M1978 Tŏkch’ŏn (37mm)

ChieftainWarrior · January 17, 2024, 8:29am

Would you like to see this in-game?

Yes
No

0 voters

Where would you like to see this?

North Korea sub-tree in China
United Korea tree
Other
I said no

0 voters

M1978 Tŏkch’ŏn (37mm)

Unknown official name

Brief History
North Korea has a surprisingly long history of tank and AFV production, with some of their most recent developments being very interesting. During the Korean War, and for a couple decades after, North Korea relied on Soviet hand-me-downs, namely T-34s and their derivatives, T-55s, etc. In the 70s, the DPRK started development of their first MBTs based on their copy of the T-62 (Ch’ŏnma), which have continually been upgraded to this day. They haven’t just built MBTs, however. They have a number of other AFVs, such as SPGs and tank destroyers (conventional and ATGMs).

The Tŏkch’ŏn series (named after a city in South Pyongan province where it was constructed) was the first major series of indigenous North Korean SPGs. It essentially took the chassis of the Soviet ATS-59 artillery tractor and added multiple types of high-calibre cannons, resulting in a number of different variants. However, there was also 1 SPAA on this chassis – the M1978.

Characteristics
The M1978 Tŏkch’ŏn mounts dual Chinese Type 65 37mm guns on the aformentioned ATS-59 chassis, in an open-top turreted design. The Type 65 is already in game on the Phòng không T-34, and its Soviet counterpart on the ZSU-37. This gun has access to HEFI-T, AP-T and HVAP-T rounds – the latter of which can penetrate 87mm of armour at 10m. The dual setup is likely very similar to that of the Phòng không T-34.

The chassis remains largely unmodified, and I doubt the engine was changed, so it should still be a 300hp engine, reaching a top speed of 45km/h.

The armour is poor, only thin plates surrounding the gun, probably <15mm across the whole vehicle, although this is unknown.

Some of these have been seen mounting Igla MANPADs on the rear, but I don’t think that variant would be suitable for the game (given the strength of MANPADs at a low-BR, but weakness of dual 37mms at a higher BR)

Conclusion
This vehicle would be a great early indigenous SPAA for a North Korean sub-tree. It would have similar gun performance and mobility to the Phòng không T-34 at 5.0, albeit with a more exposed turret, and lack of any actual hull armour (as on the T-34 chassis). Therefore I think a BR of 4.7 would be best.

Specifications
Armament

Dual Type 65 37mm
- UO-167 HEFI-T
  - 8mm at 10m, 866m/s
- BR-167 AP-T
  - 70mm at 10m, 868m/s
- BR-167P HVAP-T
  - 87mm at 10m, 960m/s

Armour

Hull
- Front
  - Unknown, thin
- Sides
  - Unknown, thin
- Rear
  - Unknown, thin
Turret
- Front
  - Unknown, thin
- Sides
  - Unknown, thin
- Rear
  - Unknown, thin