — likely <5mm
Mobility
- Speed
- 39km/h
- Weight
- ~20t (estimate)
- Engine power
- 300hp, ~15hp/t (estimate)
Other
- Crew
- 4–6 (possibly >6 if with MANPADS)
Images
Sources
Spoiler
The Armed Forces of North Korea — On the Path of Songun. Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans.
무장장비관 견문록(1) ‘불새’를 쏘는 ‘무적의 첨단전차’:자주시보
- This author grossly over-exaggerates the capabilites of North Korean equipment, but has visited the KPA museum in Pyongyang and — seemingly accurately — reported the names of vehicles / equipment
122mm D-74 | Weaponsystems.net
122-мм пушка Д-74 | MilitaryRussia.Ru — отечественная военная техника (после 1945г.)