Yes. North Korea don’t seem to have equipped their domestic LRF on any of their T-54/55s, at least not in substantial numbers. It’s a similar story to the Ch’ŏnma, which only has a LRF on later models – older variants still haven’t been equipped with them other than a few individual vehicles.
But they exported a bunch of their LRFs beginning in the early 1970s, almost entirely to Syria afaik. There are no numbers available but they’re widely seen and still in service. A number of these T-55s have then been captured and put into use by various factions during the civil war, including ISIS and the YPG.
Here’s another Syrian T-55 with North Korean LRF’s
Syria having North Korean weapons and weapon systems isn’t too surprising considering that both countries have a common enemy in the region and use a lot of the same weapons. Syria’s BM-11’s were largely of North Korean origin. Also helped by the fact that both Syria and the DPRK have close relationship’s with Iran
IF … Gaijin indeed decides going that separated route … (just discussing the big IF situation here)
I’d ask is SK going to Jp that big of a concern? coz US, like Rus and Germany doesn’t benefit much from a subtree. These are the big 3 and have already got loads of stuffs of their own left to be added.
But … SK can bolster JP, greatly? Japan haven’t got much left to be added per se, but SK & even Singapore can bring some excitement into the tree. Their tech is also western biased.
In that case NK can go to China, logically. The only other candidate for NK can be Rus but China makes more sense.
Again, this is discussion is only for if Gaijin decides against a unified Korea TT.
Yes. I won’t disagree that South Korea would be able to bolster Japan pretty significantly, but that’s not why an ROK subtree is opposed. Without getting too far into politics, there is still huge animosity towards Japan in South Korea, and vice versa.
37.4% of Japanese respondents had a ‘good’ impression of South Korea (the highest since the surveys began in 2013)
28.9% of South Korean respondents had a ‘good’ impression of Japan
That is not a good way to make Japanese or South Korean players happy.
Not to mention the lack of any joint developments in the tree, other than shared American imports.
If ROK was to be a subtree, the US tree would genuinely be a better fit, with far closer relations and a lot of shared vehicles and joint developments (notably the K1 being a derivative of the XM-1).
ASEAN would be better for Japan, in particular Thailand. Plus there are still a few unique Japanese vehicles to be added to help bolster lineups and provide something new.
Drawing a parallel here, I don’t think Indians are too much keen to see Indian vehicles under the British tree either … (yes Cents and Vickers exist but still)
Nor Czech stuffs under USSR tree …
But ok, anyways, guess its upto Gaizilla to decide.
Will post some Korean stuffs here from wishlist…
The M-2020 / MBT-2020’s official name is Cheonma-2.
Interestingly, it seems the ammunition fired by it is non-Soviet standard one-piece 125mm ammo.
(Likely to be 115mm guns upscaled to 125mm standard)
Similar to how Arjun also fires non-UK standard one-piece 120mm rifled ammo.
(105mm L7 upscaled to 120mm standard)
This explains the external Bulsae-3 (Kornet-E derived) ATGM launchers instead of Soviet style gun-launched ATGMs like 9M119.
One-piece shells likely derived from acquired Egyptian BD/36-2 shells and then upscaled.
A mock-up engine similar to MTU MT883 has also been seen. Rumored to be powering the Cheonma-2 MBT. Power output might not be same as MTU.
The MBT also got extra armour plate added to turret roof. likely to counter top attack munitions.
ERA seems to be Kontakt-5 derived.
Gunner sight seems to be similar to Sosna-U.
Commander sight is a bit confusing but might house laser rangefinder and thermal sight as well as maybe ATGM guidance channel?
Likely APS installed. Turret cutouts for APS launchers and sensors.
Double pin tracks like the T-80 and T-90.
Also a concept of wheeled MGS:
Main gun likley to be a 115mm one.
Pretty rare:
North Korean light tank. Supposedly based on the NK 323 APC, but bears no known official name, but believed to be in service in very limited numbers.
Built during mid 1970s, as a precursor to the ‘M1981’ Sinhŭng.
Typical engine front, fighting compartment at the rear setup (differs from ‘M1981’ Sinhŭng).
Likely mounting a 85mm cannon similar to Chinese Type 62, 14mm armor overall and 320hp engine.
No source, just a few things i’ve heard of /my thoughts.
There have been quite a few pershings used by koreans… of the north veriety. Apparently captured pershings were used as costal batteries and one’s in a museum.
A few M60’s had been given to SK to help reasearch the K-1. Givin how important that tank is to korean tank industry, being in the tree somewhere (squadron? Prem? TT?) Would still make sense.
M36 jackson was considerd a ‘light tank’ to the ROK. Its even semi unique, having extra frontal armor plates and a hull MG.
Anything used in the korean war is kiinda hard to pin down if things were used by koreans due to both sides kinda going under unified command.
This is the remains of the Cheonma-216, which was used as a target for shooting practice.
I think we can guess what its turret additional armor will be like and how thick it will be.
‘M2020’ short-range SAM system that appears to be a Tor-derivative, and what appears to be a photo of it during test-firing on the info board in front.
To be honest it would be like west and east germany in the german TT or ROC and PRC in chinese TT
Would like it though, always a huge advocate of korean and chinese reunification
