Pokpung-ho (Storm Tiger) (M-2002) Main Battle Tank (1992)
The North Korean Pokpung-ho main battle tank is thought to be a heavy modification of the Russian T-62 with elements borrowed from other Russian tanks as well.
Design of the Pokpung-ho is accredited to the Second Machine Industry Bureau with production being handled out of the Ryu Kyong-su Tank Factory of Sinhung, South Hamgyong Province in North Korea. As very little concrete information is currently available on the tank, it is believed that the Pokpung-ho is something of a "mish-mash" of collected technologies from other Soviet-era and Chinese main battle tanks - from the T-62 and T-72 to the T-80, T-90 and the Chinese Type 88. The North Koreans had garnered some experience in the upgrading of Soviet systems when they undertook a program to modernize their T-62 fleet to create the indigenous Chonma-ho ("Sky Horse") Main Battle Tank. It is believed that the Pokpung-ho program was developed in response to the poor showing that Soviet T-72s had in the 1991 Gulf War with the Iraqi Army, falling to the mastery and firepower of American M1 Abrams crews in large numbers. Its sworn enemy, South Korea, maintains the capable K1 Main Battle Tank in several thousand examples and has since moved ahead with mass production of the K2 "Black Panther" - a system with performance qualities not unlike the American M1. The Pokpung-ho, therefore, is something of a North Korean design intended to bring her land forces to something of a modernized state.
From what is known about the Pokpung-ho, it appears to be a wholly conventional tank design. She sports a low profile and battlefield silhouette which works to the crew's advantage when the tank inevitably becomes a target. The low hull and turret design is synonymous with modern Russian tanks so this is to be expected. The front hull features a sharply angled glacis (protected by applique armor) plat contouring up to the turret bustle. The turret itself is situated at the center of the design and is circular in nature with noticeable angled facings to help deflect incoming enemy small arms, artillery spray and projectiles. The barrel is set low in the turret's front facing and extends out over the forward hull. There is an identifiable fume extractor along the midway point of the barrel and no muzzle brake is apparent. The main gun is believed to be either of 115mm or 125mm caliber, though the latter is more likely. The Russian version of this gun can also fire an Anti-Tank Guided Missile. The main armament is complimented by a 14.5 KPVT anti-aircraft heavy machine gun mounted at the commander's cupola to the right side of the turret roof. A 7.62mm PKT general purpose anti-infantry machine is fitted in a coaxial mount in the turret alongside the main gun. At least eight smoke grenade dischargers (in two banks of two) are noted to each side of the turret. Tracks encircling six road wheels straddle the hull design and are covered over by thin armor skirts for limited protection. The Pokpung-ho is powered by a single 12-cylinder diesel engine (possibly 1,000 horsepower output) mounted in a rear compartment and suspension is of the torsion variety. The vehicle weighs in at over 45 tons and features an operational range of approximately 230 miles with a top speed most likely in the vicinity of 37 miles per hour. NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical protection for the crew is assumed as it remains a standard fitting on all modern tanks. Likewise, night vision is almost assuredly supplied to the crew. The crew is made up of three personnel in the tank commander, gunner and driver - the main gun loading presumably handled by an automatic loader mechanism as in the Russian T-90, though some sources suspect manual loading to be a part of the Pokpung-ho's operation. The driver mans a position at the forward left side of the hull.
North Korea claims that the capabilities of the Pokpung-ho are similar to the modern Russian T-90, itself an updated interim form of the Cold War-era T-72. The Fire Control System is thought to be somewhat modern (computerized) and based on foreign technology (possibly a British Chieftain obtained by way of Iran or a Russian T-72). From available imagery, it can be assumed that the Pokpung-ho makes use of an onboard laser rangefinder, infrared sensor and searchlight. All these features come together to make for a lethal offering, though direct warfare is ultimately the final gauge. At any rate, the Pokpung-ho fits well into armored doctrine that the North Korean Army holds to.
As it stands, the Pokpung-ho is an improvement over the Cold War-era Soviet offerings that the North Korean Army is capable of fielding (albeit in large numbers) yet it remains to be seen how this "new" system can compare to the latest generation of Main Battle Tanks the world over. With the North Korean nation always strapped for war-making resources such as oil - largely dependent on some outside allegiances such as China - large-scale exercises involving the Pokpung-ho are few and far between. in the event of total war, however, the Pokpung-ho would most likely spearhead any offensive operations against the South.
The only known North Korean Army element charged with operation of the Pokpung-ho is the 105th Seoul Ry-Kyong-Su Guards Division. This group became North Korea's first armored division back in the Korean War of 1950-1953. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
MilitaryFactory.com does NOT sell equipment/weaponry. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information. Our disclaimer. Email corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com.
Specifications for the
Pokpung-ho (Storm Tiger) (M-2002)
Main Battle Tank
Country of Origin: North Korea
Manufacturer: Ryu Kyong-su Tank Factory - North Korea
Initial Year of Service: 1992
Production: 250
Focus Model: Pokpung-ho (Storm Tiger) (M-2002)
Crew: 4
Overall Length: 31.27ft (9.53m)
Width: 12.40ft (3.78m)
Height: 7.28ft (2.22m)
Weight: 48.8 US Short Tons (44,300kg; 97,665lbs)
Powerplant: 1 x 12-cylinder diesel engine delivering 1,000 horsepower (suspected).
Maximum Speed: 37mph (60 km/h)
Maximum Range: 230 miles (370 km)
NBC Protection: Yes
Nightvision: Yes
Armament:
1 x 115mm OR 125mm main gun
1 x 14.5mm KPVT anti-aircraft heavy machine gun
1 x 7.62mm PKT general purpose coaxial machine gun.
8 x Smoke Grenade Launchers
Ammunition:
36 x 125mm projectiles (estimated)
300 x 14.7mm ammunition (estimated)
3,000 x 7.62mm ammunition (estimated)
8 x Smoke Grenades
Variants:
Pokpung-ho (Storm Tiger) - Series Designation
M-2002 - Possible Alternative Designation
Operators: North Korea
By Decade:
• 1910 to 1919
• 1920 to 1929
• 1930 to 1939
• 1940 to 1949
• 1950 to 1959
• 1960 to 1969
• 1970 to 1979
• 1980 to 1989
• 1990 to 1999
• 2000 to 2009
• 2010 to 2019
• VIEW ALL
• Compare Tanks
By Type:
• 4x4 Military Vehicles
• 6x6 Military Vehicles
• 8x8 Military Vehicles
• Artillery Gun Systems
• Anti-Aircraft (AA) Guns
• Anti-Aircraft (AA) Vehicles
• Anti-Tank (AT) Guns
• Anti-Tank (AT) Vehicles
• Armored Cars
• Armored Personnel Carriers (APC)
• Battlefield Robots
• Halftrack Vehicles
• Heavy Tanks
• Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV)
• Light Tanks
• Main Battle Tanks (MBT)
• Modern Combat Tanks
• Medium Tanks
• Military Motorcycles
• Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)
• Reconnaissance Vehicles
• Special Purpose Vehicles
• Self-Propelled Guns (SPG)
• Tank Destroyers
• General Purpose / Utility Vehicles
By Nation:
• Afghanistan
• Britain
• China
• France
• Germany
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel / Israeli Army
• Italy
• Libyan Army
• North Korea / North Korean Army
• Pakistan
• Russia
• South Korea
• Soviet Union
• Syrian Army
• United States
• VIEW ALL
World War 2:
• Artillery
• Infantry Fighting Vehicles
• Tank Destroyers (All)
• Tanks (All)
• Australian Tanks
• British Tanks
• Canadian Tanks
• Cruiser Tanks (UK)
• Czechoslovakian Tanks
• French Tanks
• German Tanks
• German Tank Destroyers
• German FlaK Guns
• German Reconnaissance Vehicles
• Hungarian Tanks
• Italian Tanks
• Japanese Tanks
• Romanian Tanks
• Soviet Tanks
• Swedish Tanks
• US Tanks
• VIEW ALL
World War 1:
• France WW1 Tanks
• Germany WW1 Tanks
• Britain WW1 Tanks
• US WW1 Tanks
• WW1 Artillery
• WW1 Tanks (all)
• VIEW ALL
Spanish Civil War:
• VIEW ALL
Korean War:
Vietnam War:
• VIEW ALL
Cold War:
• Cold War Tanks
• Cold War American Tanks
• Falklands War
• Post-WW2 British Tanks
• VIEW ALL
Gulf War (1991):
• VIEW ALL
Miscellaneous:
©2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • Content ©2003-2013 MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Site Contact Email: militaryfactory at gmail dot com. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® trademarks and protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws.
Top MF Stuff: 2013 Military Pay Scale | Military Ranks | WW2 Weapons | Sniper Rifles | Kts to Mph | WW1 Aircraft | Automatic Rifles | Aircraft Cockpits | Vietnam War Weapons | Main Battle Tanks | Submachine Guns | Shotguns | French Military Victories
Most photographic images appearing on this site are courtesy of the United States Department of Defense and are approved for public use. Other images acquired through the public domain. Digital art work courtesy of Dan Alex. Business Consulting by Kyle Williams. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information.
