Pokpung-ho (Storm Tiger) (M-2002)

History

Although its design origins may date back to the late 1980s, the Pokpung-ho ("Storm Tiger") main battle tank remains a mystery to observers outside North Korea. For a while, the tank was known in the West under the codename "M-2002", as its existence was confirmed in a performance evaluation test in 2002. It is believed that the Pokpung-ho entered service in 1992 and is now one of the most advanced tank products of the North Korean army.

Pokpung-hu's public appearance during a military parade in North Korea in 2010 cemented its presence for Western observers.

The design of the Pokpung-ho was approved by the Second Bureau of Machinery Industry, and production was carried out by the emerging Ryu Kyong-su tank factory in South Hamgyong, North Korea. There is currently very little specific information about the tank, and it is believed that the Pokpung-ho is from other Soviet era and Chinese main battle tanks - the T-62 and T-72 to the T-80, T-90 and the Chinese Type 88. The North Koreans gained some experience in upgrading Soviet systems when they embarked on a program to modernize their T-62 fleet to include homegrown Chonma-ho ("Pegasus") battle tanks.

Pokpung-ho The plan is thought to be in response to the Soviet T-72's poor performance in the 1991 Gulf War, when Iraqi troops fell heavily into the grasp and firepower of American M1 Abrams crews. Its arch-nemesis South Korea has thousands of capable K1 main battle tanks and has since pursued mass production of the K2 Panther - a system whose performance qualities are not dissimilar to the American M1.

Thus, Pokpung-ho is a North Korean design to bring its ground forces into the modern state.

From what is known Pokpung-ho, it appears to be a completely conventional tank design. It has a low profile and battlefield profile that benefits the crew when the tank is inevitably targeted. The low hull and turret design is synonymous with modern Russian tanks, so this is to be expected.

The front of the hull has an acutely angled sloping plate (protected by the applied armor) which curves up to the turret. The turret itself is at the center of the design and is circular in nature with a strikingly angled fairing to deflect incoming enemy small arms, artillery spray and projectiles.

The barrel is located deep in the front of the turret and extends above the forward fuselage. There is a recognizable smoke vent in the center of the barrel and no obvious muzzle brake. The main gun is thought to be 115mm or 125mm caliber, although the latter is more likely.

The Russian version of the weapon can also fire anti-tank missiles. The main armament is supplemented by a heavy 14.5 KPVT anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the right commander's cupola on top of the turret. A 7.62mm PKT Universal Anti-Infantry was mounted on a coaxial mount in the turret next to the main gun. At least eight smoke grenade launchers (two rows of two) were designated on each side of the turret. Tracks around the six wheels were designed across the hull and covered by a thin armored skirt for limited protection.

The Pokpung-ho is powered by a single 12-cylinder diesel engine (possibly 1,000 hp) mounted in the rear compartment, and the suspension is a torsional variant. The car weighs 45 tons, has a range of about 230 miles, and likely has a top speed of around 37 mph.

NBC (assumes nuclear, biological and chemical protection for the crew as it remains standard on all modern tanks. Likewise, the crew will almost certainly be equipped with night vision goggles.

The crew consists of three, the tank commander, gunner and The driver-main gun is thought to be loaded by an automatic loading mechanism like the Russian T-90, although some sources suggest that manual loading is part of the Pokpung-ho's on-airframe operations.

North Korea claims the Pokpung-hos capabilities are similar to those of the modern Russian T-90, which itself is an updated intermediate form of the Cold War-era T-72. The fire control system is considered somewhat modern (computerized) and based on foreign technology (probably a British Sheikh or Russian T-72 obtained through Iran). Based on the available images, it can be assumed that Pokpung-ho uses an integrated laser rangefinder, infrared sensor and searchlight. All of these characteristics add up to deadly casualties, although direct war is ultimately the ultimate measure.

In any case, Pokpung-ho fits very well with the armored doctrine that the North Korean military upholds.

On the surface, the Pokpung-ho is an improvement on what the North Korean army could deploy during the Soviet Cold War (albeit in large numbers), but how can this "new" system be comparable to the latest generation of main battle tanks in the world? comparable. Large-scale exercises involving Pokpung-ho rar are rare, as the North Korean state has always relied on warring resources such as oil and largely on external loyalties such as China.

However, in the event of an all-out war, Pokpung-ho would likely lead all offensive operations against the south.

The only known unit in the North Korean army responsible for operating Pokpung-ho is the 105th Seoul Ry-Kyong-Su Guards Division. The group became North Korea's 1st Armored Division during the 1950-1953 Korean War.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

36 x 125mm bullet

300 x 14.7mm ammo

3,000 x 7.62mm ammo

8 x Smoke Grenade

Changes