Type 67

Type 67
The main Type 67 variants
Type	main battle tank
Place of origin	Daekan
Service history
In service	1967-present
Used by	Daekan
Production history
Designer	5th of February Tractor Plant
Designed	1965-1967
Manufacturer	Several plants
Produced	1966
No. built	More than 2,000
Specifications (Type 67A)
Weight	39 t (42 short tons)
Length	9.34 m (30 ft 8 in) with barrel in forward position 6.63 m (21 ft 9 in) hull only
Width	3.30 m (10 ft 10 in)
Height	2.40 m (7 ft 10 in)
Crew	4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader)
Armor	242 mm turret front 102 mm at 60° hull front
Main armament	115 mm U-5TS (2A20) smoothbore gun (45 rounds)
Secondary armament	12.7mm Type 46 HMG on the cupola 7.62mm Type 70 GPMG (co-axial)
Engine	Taebaek DE51 670 hp
Suspension	torsion-bar
Ground clearance	425 mm (16.7 in)
Operational range	700 km on road (with external fuel drums)
Speed	55 km/h (road)

The Type 67 (MoD designation: Development 565) is a Daekanese main battle tank first introduced in 1967. A development of the Vanquarian T-62, the base variant of the tank was nothing more than a T-62 with a local engine, with later variants diverting more and more from the original design, most notably with the addition of turret bustles. It gradually became the stadnard main battle tank in Daekanese People's Army service, supplamenting the Type 57, and wasn't fully replaced in that role until the introduction of the Type 87 in 1987. More than 2,500 were made and hundreds were exported, while a few hundred still remain in DPA service in reserve and trainning formations.

Development history

The purchase of a license to produce T-54 tanks from Vanquaria in 1957 (as the Type 57) was a singificant boost for the armoured corps of the Daekanese People's Army Ground Forces, that had until then mostly relied on World War 2 era tanks. The Type 57 was seen as adequate against the Esgonian M48A1 and later M48A3s, especially with further upgrades introduced in the Type 57A variant in 1964. However, when the DPA's Military Intelligence Directorate discovered plans for a new Esgonian tank with heavier armour and a larger gun - that would be introduced as the Cheiftain in 1966 - the DPA leadership was concerned that the Type 57A would prove inadequate against the new Esgonian vehicle. The possiblities of upgunning the Type 57 with the 115mm gun of the T-62 or even the Great Kingdom's L7 105mm gun were considered, but both suggestions were denied by the DPA, both for technical and political reasons.

It was instead decided that Daekan would seek to purchase a license for the T-62, as they did with the T-54. The license was secured in late 1966, and production began in 1967 and the tank became known as the Type 67 in DPA service. The Type 67 was initially issued to elite armoured units exclusively, but as production increased it quickly became the DPA's mainstay MBT, replacing te Type 57 in most high-readiness units.

Design

DPA Type 67As of the 2nd Armoured Division on parade

The initial Type 67 variant was barely any different than a T-62 Obr.1960 - save for the domestic DE49 engine - and as such maintained the same shape. Starting with the Type 67A in 1973, however, the notable addition of a turret bustle that became characteristic of the type as well as of the early variants of the Type 76 that was supposed to replace it, and changed the vehicle's overall profile. Despite the further additions and changes the Type 67A introduced, the layout remained largely the same, with the driver on the front-right, the commander and gunner on the left of the gun and the loader on the right. The introduction of a carousel autoloader with the Type 67B did change the internal layout of the turret, but despite that the overall layout remained largely the same.

Firepower

Both the baseline Type 67 and the Type 67A featured the Vanquarian 115 mm U-5TS (also known as 2A20) with little if any changes, and as such fired Vanquarian ammunition such as the 3VBM-1. The late production Type 67s featured the local Domestically designed 115mm ammunition entered production in 1969, with the JP-115/65 armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) round and the JP-115/70 high-explosive-anti-tank (HEAT) shells being the first domestic ammuntion of that calibre to enter service. The Type 67A m.1975 featured improved stablisiation for both the vertical and the horizontal planes, with elevation and depression rate slightly increased.

Type 67A m.1979 introduced the PCh-79/115 gun, that had better ballistics but was notoriously prone to barrel wear due to poor and rushed manufacturing quality (presumably a side-effect of the strict production quotas imposed by the 7th Year Plan). The gun was replaced quickly with the much improved PCh-80/115, which featured further improved stabilisation, and the turret traverse mechanism was also improved. The Type 67B modernisation featured the "Mulgyeol" fire control system, with the new SS81 sight for the gunner and the SGS83 sight for the commander and the TK-9 ballistic computer, which greately increased the tank's accuracy and target acquisition speeed. Most notably, it also introduced a carousel autoloader with warranted a significant rearangment of the turret interior. The commander was moved to the right of the gun while the gunner stayed on the left. The carousel layout was based on the one on the Vanquarian T-64, with the rounds placed vertically. The Type 67B m. 1985 variant introduced the PCh-80H modification which allowed the gun to fire Vanquarian 9K116-2 "Sheksna" ATGMs.

The secondary armament initially consisted of the Type 70 GPMG in the co-axial position with 2,000 rounds of ammuntion. The Type 67 m.1969 variant introduced the Type 46 HMG, a licensed copy of the Vanquarian DShK for the loader, with 700 rounds of ammunition in seven 100-round boxes. The Type 46 was replaced with the Type 75 HMG, a licensed copy of the Vanquarian NSVT, on the Type 67A m.1975 variant, though other the new weapon never completely replaced the Type 46 on the Type 67s.

Protection

The armour scheme of the baseline Type 67 was exactly the same as the early T-62s, with 214mm on the turret front, and 102 mm on the upper glacis at a 60-degree angle. The turret sides were protected by 153 mm of armour, with the upper sides of the hull having 79 mm of armour. This layout was seen as adequate against 90 mm APDS shells at combat ranges, but the DPA was under no impression that it could defeat the Chieftain's 120 mm rounds. Options to up-armour the tank were studied by several design bureau and production plants, but due to political reasons the 242 mm design that was introduced in Vanquarian T-62s starting 1972 was chosen for the Type 67A. This only slightly improved the protection, and the tank was still considered underarmoured when compared with contemporary designs such as the T-72 that featured composite armour.

A destroyed Syrnistani basline Type 67

The Type 67B modernisation introduced BGM applique composite armour modules to the upper hull glacis, with the 1987 model also adding them to the turret front. The handrails were removed and the smoke grenade launchers were moved back to make space for the new armour. This package made frontal protection comparable to early model T-72s, which would still be inadequate against contemporary 105 and 120mm shells, but fairly reliable against older tank ammunition and AT rockets.

The baseline variant featured no NBC protection at all, since it was based on a Vanquarian export version of the T-62. The Type 67A introduced a rudimentary NBC protection package, while the Type 67B received full NBC protection. However, the suvavability of all variants in NBC enviroments is compormised by the shell ejection port on the rear of the turret roof, as opening it would potentially expose the crew to contamination, but the danger is limited in time and the internal overpressure make quite unlikely the penetration by external agents.

Mobility

The Type 67 uses a torsion bar suspension system like the T-62, and has an identical drivetrain and wheel layout, with five pairs of rubber-tired wheels (with longer gaps between the two rearmost ones than the the othrer three), with the first and last pairs being fitted with hydraulic shock absorbers. The tank features a drive sprocket at the rear and idler at the front on each side, and has no return rollers. The tracks have a with of 2,640 mm.

The original T-62 was deemed somewhat underpowered by the DPA's evaluation committee, which influenced the decision to equip the tank with the more powerful, locally designed Taebaek DE49 670 hp engine. This made the baseline Type 67 more manoeuvrable than the T-62 and roughly equal to the T-54/55s and Type 57s. The powerplant was gradually made more and more powerful with each variant and modernisation program, both to enhance mobility as well as to compensate for the added weight of new additions, with the Type 67B m.1985 and Type 67Cs havivng 800 hp engines.

The Type 67 can carry up to 960 litres of fuel in its internal and external fuel tanks, but can also be fitted with two 200-litre fuel drums on the back of the tank to increase its range, for a total of 1360 litres of fuel.

Service History

The Type 67 first entered service with the elite Tayeong Guards Division of the Daekanese People's Army in 1967, and gradually more and more units started receiving the new tanks. By the late 1970s, it had surpassed the number of Type 57s in Daekanese service, making it the mainstay of the DPA's armoured force, a position which it maintained until the mid-to-late 90s, when it became outnumbered by the newer and more advanced Type 87.

Early Type 67 variants were given to Esgonian National Liberation Front insurgents during the Esgonian Civil War as part to the PSRD's aid to the rebels. The tanks were stripped of DPA markings and serial numbers, and many had their standard DPA camo patterns repainted. The tanks performed poorly against government forces and their more advanced MBTs such as the M1 Abrams. As DPA regulars crossed the border to actively aid the ENLF by 1993 (?), more advanced variants such as the Type 67Bs saw combat, but were relatively few compared to the more advanced Type 76s and Type 87s in use by the DPAGF.

Variants

Domestic variants

• Type 67: The baseline variant of the Type 67 was essentially a Vanquarian T-62 with the DE49, a more powerfull and reliable engine that was designed and produced by the Taebaek Tractor Plant.
  • Type 67 m.1969: Type 67 with local sights that were considered of higher quality than the originals, as well as a Type 54 HMG for the loader.
• Type 67A: The first major upgrade of the Type 67A, introduced in 1973. Its most notable feature is the turret bustle, that allowed up to 5 more rounds to be stored and also gave some more space for the turret crew. Additionally it also received a laser rangefinder that greately improved accuracy, as well as the improved 700 hp DE51 engine.
  • Type 67A m.1975: Type 67A with improved fording equipment, new stabliser and the Type 75 HMG.
    • Type 67A m.1979: Type 67A m.1975 fited with a 750 hp DE54 engine and the PCh-79/115. Gun was replaced with the Pch-80/115 in tanks produced or upgraded by 1981.
  • Type 67AT: Experimental variant with a gas turbine engine.
• Type 67B: Extensive modernisation introduced in 1983. It introduced the "Mulgyeol" fire control system, which included new sights for the commander and gunner and a new laser rangefinder, as well as the TK-9 ballistic computer. An autoloader replaced the fourth crew member entirely, freeing up space for the new equipment. The gun was replaced by the PCh-80/115 115mm smoothbore of local design that was fitted with an improved stabiliser. Applique BGM composie armour modules were added to the upper glacis.
  • Type 67B m. 1985: Type 67B fitted with rubber sideskirts, the improved 800 hp DE51H engine and the PCh-80H which can fire Vanquarian 9K116-2 "Sheksna" ATGMs.
    • Type 67B m. 1987: Type 67B m. 1985 equipped with BGM modules on the turret front with the handrails removed and the smoke grenade launchers moved back.
    • Type 67B m. 1991: Type 67B m. 1985 fitted with PEG-5 heavy reactive armour on the turret instead of the BGM modules. Also featured an improved range finder and a SS87 gunners's sight, as well as bustle rack.
• Type 67C: Variant introduced in 1991 as a more advanced alternative to the Type 67B m. 1991. Fuatures PEG-5 ERA on both turret and hull front, with PEG-3 on the hull sides. Also included in the upgarde are a new 850 hp DE60 engine, the more advanced SS90 gunner's sight with thermal channel. The variant was not adopted by the DPA, but is offered as an upgrade package for foreign customers.
• Type 67GBCh: Armoured recovery vehicle variant introduced in 1971. The vehicle was fitted with a stowage basket, a hoist and a small folding crane with a capacity of 3 tonnes, a winch, and a snorkel.
• Type 67BG: Self-propelled air defence vehicle armed with twin 37mm PBD-67/37 autocannons, guided by the HGL-4 radar, a licensed variant of the Vanquarian RPK-2 "Tobol". The new turret was based on the Vanquarian ZSU-37-2 "Yenisei". Introduced in 1970.
  • Type 67BG1: Upgrade introduced in 1977 with an improved loading system for the gun, a new identification friend-or-foe system (IFF) and the domestic HGL-7 radar.
  • Type 67BG2: Modernisation introduced in 1999. The PBD-80/30 30mm guns replaced the PBD-67/37s and the HGL-9 radar was mounted. Additionally, two HJ-5 MANPADs were mounted on either side of the turret, and 81mm smoke grenade launchers and electro-optical vision devices were added.

Operators

• Daekan: The Daekanese People's Army Ground Forces and the Daekanese Army People's Navy Marine Corps have a total of 400 late variant Type 67s in active service, mostly in reserve and trainning units. About 1,000 Type 67s of all variants are in long-term storage.
• Pakiranistan:
• Template:Country data Syrnistan: