Chŏnsŏ G242
| Chŏnsŏ G242 | |
|---|---|
 A 3-view plan drawing of the G242. | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chŏnsŏ Group |
| Production | 1972-2008 |
| Assembly | Winam, Menghe |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Light utility vehicle |
| Body style | 4-door SUV |
| Layout | Front-engine, four-wheel drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.5L H4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,400 mm (94.5 in) |
| Length | 4,070 mm (160.2 in) |
| Width | 2,030 mm (79.9 in) |
| Height | 1,620 mm (63.8 in) |
| Kerb weight | 970 kg |
The Chŏnsŏ G242 is a type of light utility vehicle developed in Menghe during the early 1970s. Until the 2000s, it was the main light utility vehicle in the Menghean armed forces, and it is still widely used in Menghe's reserve forces and paramilitary units. It was designed and manufactured by the Winam Chŏnsŏ State Automobile Factory, later renamed the Chŏnsŏ Automobile Factory, the Chŏnsŏ Automotive Corporation, and, today, the Chŏnsŏ Group.
History
The G242 emerged from a Menghean Army request for a new scout car and light utility vehicle. During the Menghean War of Liberation, the Menghean Liberation Army had mainly used captured Anglian utility cars and PSW-vintage vehicles produced under license in Polvokia, and the country was in need of a new standard utility vehicle. The Winam Chŏnsŏ State Automotive Factory produced the winning offer, and was rewarded with a lucrative military contract which helped secure its position as one of the DPRM's major automobile makers.
In designing the G242, Chŏnsŏ engineers drew heavily on the design of the Type 41 light car, which was produced in the Greater Menghean Empire during the Pan-Septentrion War. Similarities included its squared-off exterior design and compact size, though the G242 did have a more powerful engine and improved offroad performance.
Description
The Chŏnsŏ G242 has a conventional engine-forward, 4-wheel-drive layout. The driver sits on the left, with one passenger on the right. Behind the driver and front passenger are two more seats. Behind these seats, there are two more small seats which fold down from the outer walls and face inward. These seats are cramped and uncomfortable on long journeys, and staff car variants of the G242 almost exclusively transport one driver and up to three passengers, with the rear space used for storage.
The G242 can be optionally equipped with a folding convertible roof or detachable hardtop roof. The convertible roof uses simple canvas on a metal frame and can be extended or retracted by hand. Hardtop roofs are made from thin sheet metal and come in a variety of forms to suit special vehicle roles.
To achieve a higher ground clearance without raising the center of gravity, the G242 uses simple portal axles with end-of-axle gearboxes. It has a relatively low profile for a light utility vehicle, especially when driven with the top down. In the reconnaissance role, crews are trained to further exploit this low profile by attaching branches or camouflage netting to the vehicle.
Safety issues
Though produced in large numbers, the G242 has a number of safety faults which have undermined its record. Like most other light utility vehicles of its era, it offers no protection against shrapnel, mines, roadside bombs, or small-arms fire. Even with a hardtop installed, the vehicle is not airtight, leaving the passengers exposed to chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants.
The narrow track can put the vehicle at risk of tipping over, especially while driving over rough terrain, driving on a side slope, or driving with a heavy weapon on a central pintle mount. Because the vehicle lacks a rollover protection structure and its roof options are all relatively light, a rollover can pin, injure, or kill the driver and passengers. The hard metal frame and rudimentary seatbelts pose further safety hazards. In light of these problems, the civilianized G243 was withdrawn from production in 1999 after receiving a zero-star crash safety rating, though the Road Safety Bureau only issued an optional recall and the G242 remains common in military and other government roles.
Like many Chŏnsŏ vehicles, the G242 also has a record of inconsistent reliability, though it is generally easy to repair when it does break down. At various points during production, particularly during the early 1970s, mid-1980s, and mid-1990s, Chŏnsŏ used low-quality steel to drive down production costs, and vehicles produced during these periods can be especially vulnerable in crashes and more susceptible to wear and tear.
Variants
- G242G - Standard staff car variant listed in the "description" section.
- G242GGCh - Field ambulance variant. It has a raised hard shell with a wider rear door. Internally, all four rear seats are replaced by mounting points for two stretchers. This leaves space for one driver and one seated passenger in front. The G242 ambulance has no onboard life support equipment and only basic medical supplies; its purpose is to evacuate casualties to a nearby field hospital.
- G242MB - Universal weapons carrier variant. It is fitted with a large cylindrical pole in the center of the vehicle, slightly forward of the rear axle. This can be used to mount a variety of weapons, listed below. To allow the gunner to rotate the weapon through 360 degrees unimpeded, the two rear passenger seats are removed. Instead, any members of the gun crew sit in the inward-facing fold-down seats, which fold up when the gunner is standing.
- G242MB GCh-75 - Fitted with a 12.7mm GCh-75 heavy machine gun. Common in reservist reconnaissance and patrol units.
- G242MB GCh-77 - Fitted with a 7.5mm GCh-77 medium machine gun. Relatively uncommon.
- G242MB JYB - Fitted with a 30mm automatic grenade launcher.
- G242MB MCh-73 - Fitted with an MCh-73 recoilless rifle, Menghe's licensed copy of the SPG-9.
- G242MB YB-11 - Tank destroyer armed with a YB-11 ATGM tube.
- G242MB YB-12 - Tank destroyer armed with a YB-12 ATGM tube.
- G242MB YB-13 - Tank destroyer armed with a YB-13 ATGM tube.
- G242 NA (Naean) - Variant used by the Menghean Internal Security Troops and some local police units. Has a hard shell upper body with a siren on top.
- G242YI - VIP transport variant used by the Menghean Armed Forces, Internal Security Troops, and Internal Intelligence Agency, as well as other government organizations. Features a permanent hard roof with tinted windows and an upholstered interior. It does not feature any protective bulletproofing or blast-proofing measures.
- G243 - Civilianized version sold between 1992 and 1999.
