you can remove half of the turret cheeks where the smoke launcher sits
most likely no composite at all, like russian and chinese mbts.
look at the welds on the turret and tell me where the composite would be
What?
It makes no sense for a country with the capacity to produce composite armour, and which has done so for decades, to not put composites in the turret of their best tank.
Pretty much every analyst has agreed the tank has composite internals, it’s practically a given at this point.
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on the lower glacis, didn’t you see it was written in green?
but it would actually appear to have composite on the lower hull my bad plate, and a different type on the upper hull (bolted so maybe some type of era?).
You are right, those are just kimchi holders. /s
If you are referring to how the can fit the “APS launchers” there, the NERA array is probably wedge shaped in cross section, leaving a void at the bottom.
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Oh, sorry, I didn’t realise you were referring to that image in particular. But yes, it does appear to be 2 different types of composite armour. The UFP is almost certainly composite, and is bolted on, but to me I don’t think it’s ERA. Likely a unique development of composite armour derived from Soviet and/or Chinese designs.
The LFP could either have composite (but weaker/thinner) or could simply be RHA, it’s hard to tell. However, given there’s that small section of the UFP without bolts (which I highlighted in green), that could indicate another, different block of composite for the LFP.
Here’s an incredibly rough (lol) diagram of what I mean:
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More likely its a monolithic armor module with mounting points and/or access to it.
+1 Have been waiting for more DPRK vehicles for a while.
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When did you say anything about the lower glacis?
We have lots of new information on this now!!
The official name of this tank is the Cheonma-2 (천마-2호). It is apparently powered by the same engine as the K2 Black Panther and uses single-piece 125mm ammo. Lots more info to be extracted from the official state video, but this should help your two suggestions quite a lot!
https://x.com/ArmoredWar/status/1795881513722003857
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Amazing, tysm! Will look into this more and edit ASAP. So far I’ve just changed the name.
- Name plate that just about says <천마-2호> (Ch’ŏnma-2 Ho – Ho in this sense just meaning ‘type’, not part of the actual name)
Quite interesting they go for a rebrand of the entire Ch’ŏnma line and abandon the Sŏn’gun name, I would have thought they’d give it a completely new name owing to its uniqueness.
Engine claims I’d take with a grain of salt, but they do seem to have a good mock-up of it.
Also showed the tank’s sights, they look good, as was suspected
And complete side-note, this light tank looks great! Seems to be a 105mm? First for North Korea if so, they’ve been stuck with 115/125mm so far. Could be derived from a Chinese design, Russia doesn’t use the 105mm. Wonder if they’ll follow through with it. If so, it will be North Korea’s first proper light tank after the Sinhŭng, which is just barely better than a WW2 design.
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You’re welcome! Glad I could help!
I agree regarding that wheeled light tank/TD. Hope more info comes out about it soon! Looks like it also has a 30mm grenade launcher on the roof like the Ch’onma-2 does.
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Interesting they didn’t go for the APS, seeing as having one is growing in popularity for modern light tanks/IFVs. Either way, can’t wait to see a prototype of it, if they decide to produce one (hell, for all we know, they may already have made one)
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I’m sure they’ll show it in time, along with the other vehicle models at this event. There was an MLRS, an SPG, and a self-propelled mortar, I believe.
Be sure to message the mods and have the name changed on the list of already suggested vehicles, both for this one and the prototype!
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SPG is the Chuch’e 107, as far as I can see in a quick skim through nothing new. MLRS looks interesting but I admit I don’t know much about the truck MLRS’s that they have (yet, going to suggest a couple soon if I get round to it).
The mortar looks like a modernised replacement of the 323 140mm mortar system. Wonder if they’ll use the new chassis for more SPGs/IFVs like they did with the 323
One step ahead of you on the mod front! lol
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Great! Not sure how mortar vehicles would work in WT, but I think it’d be a fun category tbh.
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Updated with information about engine, ammunition and a few other small details from the arms exhibition
Briefly,
- Likely uses a reverse-engineered (and modified) German MT883 engine, with ~1500hp
- Fires domestically produced one-piece APFSDS, HEAT and HE rounds
- Has domestically produced sights
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Based
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I am very much looking forward to it joining the Chinese series as a North Korean main battle tank.
But one thing is that the main gun of this tank is not 125mm or 115mm. You can compare it by some details of the barrel, and so far no country has actually developed 125mm full ammunition. In a program in the “Detective Team” series of the Chinese media “Observer Network”, it was mentioned that the main gun ammunition of this tank is very similar to the 120mm smoothbore gun ammunition in the West.
Finally, we will promote a anime introduction book “Three Thousand Miles of Iron Riders” written by some Korean weapon enthusiasts in China.
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Iron Riders? I believe that “중기병” means “heavy cavalry” some kind.