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The Model 1981 "Shin'heung"[1] (Rise), in western countries known as the PT-85, is a North Korean amphibious light tank. It is built for the needs of their army, with around 500 examples operated.[2] The Model 1981 "Shin'heung is based on the lengthened VTT-323 APC chassis, and although the turret appears similar to PT-76, the PT-85 has a higher horseshoe-shaped turret, with an 85 mm gun and hatches similar to those of a T-54.[2] The US Department of Defence calls it the M-1985.[3]
| Model 1981 "Shin'heung" Also known as Type 82 Western name: PT-85 | |
|---|---|
 Later model of M1981 Shin'heung during a parade. Note the IR projector on the turret | |
| Type | Amphibious light tank |
| Place of origin |  North Korea |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 20.0 t |
| Length | 9.4 m (gun forward) |
| Width | 3.1 m |
| Height | 2.8 m |
| Crew | 4 |
| Armor | 30mm hull |
Main armament | 1 x 85 mm tank gun 1 x 9M14 Malyutka launcher ATGM |
Secondary armament | 1 x 14.5 mm anti-air machine gun 1 x 7.62 mm machine gun |
| Engine | diesel |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
Operational range | 500 km |
| Maximum speed | 60 km/h on paved road 10 km/h in water |
Model 1981 "Shin'heung" upgrades
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Early examples of the Model 1981 "Shin'heung" tank have shown a 9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 "Sagger") anti-tank guided missile installed on top of the turret directly above the main gun, and with two lights on the front of either side of the hull.[2] In recent parades, the Model 1981 "Shin'heung" has been observed with a large IR projector (possibly a reverse engineered copy of a L-2 Luna IR spotlight[4] on the turret, linked to the gun with a brace for elevation, as on the Soviet T-55/62 tanks.[2]
The arrangement of the lights on the hull has also changed: there are three lights on the right side of the front glacis (two black ones and one white), plus one on the left side plate; sometimes some of these lights are omitted.[2] The AT-3 "Sagger" missile is also now absent on the PT-85; it's unclear if these new or upgraded variants can be armed with that missile, and if so where the launcher would be installed.[2] Its also possible that the tank was never able to fire the missile and it was only mounted to parade tanks to confuse observers.[3]
In 2015, Model 1981 "Shin'heung" tanks in parades have also been observed with a Manpad SAM installed on the rear of the turret, as well as three smoke mortars on each side of the turret.[2]
References
edit- ^ "M1985 Amphibious Light Tank". www.military-today.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g "PT-85 North Korean amphibious tank". www.massimotessitori.altervista.org. Retrieved 2016-12-28.
- ^ a b Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (2020). The Armed Forces of North Korea. Helion & Company. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-910777-14-5.
- ^ "ODIN - OE Data Integration Network".