- Yes
- No
TL;DR: Rare gunboat variant of the Soju-class — North Korea’s domestically-produced version of the Soviet Pr. 205 / Osa-class — armed with 1x 85mm, 2x 37mm V-11, 2x 25mm 2M-3, and 2x 14.5mm 2M-5
History
The Pr. 205 Moskit, known in Western sources as the Osa, is a class of Soviet missile boats, designed in the late 1950s. It was intended as an improvement over the Pr. 183R-class (Komar): the hull was made of steel instead of wood, substantially longer, and could carry four missiles instead of two, alongside improved anti-aircraft capabilities. Over 400 were produced from 1960–1973, and they were exported widely. Multiple variants were produced, although only a few were produced in large numbers. 160 of the original Pr. 205 (Osa-1) variant were produced — armed with four P-15 Termit AShMs, alongside two twin 30mm AK-230 cannons. The Pr. 205U (Osa-2), of which 32 were built, featured the improved P-15U missiles. These were exported under the designation Pr. 205ER, which had some electronic systems removed. Lastly, the Pr. 205mod used the P-15M missiles — 19 were built. The Pr. 205 would also serve as the basis for the Pr. 206-class.
In 1967, North Korea ordered 12 Pr. 205s from the USSR, followed by an additional 2 in 1972, and 2 more in 1983. All of these were the early Pr. 205 (Osa-1) variant. In 1969, they also ordered 17 Pr. 183Rs. These were North Korea’s only missile boats at the time, and formed a crucial part of their expanding fleet. They had arrived at a key turning point for the KPANF, a period in which domestic production was ramping up — they had recently taken deliveries of the Pr. 201 submarine chasers, and in 1968 had begun production of a number of modified variants. It is likely production of the Najin-class frigates had also begun at this time, alongside a host of other vessels. The Pr. 183Rs and Pr. 205s were also used by North Korea as the basis for two new ship classes, designated Sohung and Soju respectively by the US DoD (like virtually every North Korean vessel, their actual names are unknown).
Two Soju-class missile boats during a ceremony
The Sohung-class was little more than a direct copy of the Pr. 183R, featuring no identifiable differences, although reports suggest the first two ships were armed with 14.5mm cannons instead of 25mm cannons (which all later variants had). The first ship was built by 1975, and the second by 1980. The Soju-class, on the other hand, was lengthened by four metres from the bridge. Despite this, the armament remained the same. The first Soju-class was launched by August 1981, as part of a program beginning in mid-1980 to vastly improved the KPANF’s fleet (11 known classes were part of this program). Both variants were produced in larger numbers than their imported counterparts, and form the vast majority of North Korea’s missile boat arsenal to this day.
A gunboat version of the Soju was also produced, likely around the mid-1980s, possibly later. Information about this ship is very limited, and it is essentially only known from short clips in North Korean media. It is hard to say how many were produced: only one pennant number (85) is visible in all of the photos. They were armed similarly to other gunboats produced around the same time, like the Taech’ŏng-I- and Tŭngsan’got-class, although they have more firepower. They likely remain in service to this day, along the east coast.
1. Soju-class gunboat no. 85; 2. Satellite imagery of a Soju-class gunboat alongside a Soju-class missile boat, behind three Pr. 205s, at Ryoho-Ri (Toejo Dong) naval base, 2025
Characteristics
The Soju-class gunboat is armed with a turreted 85mm cannon forwards. This turret is the same as fitted on a number of other KPANF gunboats, and likely houses a modified ZiS-S-53 anti-tank cannon, derived from North Korea’s T-34-85s. It can fire BR-365 APHEBC or BR-365K APHE, capable of penetrating 135mm @ 0° @ 10m and 148m @ 0° @ 10m respectively. It can also fire O-635K HE rounds, with 19mm of penetration and 741g of explosive mass. The enlarged turret, similar in appearance to the T-54/55’s turret, likely permits a reload speed of ~4s, if not faster.
85mm turret on the Taech’ŏng-I no. 623 ‘Sonyeon’. The turret is the same design as on the Soju-class gunboat, as well as a number of other KPANF gunboats
It has two V-11 mounts at the aft, each housing dual 37 mm/67 70-K anti-aircraft cannons. These cannons have belts of 5 rounds, and a fire rate of 180 rpm. They can fire AP rounds capable of penetrating 79mm @ 0° @ 10m. Behind the two 37mm mounts are two 25mm 2M-3 turrets, with dual 25mm 110-PM autocannons. These have a maximum fire rate of 450 rpm (often limited to ~300, including in-game), with 65 round belts, and have AP rounds capable of penetrating 55mm @ 0° @ 10m. Lastly, it carries two dual 14.5mm KPV mounts, likely the 2M-5, behind the bridge. They are capable of firing at 550–600rpm, with 80 round belts for each gun. Its AP rounds can penetrate 40mm @ 0° @ 10m. It also carries two depth charge racks, each holding six charges. These were standard on almost all Cold War North Korean gunboats and corvettes.
Bridge of the Soju-class gunboat. One of the 25mm 2M-3 mounts is visible behind it
No information exists on the Soju-class’s specifications, but they are likely to be very similar to the Pr. 205 from which it was derived. The Pr. 205 had a full displacement of 209t and a length of 38.6m. It had triple diesel engines, each producing 4,000hp, for a total combined power output of 12,000hp. This allowed it to reach a top speed of 38.5 knots (71.3km/h). The Soju-class was extended by ~4m, giving it a length of around 42.6m. To what extent this impacted the weight, however, is unclear. The weight of the components removed from the Pr. 205 / Soju to make the gunboat version is likely around 17.8t:
- KT-97 launcher x4 (1.1t x4 = 4.4t)
- P-15 Termit x4 (2.6t x4 = 10.4t)
- AK-230 x2 (+ MR-104 Radar?) (~1.9t x ~1.5 = <3t)
…and the weight of the added components to the gunboat version is around 19.9t:
- 1x 85mm turret (~9t (based on 85mm 90/K turret))
- 2x V-11 (3.4t x2 = 6.8t)
- 2x 2M-3 (1.5t x2 = 3t)
- 2x 2M-5 (0.55t x2 = 1.1t)
With the addition of ammunition, it is reasonable to assume that the net increased weight from weapon systems alone was around 3t. The addition of 4m of hull would likely increase it by an additional ~20t, although this is a very rough estimate. As such, the full displacement of the Soju gunboat can be estimated at 232t, with a possible reduction in top speed to around 36 knots (67km/h) — again, a very rough estimate.
It is reasonable to assume that the automative characteristics remained the same, as did the sensors and systems on-board (MR-101 Rangut search radar, Nikhrom-RRM IFF, and ARP-58SV radio direction finder).
Conclusion
The Soju-class gunboat would be a great addition to a future United Korean coastal tech tree, with excellent firepower and great mobility. Ironically, despite the lack of data, it might end up being one of the easier ships to model, given its basis in a well-known Soviet ship. It would likely sit at a BR of around 4.0–4.3.
Specifications
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General
- Displacement: 232t (estimate)
- Engine: 3x 4000hp
- Top Speed: 36 knots (67km/h) (estimate)
- Crew: >28
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Armament:
Main Armament- 1x 85mm (ZiS-S-53 derivative)
- 12–15rpm (estimate)
- BR-365 APHEBC — 135mm @ 0° @ 10m
- BR-365K APHE — 148mm @ 0° @ 10m
- O-365K HE — 19mm @ 0° @ 10m
AA Armament
- 2x V-11
- Twin 37mm 70-K
- 180rpm
- AP — 79mm @ 0° @ 10m
- 2x 2M-3
- Twin 25mm 110-PM
- 300rpm
- AP-T — 55mm @ 0° @ 10m
- 2x 2M-5
- Twin 14.5mm KPV
- 600rpm
- API-T — 40mm @ 0° @ 10m
ASW Armament
- 12x depth charges
- 1x 85mm (ZiS-S-53 derivative)
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Sensors and Systems:
- MR-101 Rangut Surface Search Radar
- Nikhrom-RRM IFF
- ARP-58SV Radio Direction Finder
Images
Sources
Spoiler
The Armed Forces of North Korea — On the Path of Songun. Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans.
Missile-Equipped Combatants, Toejo-Dong Naval Base and Missile Support Facility, North Korea – CIA Report
North Korean Naval Shipbuilding, July 1980 - August 1982 – CIA Imagery Interpretation Report
Construction and Modification of North Korean Naval Combatants, January 1983 through July 1986 (S) – CIA Imagery Analysis Report
Osa-class - Patrol vessel
Missile boats - Project 205
Project 205 Moskit class | Weaponsystems.net
P-15(4K40) anti-ship cruise missile | Missilery.info
SIPRI Arms Transfers Database
25mm 2M-3 | Weaponsystems.net
37mm V-11 | Weaponsystems.net
14.5mm 2M-5 | Weaponsystems.net
https://wiki.warthunder.com