Type 65 Bohoja-ho
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| Type 65 Bohoja-ho | |
|---|---|
| File:Type 65 IIB.png Type 65 Bohoja-ho III (2001, below) | |
| Type | Main Battle Tank |
| Place of origin |  DSRA |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1965-present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | Nazali War, Kolenomese War of Liberation, Myrdesia War, South Ashizwe Border War, Seubyeni Islands Crisis |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Bulgakko Heavy Industries Kwonhu Limited |
| Designed | 1956-1964 |
| Manufacturer | Kwonhu Limited |
| Unit cost | In FY2014 dollars: |
| Produced | 1964-1989 |
| No. built | 10,000+ |
| Specifications (Type 65 Bohoja-ho IB) | |
| Weight | 38.5 tonnes (empty) 39.7 tonnes (combat weight) |
| Length | ?.?m (hull) ??.?m (gun forward) |
| Width | ?.?m (hull) |
| Height | ?.?m (turret roof) |
| Crew | 3 (commander, gunner, driver) |
| Armor | Glass-reinforced plastic sandwiched between layers of steel with areas of rolled homogeneous armour, Explosive reactive armour plates optional. |
Main armament | 125mm TGI CM125-1A/L48 smoothbore gun (28 ready in bustle autoloader, 10 rounds in protected hull storage) |
Secondary armament | Esk-62AG 7.62x54mm machine-gun (co-axial, 2,000 rounds) Esk-12AG HMG 12.7x108mm heavy machine-gun (pintle-mounted, 1,200 rounds) |
| Engine | Bulgakko BHE-F10G-5A1 four-stroke Flat-ten liquid-cooled multifuel engine in powerpack 750 hp (582 kW) |
| Power/weight | 19.75 hp/tonne |
| Transmission | Kyoungcho KGI AHT-16A-6F1R hydromechanical automatic transmission (6 forward gears, 1 reverse gears) in powerpack |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
| Ground clearance | Varies |
| Fuel capacity | 1,190 litres (internal) |
Operational range | 490km (internal fuel, road) 670km (with external stores) |
| Speed | 64km/h (on road) 48km/h (cross-country) |
The Type 65 Bohoja-ho (Anikatian: 유형 65 보호자호 yuhyeong 65 bohojaho) which means "Guardian" in Anikatian, is a main battle tank of the of the Anikatian Ground Force (AGF). It was built by Kwonhu Limited as a replacement for the earlier locally built variants of BMS Perdikkas MBT. It was based on the best features of a number of contemporary designs, it was one of the most innovative tanks of its era. The Type 65 entered full production in 1965 and became the main tank for DSRA and subsequently for the armies of many Otterup Pact countries, and others. The Type 65 was involved in many of the world's armed conflicts during the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
History and development
In the 1950s, the DSRA was desperately in need of additional main battle tanks. In light of this, the government administration announced plans to domestically produce a new main battle tanks that were comparable to the latest generation of main battle tanks. In 1954, Anikatia's military establishment began with research and development on a domestically produced tank. In this climate the plans for a new domestic tank were born, the first few prototypes were largely based on the Type 52 Tuji-ho chassis, these were provided for troop trials in the 1950s, this identified a number of changes. Changes to address engine cooling resulted in redesign of the rear hull. By 1960s, initial designs were completed and prototypes were built. After a brief set of trials, work began to retool the ordnance depots for full-time development and construction. After the new facilities were completed. It was decided that a multi-fuel engine would be used.
The Type 65 Bohoja-ho was in many ways an evolutionary development of the successful line of Type 52 Tuji-ho tanks. But the new designs had a number of revolutionary features such as the combination of higher levels of armour, mobility, and an improved gun, which made it at least equal to any of the contemporary medium tanks. The early variants of the Engine delivered around 450 bhp (340 kW) to the sprocket which meant a top road speed of around 25 mph (40 km/h) and cross country performance was limited. In the late 1960s engine design changed with the introduction of enhanced cooling systems. Engine output also increased with later engines delivering some 850 bhp (630 kW) to the sprocket this meant better performance and an increased speed. Even higher performance engines were developed much later which were able to provide up to 1,400 bhp (1,043 kW) giving outstanding performance and agility.
Production
Initial production began in 1964. However, issues with production meant it did not enter formally service with the army in large numbers until 1968. It introduced a new autoloader, which is still used on all Type 65s currently in service, as well as all variants of the Type 73 Seungli-ho except for the advanced Hornatyian domestically produced models. The Type 65 Bohoja-ho was primarily produced within Anikatia but was also produced under license as the HT-66 Rýchly in Hornatyia.
Design
Armament
The Type 65 Bohoja-ho is equipped with the 125 mm (4.9 in) TGI CM125-1A/L48 smoothbore gun, the gun is capable of firing anti-tank guided missiles, as well as standard main gun ammunition, including HEAT and APFSDS rounds. The Type 65 Bohoja-ho IIM introduced the new TGI CM125-1D/L52 main gun which has has a mean error of 1 m (39.4 in) at a range of 1,800 m (1,968.5 yd).
Protection
Armour protection of the Type 65 Bohoja-ho was strengthened with each succeeding generation. The original Type 65 turret is made from conventional cast armour. It is believed the maximum thickness is 150 mm (5.9 in) steel, 150 mm (5.9 in) glass fibre, 40 mm (1.5 in) steel. The glacis of the new laminated armour is 120 mm (4.7 in) steel, 105 mm (4.1 in) glass fibre, 40 mm (1.5 in) steel. Late model Type 65s featured composite armour protection and explosive reactive armour (ERA), which increased protection primarily against HEAT type weapons. The export versions often featured a different armour protection compared to the DSRA models, they usually had slightly thinner armour which offered less protection.
Mobility
To meet the engine requirement, a horizontally opposed 10-cylinder design was used. Although flat, it was wide and left little room for radiators in the engine compartment. The unusual arrangement, although tested in mockup form first, resulted in some serious initial problems with engine cooling. Even when the systems were redesigned there were problems, and the piping from engine to the radiators heated the fighting compartment. These problems dogged the early design. These issues were later solved by a further changes was made to the radiator and transmission arrangements increasing the space allowing for larger cooling fans for the transmission compartment.
Crew Amenities and Survivability
A unique feature of Anikatian tank design following the traditional from Belfrasian tanks, the Type 65 features storage units at the rear for storing personal belongings and contains a boiling vessel for water which can be used to brew tea, produce other hot beverages and heat boil-in-the-bag meals contained in field ration packs.
Variants
- Type 65 Bohoja-ho IA
- Prototype with a TGI CM105-7D/L52 105mm rifled gun, then initial production version with the same features, about 15 tanks produced.
- Type 65 Bohoja-ho IB
- Intial production version, armed with the new TGI CM125-1A/L48 125 mm smoothbore tank gun and optical coincidence rangefinder, skirts and a modified sight.
- Type 65 Bohoja-ho IK
- Command version, with a ODEL-12M radio and its 10 m (33 ft) telescoping antenna, a AKI-1 navigation system, without antiaircraft machine gun, carrying 38 rounds of main gun ammunition.
- Type 65 Bohoja-ho IM
- Added laser rangefinder and electronic fire control, turret front and top being heavily reinforced with composite armour, provisions for mounting reactive armor, smoke grenade launchers, flipper armour mount on front mudguards, internal changes.
- Type 65 Bohoja-ho IE
- Export "Monkey model" version, similar to Type 65 Bohoja-ho IM but lacking composite armour and with downgraded weapon systems, such as a lack of fire-control systems.
- Type 65 Bohoja-ho II
- Fitted with redesigned armour, new fire control system, TGI-12-8 sight, TGI CM125-1D/L52 gun with a upgraded stabiliser and auto loader system. Was fitted with stronger glacis armour; older tanks were upgraded with a 16-mm armour plate.
- Type 65 Bohoja-ho IIB
- Increased implementation of new reactive and passive armour. New command and control system, GPS navigation system and fire control system with thermal imager and laser rangefinder. It has also a friend-or-foe recognition system.
- Type 65 Bohoja-ho IIM
- New TGI CM125-1D/L52 main gun, stabilizer, sights, and fire control, capable of firing guided missiles, additional armour including 20 mm (0.8 in) of appliqué armour in the front of hull, new improved revised liquid cooled Bulgakko BHE--F10G-5A6 four-stroke Flat-ten diesel engine in powerpack producing 850 hp (630 kW) engine. Tank combat weight increased to 42 tonnes, giving a power to weight ratio of 20.24 horsepower per metric ton.
- Type 65 Bohoja-ho III
- Further development with new advanced Jeopchok-5 explosive reactive armour fitted to hull front and turret, improved gunsight, and missile system. A new improved revised 1,400-hp (1,043 kW) engine turbocharged liquid cooled Bulgakko BHE-F10T-5G3 four-stroke Flat-ten diesel engine in powerpack. Tank combat weight increased to 45 tonnes, giving a power to weight ratio of 31.11 horsepower per metric ton.
- HT-66A Rýchly
- This model was based on the Type 65 Bohoja-ho IE built under licence by the Karadzic Machine Building Design Bureau in Hornatyia.
- HT-66B Rýchly
- Hornatyian development of Type 65s bringing the HT-66 to a similar standard of the Type 65 Bohoja-ho IIM. This tank also featured new reactive armor along with a far greater uses of domestic parts with the a new Hornatyia Motor Works H55U locally built engine which was derived from the Bulgakko BHE-F10G-5A1, it produced 750 hp (559 kW). Never entered serial production.
- HT-66P1 Rýchly
- Hornatyian modernisation of HT-66 Rýchly. This tank also featured the new reactive armor trialed on the HT-66B Rýchly, a new fire-control system, new autoloader and other improvements along with a new and updated engine the H56U built by Hornatyia Motor Works which produced 850 hp (630 kW).
- HT-66P2 Rýchly
- Further development of the HT-66P1, with new armor, updated fire-control system, new engine and other improvements. This tank also featured a new and upgraded engine the H57U built by Hornatyia Motor Works which now produced 1,000 hp (745 kW).
- POD Norka
- Hornatyian development using surplus the Type 65 chassis built locally as the HT-66 Rýchly to create a Heavy infantry fighting vehicle.
- Type 65BG
- Bogorian mid-2000s modernisation package including the following: drivetrain and engines refurbishment, enhanced ERA area-coverage, updated fire control suite with digital ballistics computer, laser rangefinder, thermal sight for gunner, panoramic thermal sight for commander and improved main gun stabilisation.
- Type 73 Seungli-ho
- Related further developments of the Type 65 Bohoja-ho.
Service history
DSRA
Anikatia
Nazali
Goredemabwa
Hornatyia
Operators
Bogorian Ground Force - updated to the Type 65BG standard
- Template:Country data Hornatyia Hornatyian Ground Force - The initial fleet of Type 65s built in Anikatia were converted into POD Norka armored personnel carriers in the late 2000s.
Former operators
- File:Flag of the Anikatian Ground Force.png Anikatian People's Army - Passed on to successor state.
- Template:Country data Nazali People's Republic of the Nazali Ground Force Received number of vehicles during the Nazali War most were evacuated to Ovadliese Union in 1979, but many were captured by Islamic Republic of the Nazali
- Template:Country data People's Socialist Republic of Goredemabwa Goredemabwan People's Army Passed on to successor states.
- Template:Country data Dacia The Dacian Republic Army captured seventeen vehicles during the Myrdesia War and employed them until 1993 when they were retired.
See also
- Related development
- Tanks of comparable role, configuration and era
- BMS Perdikkas MBT: Approximate Belfrasian equivalent
- Rkv. 93 Approximate Estovnian equivalent
- Tanque Alderaniano Mediano Approximate Ulthrannic equivalent
- Thaspian Leopard Approximate Dacian equivalent
- Type 59 Approximate Rodarian equivalent
- Endurance Main Battle Tank Approximate Arthuristan equivalent