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| 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 | Amphibiouslight 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 mmtank gun 1 x9M14 Malyutka launcherATGM |
Secondary armament | 1 x 14.5 mmanti-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 |
TheModel 1981 "Shin'heung"[1] (Rise), in western countries known as thePT-85, is aNorth 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 lengthenedVTT-323 APC chassis, and although the turret appears similar toPT-76, the PT-85 has a higher horseshoe-shaped turret, with an 85 mm gun and hatches similar to those of aT-54.[2] The US Department of Defence calls it the M-1985.[3]
Early examples of the Model 1981 "Shin'heung" tank have shown a9M14 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 an L-2 Luna IR spotlight[4] on the turret, linked to the gun with a brace for elevation, as on the SovietT-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 is unclear if these new or upgraded variants can be armed with that missile, and if so where the launcher would be installed.[2] It is 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 aManpad SAM installed on the rear of the turret, as well as three smoke mortars on each side of the turret.[2]
| Main battle tank |
|  .svg) |
|---|---|---|
| Other tanks | ||
| Armored car | ||
| Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons | ||
| Self-propelled howitzers | ||
| Tank destroyer | ||
