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Ch'onma-ho - Variants

Based on the available information, the different variants of the Ch’onma-ho series are likely identified as follows:

• Ch’onma-ho I – slightly modified copy of the Russian T-62A with 115mm main gun and 14.5mm anti-aircraft machine gun.
• Ch’onma-ho II – upgraded Ch’onma-ho I, incorporating an externally mounted laser rangefinder above the main gun.
• Ch’onma-ho III – first seen during the parade in 1992, incorporating a laser rangefinder above the 115mm main gun, a thermal shroud on the main gun, fullhull skirting, turret smoke grenade launchers (two sets on each side of the turret), add-on armor to the turret front and possibly the glacis, what appears to be ERA “bricks” on the turret sides (from the turret midpoint back to the turret rear), and an improved fire control system.
• Ch’onma-ho IV/V – upgraded variant fitted with the “larger gun” (reliable reports say that this larger gun is in fact the 125mm main gun – with autoloader – from the Russian T-72 MBT).

Most visual recognition elements are coming from interpreted propaganda and parade footage, and rare museum photos.

According to the available information, the name “Ch’onma-ho” actually refers to a series of North Korean tanks that relate to upgraded versions of the original Russian T-62A. According to the published 1998 and 1999 South Korean Defense White Papers, the South Korean military has apparently identified at least two different modified T-62 variants. The white papers explain that the North Koreans have put larger guns on their “T-62 tanks,” in addition to producing “new Ch’onmaho tanks.” However, the 2000 South Korean Defense White Paper describes the new tanks as “domestically produced T-62 Ch’onma-ho tanks that feature larger caliber munitions.” Additionally, in 2001, U.S. military officials reported that the North Korean version of the T-62 is being armed with a larger gun and that this variant of the tank is known as the Ch’onma-ho. This information would seem to confirm that there are at least three variants in the Ch’onma-ho series.

The initial Ch'onma-ho (also referred to by sources as the Ch'onma-ho I or Ch'onma-ho Ga) has been described as a minor upgrade to the original T-62A design, and also featured a 14.5mm KPV machine gun mounted on top of the turret instead of the more common 12.7mm DShK machine gun. The Ch'onma-ho II (also referred to by sources as the Ch'onma-ho Na) was an upgrade on the existing design incorporating an externally mounted laser rangefinder above the main gun.

On 25 April 1992, a new variant appeared at a large parade held in Pyongyang, North Korea, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the North Korean People's Army. This variant was subsequently referred to as the Ch'onma-ho III (also referred to by sources as the Ch'onma-ho Da) and incorporated a laser rangefinder above the 115mm main gun, a thermal shroud on the main gun, full hull skirting, turret smoke grenade launchers (two sets on each side of the turret), add-on armor to the turret front and possibly the glacis, what appeared to be explosive reactive armor (ERA) "bricks" on the turret sides (from the turret midpoint back to the turret rear), and what was identified as an improved fire control system.

Additional variants, referred to as Ch'onma-ho IV and V (also referred to by sources as the Ch'onma-ho Ra and Ch'onma-ho Ma respectively) are upgunned variants of the family, developed during the 1990s. The Ch'onma-ho IV is reportedly a variant of the Ch'onma-ho III with an auto-loading 125mm gun.

Similar to the Russian D-81 series or derivatives, the Ch'onma V is reportedly a Ch'onma-ho V with some manner of night-vision capability. North Korea also reportedly developed command and armored recovery vehicle variants and used the Ch'onma-ho chassis for self-propelled artillery pieces, as it had with its existing tank fleet. The Ch'onma-ho IV and V may have been influenced by the delivery of a small number of T-72 tanks in the 1990s for testing and evaluation. North Korea also reportedly acquired a single T-90S from Russia in August 2001, which may influence future upgrades to the Ch'onma-ho design and appeared to have been used in the development of the P'okpoong-ho (also referred to as the M-2002). North Korea has also reportedly sought to export Ch'onma-ho tanks, or at least the design, with the tanks or derivatives of this T-62 upgrade reportedly being acquired by Iran in the 1980s.