- 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 turreted domestic 152mm cannon based on the D-20, 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 last vehicle in the series. The US DoD ascribes the name ‘M1985’ and ‘M1991’ to this design. The official KPA designation is unknown — I have given it the name ATS-59 (152mm) here. The vehicle’s construction date is unknown, and is only estimated to be sometime in the early 1980s. Its official designation is very likely to be [year]-model 152mm self-propelled howitzer, much like the 1972 152mm SPH, which uses the same cannon. The ATS-59 (152mm) is by far the rarest of these five SPGs. It has only been sighted two times (as far as I can tell): once during a parade, sometime in the 1990s, and once during training exercises in 2016. The ATS-59 (152mm) was likely a stepping stone between the the semi-enclosed turret on the 1974 130mm SPG and the fully-enclosed turrets of the ‘M1991’ and ‘M1992’ SPGs, and later the much more modern Chuch’e 107 155mm SPG.
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 1978 122mm SPG, and the Chuch’e 107 155mm SPG
I have chosen to translate them as follows:
- Self-Propelled ‘Direct-Fire’ Guns → Tank Destroyer (TD). A more literal translation would be Self-Propelled Anti Tank Gun (SPATG), but this is not commonly used
- Self-Propelled ‘Level-Fire’ Guns → Self-Propelled Gun (SPG)
- Self-Propelled ‘Curved-Fire’ Guns → Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH)
Characteristics
The ATS-59 (152mm) is armed with a turreted domestically-produced 152mm howitzer. This cannon is visually very similar to the Soviet D-20, other than the new muzzle brake. While specifics aren’t available, the cannon is likely to have the same characteristics. As such, it would have access to a variety of shells, including OF-540 HE, with 5.9kg of explosive mass, able to penetrate 49mm @ 0°, as well as 3OF25 HE and 3OF25 (PF) HE-VT, with 6.6kg of explosive mass (10.1kg TNTe), able to penetrate 62mm @ 0°. It can also fire BR-540 APHE and BR-540B APHEBC, capable of penetrating 170mm and 171mm respectively @ 0° @ 10m (BR-540B has better angled performance). It can also fire BP-540 HEAT, penetrating 250mm @ 0° @ 10m. All of these rounds are fired at a muzzle velocity of 600–680m/s. The number of rounds carried is unknown.
ATS-59 (152mm) during exercises in 2016
The howitzer typically has a rate of fire of 5–6rpm. This is likely to be reduced on the 1972 152mm SPH, as the crew typically operate the howitzer (partially) from outside the vehicle, and the actual space inside the turret is limited. Despite having a fully-enclosed turret, the vehicle appears to still be operated from outside, from the doors in the rear hull. The gun elevation, depression, and traverse are unknown, although the turret is likely to be fully traversable.
ATS-59 (152mm) during exercises in 2016
The ATS-59 (152mm) 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 is largely the same as the other turreted ATS-59-based SPG, the 1974 130mm SPG, other than the addition of larger cupolas for the two crew members at the front of the hull — the purpose of this is unknown. The turret is boxy and fully-enclosed. The armour is unlikely to exceed 15mm all around.
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 ATS-59 (152mm), 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 21t, given the weight of the cannon (~5.7t), ammunition, new turret, and modifications to the hull. This would give the vehicle a power-to-weight ratio of roughly 14.3hp/t.
Conclusion
The ATS-59 (152mm) would be an excellent addition to a future United Korean tech tree, as a low-tier SPG. It would be a more flexible alternative to the 1972 152mm SPH, and therefore go at a slightly higher BR of around 4.7.
Specifications
Armament
- 152mm D-20 (mod.)
- Unknown ammunition capacity
- Ammunition
- BR-540 APHE
- 170mm @ 0° @ 10m
- BR-540B APHEBC
- 171mn @ 0° @ 10m
- BP-540 HEAT
- 250mm @ 0° @ 10m
- OF-540 HE
- 49mm @ 0°
- 3OF25 HE
- 62mm @ 0°
- 3OF25 (PF) HE-VT
- 62mm @ 0°
- BR-540 APHE
- Vertical Guidance
- -5°/+63° (estimate)
- Horizontal Guidance
- 360° (estimate)
Armour
- Hull
- Unknown — likely <10mm all around
- Turret
- Unknown — likely <15mm all around
Mobility
- Speed
- 39km/h
- Weight
- ~21t (estimate)
- Engine power
- 300hp, ~14.3hp/t (estimate)
Other
- Crew
- 4 (estimate)
Images
Spoiler
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 capabilities of North Korean equipment, but has visited the KPA museum in Pyongyang and — seemingly accurately — reported the names of vehicles / equipment
152mm D-20 | Weaponsystems.net
- Shell data