Well I've been sitting on the fence with this information for almost three weeks now, wondering if I should pull the trigger on this or not. And thinking on the additional training courses I took outside of my career path and a saying we had in the submarine force at the time (Sorry not even going to try too be coy about that one!?!), well consider the trigger slowly squeezed as I'm going for a more accurate shot.
1. Further analysis of the North Korean POKOONG-HO (Storm) also referred to as the M-2002 which was the codename given given by the West when it's identification was confirmed in 2002.
See the refs as posted in this thread Post #106 on page 11.
A. I'm still convinced it's carrying a 115mm main gun and as such have gone to the Russian tank gun manufacturers site. The largest gun they offer is a 120mm to meet NATO Specs for countries needing to upgrade their T-62 tanks upon entering into NATO. It would be similar to the IMI "short" MG251 120mm initially put in IDF MERK 3s and SABRA tanks. The Turks got the improved MG253 on the M60T to meet their requirements.
This first ref shows the MG251, note the cutaway drawing upper right showing the gun inside the slightly larger M60 turret and now imagine it inside the slightly smaller T-62 turret, it'll work as the Russians again have and are doing this also with a much lower recoil 120mm vs a standard 120mm. If the Russians could have fitted a 125mm in a T-62
I'm guessing they would have thus eliminating the need for the T-64 which did have a 125mm mounted and was the "bridge" to the T-72. The next two refs are from the Russian tank gun maker.
http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product3608.html
See bottom, other info might be of value for you "designers".
http://www.artillery-mz.com/en/update/about/
About the guns.
http://www.artillery-mz.com/en/products/04/115/
2. That the turrets thus far shown from
all sources to date belong to T-62 tanks there is no doubt about this. To this extent I joined an engineering website to get the following:
3. Differences we know:
T-62 T-72
Driver Left Side Center-line
TC Same Right Side
115mm smooth. 125mm compression rings with
segmented look.
Road wheels 5 6 [b]Here's the rub notice the pictures from the previous post this would suggust the
STORM is a hybrid of some sort. So here's the fork in the road BLOGS aside of the refs I normally use and other reputable refs about 20 - 25 total I found only one that says North Korea even has any more then a handful of T-72 tanks. I'm not even going down that road, however I believe the hull is a "stretched" one which we know has happened in design before most notably by the Turks with their M113A APC's. so now I give over to an expert as much as person can be on North Korea. As you know or should know JANE'S is considered probably the #1 source of military information out there better then some government sources, I know we had the newest Naval editions every year on board every boat and staff command I served at for what's worth. And not just anyone can contribute to them without being an expert in the field. This gentle still does that and has done so since 1984. So likes mix it up a little more. First his main site which could again be useful to some dealing with North Korean equipment etc. the rest concern the "STORM".
http://www.kpajournal.com/
http://www.kpajournal.com/storage/KPAJ-1-04.pdf
http://www.kpajournal.com/storage/KPAJ-1-06.pdf
http://www.kpajournal.com/storage/KPAJ-1-07.pdf
YES I READ ALL THESE REFS AS I NORMALLY DO, BUT THE LAST I PRESENTED THE FOLLOW UP ONE'S AS WELL TO BE FAIR AND BALANCED. I COULD HAVE EASILY HAVE STOPPED WITH THE FIRST ONE. YOU'LL UNDERSTAND IF YOU READ THEM THROUGH.
I don't think the "125mm" shown in some pictures seem right the "segment" and "ring" count compared to the Russian 125mm seems off and the gun length still seems doesn't look right in comparing the "flash suppressors". And let's not forget that gun mounted laser sight that only the T-62M1+ had. This is a vexing problem in the difference in pictures with exception of the turrets about the gun. Deception could be the answer they've been caught in that trap many times in the past. Regardless we know one thing for sure without numbers this tank is not a real threat to tanks like the K1+, K2 or M1A1+ tanks (I hope!?!).
T-72 check the gun, turret and hull you decide.
Pic:
Hey it's late, time for bed!!!!
Regards,
Pat
In MARCELLO'S POST #111 does that look a plug at the end of the gun? Here we go!?! I need some sleep- Good Morning or Night!!