Chonma-216 tank
The "Chonma-216", according to various sources, was created in the middle of the 2000s and soon entered service. subsequently, the industry created a more advanced combat vehicle "Songun-915". However, the development of the previously developed technique did not stop. As recent events show, the Chonma-216 tank has recently undergone significant modernization, during which it received an updated weapon system and, probably, some new internal equipment. Obviously, such modernization had the most positive effect on the overall firepower of the tank and on the range of combat missions it solves.
The most interesting feature of the project to modernize an existing tank is an unusual approach to the formation of a complex of weapons. The basic Soviet T-62 and its first North Korean modifications were armed with tank guns and several machine guns. In recent years, the North Korean military and engineers began to consider such a complex of weapons insufficient, which is why the latest combat vehicles are equipped with several additional systems. As a result, the existing armament of the tank is supplemented with several additional receiver systems and enhanced with guided missiles. Due to the presence of powerful and varied weapons, the updated tank immediately after the "premiere" received the nickname "Combine of Death" from foreign observers.
At the same time, the project did not forget about the development of anti-tank weapons of foreign countries and provided for means of strengthening protection. The survivability of the Chonma-216 tank is ensured both by its own armor and by attachments of various types. In addition, there are onboard fire extinguishing systems and collective protection against weapons of mass destruction.
Regular upgrades of the basic armored vehicle allow changing the classification of newer models. If the early Chonma were medium tanks, the later modifications, due to a significant increase in firepower and the level of protection, can be classified as basic. There is some reason to doubt that Chonma-216, even after the latest modernization, can compete with modern foreign models, but even in its current form, this machine is a very interesting model with fairly high performance.
As follows from the available data, during the repeated modernization of the base tank of the Soviet design, the DPRK industry did not begin to affect and change the main features of its appearance. All projects of the Chonma family involve the construction of a conventional combat vehicle with a front command compartment, a central fighting compartment and an engine compartment in the stern. At the same time, however, over time, the protection of the hull and turret was improved. In addition, the configuration of the aft engine compartment was changed. According to some reports, the latest modifications, including the Chonma-216 tank, use diesel engines with a capacity of at least 750 hp.
Some sources claim that in the course of one of the latest upgrades, Chonma tanks received a combined armoring of the frontal part of the hull. Some features of these units of the Chonma-216 tank shown at the parade suggest that it is also equipped with multi-layer protection. In addition, the frontal projection of the hull is additionally covered with large curved armor parts and a large number of box-shaped ERA modules. Only small areas of armor near the tow hooks and under the lighting equipment are not covered with additional hinged blocks. All the measures used should lead to a noticeable increase in the level of protection in comparison with combat vehicles of previous modifications.
The side projection of the hull does not have significant additional protection. As can be seen in the photographs available, the upper chassis elements are covered with simple rubber screens. Only a small section of them in the front of the vehicle, directly behind the front wing of the caterpillar, is additionally covered by two armored flaps of a folding design.
A cast turret with homogeneous armor, borrowed from a Soviet-designed tank, eventually gave way to a larger unit with a combined forehead protection. The turret's own armor is reinforced with additional hinged blocks of complex shape. These details provide holes for the coaxial machine gun and gunner's sight. It is noteworthy that the installation of the overhead frontal armor led to the need to transfer the searchlight to the L-shaped brackets. With their help, the lighting device is brought to the required height, which makes it possible to free up space for the use of a coaxial machine gun. The latter's embrasure is located directly between the supports of the searchlight.
The last tanks of the family are equipped with 125mm smoothbore guns, which are the North Korean version of the Soviet / Russian 2A46 cannon. This weapon is equipped with an ejector and automatic loader located inside the fighting compartment. Due to the limited volumes inside the turret, a small armored casing is mounted above the gun mantlet, which contains part of the special equipment. The lens windows suggest that this housing contains some optoelectronic systems and a laser rangefinder. Also, a movable searchlight is connected to the gun mask using rods and levers. A rifle caliber machine gun is mounted on the same mount with the gun. The last "traditional" tank weapon is two smoke grenade launcher blocks on the sides of the turret, each of which has four barrels.
Probably, the North Korean command found the available firepower insufficient, as a result of which the upgraded tank received a number of new systems. Of greatest interest is the multifunctional gun mount mounted on the left turret hatch. It is thanks to her that the tank gets the opportunity to more effectively fight the enemy's manpower, as well as attack protected targets at increased distances, outside the zone of responsibility of the main gun.
Directly on the support ring of the turret is a turntable, which is characterized by a large width and complex shape. On the left side of the platform mounts for anti-tank missile launchers are placed. The installation is made in the form of a light frame with fastenings for two transport and launch containers. The frame has a curved armor plate and can swing in a vertical plane. Pre-targeting is controlled by remotely controlled actuators. According to various sources, this installation is designed for the use of anti-tank missiles of the "Pulse-3" type. Apparently, the ammunition of the complex consists of only two missiles: the possibility of placing additional ammunition in the fighting compartment is questionable.
On the right side of the rotating platform is a twin installation of automatic grenade launchers. It is based on a support with horizontal and vertical elements. The first are intended for the installation of boxes of ammunition, the second - for the installation of weapons. It is proposed to use two automatic grenade launchers with a caliber of, presumably, 30 mm, equipped with common guidance means. The ammunition supply of the weapon is carried out with the help of tapes placed in two boxes, additionally covered with armor plates. In this case, the supply of grenades to the weapon is carried out from different sides, which made it possible to optimize the layout of the installation.
Automatic grenade launchers or machine guns can be used to attack various targets, including air ones, but in this case, their effectiveness will be extremely low. The upgraded Chonma-216 tank received a launcher for anti-aircraft missiles as the main means of fighting enemy aircraft. In the aft part of the starboard side of the turret, a box-shaped support is mounted on which a rotary device with attachments for a lifting boom is placed. At the top of the latter is a swinging installation with the ability to install two HT-16PGJ portable anti-aircraft missile systems. TPK missiles are covered with light armor. Directly above them is a small casing with a camera for launching guidance.
Earlier it was reported that the last tanks of the Chonma family are equipped with a fairly advanced and perfect fire control system. It uses modern digital devices, as well as optical and thermal imaging systems that allow tankers to work at any time of the day and regardless of weather conditions. In addition, the Chonma-216 tank is equipped with a set of weather sensors, with the help of which data is collected for the correct calculation of corrections.
Available materials show that the updated Chonma-216 armored vehicle carries a rather interesting set of observation and weapon guidance systems. So, one of the blocks of optoelectronic equipment is placed directly above the gun mask. To the left of the gun is a telescopic sight window. On the right hatch of the turret is a large casing of a periscope device, probably providing all-round visibility. A separate camera is available on a remotely controlled MANPADS installation. On both sides of the turret, on the extended supports, there are low columns of unclear purpose. The characteristic glazing on these parts suggests that they contain additional video cameras for tracking the lateral hemispheres.
It can be assumed that at the workplaces inside the turret there are several liquid crystal monitors for outputting video signals from numerous cameras and other devices. In addition, the commander and gunner must have the consoles necessary to control the cannon and coaxial machine gun, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, and automatic grenade launchers. However, there is reason to believe that firing from grenade launchers should be carried out without the use of remote control: the used twin installation simply does not have any mechanical drives.
The crew of the updated combat vehicle consists of three people: the driver, the commander and the gunner. The first is located inside the building, in its own control compartment. At his disposal there is a hatch with a lid and a set of periscopes. The commander and gunner are in the turret and get to their places using the hatches in its roof. At the same time, when landing, one of the tankers needs to be careful so as not to touch additional rocket and grenade launchers.
The performance characteristics of the upgraded Chonma-216 main tank remain a mystery. It can be assumed that in terms of its dimensions, in general, it corresponds to the previous family equipment and the basic Soviet T-62. The combat weight could reach the level of 40-45 tons. The only passage through the square during the parade does not allow assessing the dynamic characteristics of the tank, not to mention the maximum parameters of mobility. Apparently, on the highway, the tank is capable of speeds of the order of 50-60 km / h and overcome various obstacles, including water obstacles.
The newest modernized version of the medium / main tank "Chonma-216" is of great interest, at least in terms of technology and original ideas underlying the project. Active development of tanks continues to this day, but fundamentally new ideas and solutions have not appeared for a long time. In particular, methods of radical modernization of the weapons complex have not been proposed for several decades. North Korean specialists, in turn, have developed a very interesting version of the armament of the existing combat vehicle.
In addition to the standard cannon and machine gun, the modernized tank from the DPRK received two coaxial automatic grenade launchers and two missile systems for different purposes. Thanks to this, the combat vehicle is capable of attacking enemy tanks and armored vehicles at long distances using missiles or the main weapon. In addition, it has a certain potential in the fight against enemy aircraft. As for the destruction of manpower or unprotected enemy equipment, it can be carried out using three types of barreled weapons - depending on the current situation and various factors.
Comparing the modernized tank with the previous vehicles of its family, then the advantages in the form of enhanced protection, more advanced weapons and newer means of observation, fire control, etc. become obvious. At the same time, the succession of designs leads to the fact that "Chonma-216" has some common features with a number of predecessors. From the point of view of the breadth of the range of combat missions being solved, the updated Chonma-216 tank has no competitors among foreign equipment. This, in particular, provides certain organizational and tactical advantages. In particular, it can be assumed that the formations armed with such armored vehicles are able to reduce the number of required self-propelled anti-aircraft installations that protect them from an air attack.
Nevertheless, the most interesting armored combat vehicle is not devoid of several serious shortcomings, to one degree or another reducing its real potential. Perhaps the main drawback of the updated tank is the outdated platform. The T-62 medium tank was developed by Soviet specialists in the late fifties, and went into series at the beginning of the next decade. It had a number of important differences from its predecessors, but all its advantages were soon leveled by the further development of armored vehicles. The DPRK industry mastered the production of licensed T-62s after this machine had managed to lose all its positive features.
Further modernization of the outdated tank, including using developments for the T-72 tank, made it possible to a certain extent to raise some of its characteristics. Nevertheless, some of the components and assemblies remain unchanged, which has corresponding negative consequences. The use of ready-made components and assemblies imposes certain restrictions on the development of technology, and also does not allow using new components with relative simplicity. In particular, it was for these reasons that the tanks shown at the parade could receive overhead booking details over the turret's forehead. The use of the finished dome also led to the need to install additional supports for auxiliary weapons and observation devices.
Another rather serious problem of the project lies in the unfortunate combination of the number of transported weapons and the composition of the crew. Thanks to automatic loading, it was possible to reduce the crew to three people, which, however, leads to an increased load on tankers. In a real battle, the "turrets" will have to manage five types of weapons of different types and purposes at once. For example, the commander and gunner, who have a large variety of instruments, are now asked to monitor not only the situation on the ground, but also the air situation. Indeed, the Chonma-216 tank has the ability to independently attack enemy aircraft or helicopters, but the absence of separate air defense vehicles in the compound can significantly complicate the work of tankers.
In general, the modernized version of the Chonma-216 medium / main tank presented at the 2017 parade was a serious step forward for the North Korean defense industry. This combat vehicle looked favorably against the background of its predecessors, and also embodies original ideas and demonstrates the DPRK's ability to continue the development of armored vehicles. At the same time, the lack of truly modern platforms and the specifics of the proposed technical design lead to some negative consequences.
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