Chonma-Ho North Korean Main Battle Tank (MBT)
Chonma-Ho
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
Other
Basic Information
Name
Chonma-Ho North Korean Main Battle Tank (MBT)
Designation
Chonma-Ho
Alternate Designation
Chonma-Ho; Ch’ŏnma
Equipment Type
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
Manufacturer
—
Date of Introduction
1978
Description
The Chonma-Ho North Korean Main Battle Tank (MBT) Since its inception, it has undergone several extensive upgrades. Little public information is available about this tank.
Ground Specifications
Crew
4
Mobility Type
Tracked
Engine
V-12 Diesel (580 hp)
Max Speed
50.0 km/h
Range
450.0 km
Variants
Chonma-92
The Chonma-92 was presented at a parade for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the KPA, on 25th April 1992, and showed off new North Korean upgrades, such as a new welded turret equipped with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks on the sides, a thermal sleeve for the gun, eight smoke dischargers per side, and a new laser rangefinder mounted on the barrel.
Chonma-98
The Chonma-98 was first spotted during a parade in 2000 and featured a new welded turret shaped like more modern Chinese MBTs, such as the Type 85.
Chonma-214
The Chonma-214 appeared for the first time in 2001. It seems to be the serial production version of the Chonma-98. The vehicles shared many upgrades, such as the same turret and laser rangefinder, even if the Chonma-214 received add-on armor on the frontal part of the turret to better protect the vehicle. The Chonma-214 is also equipped with rubber flaps under the add-on armor and on the lower side of the hull.
Chonma-215
The Chonma-215 appeared with add-on armor on the hull front and rubber flaps on the lower hull’s front. The turret add-on armor seems to be different from the previous one on the Chonma-214.
Chonma-216
The Chonma-216 appeared for the first time at the North Korean Tank Exhibition on 12th April 2012. On this version, the smoke launchers are mounted in two rows, instead of a single row, as on previous models. In 2018, the Chonma-216 was seen with a plethora of new upgrades, including two ATGMs mounted on the left side of the turret. On the rear of the turret, a lowerable support for two MANPADS was also mounted. It appears the ubiquitous 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun has been abandoned for heavier support guns and two 30 mm automatic grenade launchers, which are a copy of the Soviet AGS-17.
To increase the protection of the vehicle, new Laser Warning Receivers (LWRs) have been added on the turret sides to detect enemy rangefinder’s laser beams and automatically activate the smoke launchers to cover the vehicle with a smoke screen.
System
Alternative Designation
Chonma-Ho; Ch’ŏnma
Type
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
Manufacturer
INA
Hull
The serial production Chonma-Ho copied the hull of the Soviet T-62 Obrazets 1962 and the turret of the Soviet T-62 Obrazets 1972. The hull of the Chonma-Ho, with the same dimensions and characteristics as the original Soviet one, was not equipped with supports to mount anti-mine roller devices, such as the KTM-7, on the front glacis.
Crew
4 ea
Dimensions
Length, Total
9.34 m
Length, Hull
6.63 m
Width
3.30 m
Height
2.40 m
Weight, Combat
34 tons
Automotive
Engine Name
V55-5
Engine Type
V-12 water-cooled diesel
Engine Power
580 hp at 2,000 rpm
Operational Range with Normal Fuel and on Paved Roads
450 km
Operational Range with Normal Fuel on Dirt Roads
320 km
Operational Range with External Fuel Tanks
650 km
Speed, Maximum Road
50 km/h
Suspension
Torsion bar, five road wheels, rear-drive, front idler, two shock absorbers on each side
Amphibious
No
Gradient
60%
Vertical Step
0.80 m
Trench
2.80 m
Fording Depth, without Preparation
1.40 m
Fording Depth, with Preparation
5.50 m
Main Weapon System
Turret
There are differences between the Chonma-Ho and the Soviet T-62 MBT regarding the turret. The loader’s rounded hatch is different, together with the anti-aircraft mount equipped with a Korean-produced 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun instead of the Soviet 12.7 mm DShKM. The loader’s hatch can be rotated and used to protect the loader by opening it forward. Due to the larger dimensions of the anti-aircraft machine gun, the hatch was modified compared to that of the original T-62. The machine gun was installed on a mount that rotated with the loader’s hatch. In other words, the heavy machine gun had a traverse of 360°, increasing the anti-aircraft and support fire of the Chonma-Ho compared to regular T-62s.
Main Armament
The main armament of all the variants of the Chonma-Ho was a copy of the Soviet 115 mm U-5TS semi-automatic smoothbore cannon with roughly comparable characteristics.
Ammunition
Nothing is known about KPA ammunition, except that it was considered by South Korean analysts to be similar in anti-tank performance to its Soviet counterparts. Many sources state that the Chonma-Ho could carry a total of 40 x 115 mm rounds, as on the T-62.
Coaxial Weapon System
Note
1 x coaxial 7.62 mm medium machine gun derived from the Soviet PKT.
Auxiliary Weapon System
Note
1 x 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun is operated by the loader. The weight of the gun is about 50 kg, which forces the loader to elevate it using handwheels.
Protection
Hull Armor
Front: 102mm; Sides; 79mm; Rear: 46mm; Top: 31mm
Turret Armor
Front: 242mm; Sides: 153mm; Rear: 97mm; Top: 40mm; Hatches: 30mm
Applique Armor
INA
NBC Protection
INA
Smoke Equipment
INA
Image Sources
Details
Country of Origin
North Korea
Category
Tanks
Land > Tanks
Filter Label
C
Classification
Domain
Ground
Equipment Status
Active
Dimensions
Length
9.34 m
Width
3.3 m
Height
2.4 m
Weight
34000 kg
Operators (4)
Iran
North Korea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
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