The Telegram channel Crimean Wind (Krymsky Veter) published an image of the North Korean military equipment train. According to their report, the train carried 7–8 units of the 170mm M-1989 Koksan SPG along with an unusual truck equipped with a crane.
Later, OSINT analysts determined that the photo was taken in the city of Dzhankoi, located in occupied Crimea. It is important to note that Dzhankoi serves as a major railway hub, from which the equipment is likely being transported southward.
Read more: russia to Receive 240 Koksan Self-Propelled Guns and 240mm M-1991 Systems, Along with 150 KN-23 Missiles from North Korea
Experts have already identified the truck as a Chinese civilian Sinotruk Howo, which serves as the base for the 240mm M-1991 MLRS. Therefore, it is possible to assume that the crane-equipped truck in the North Korean military train is a transport-loading vehicle for the M-1991.
However, a closer look at the crane itself reveals that it is not designed for loading missiles, as it is an ordinary truck-mounted crane incapable of placing a missile into the launcher’s guide rails. Instead, missile loading requires a beam with a pulley hook system or another movable mechanism.
Thus, an alternative explanation is that this truck is an engineering vehicle attached to a battery or battalion of M-1989 Koksan self-propelled guns. It may be needed to facilitate operations involving shells that weigh over 60 kg. However, if this is the case, then it is simply a standard truck-mounted crane that has arrived from North Korea.
The M-1989 Koksan has a unique caliber in the world—170mm. It is equipped with a 50-caliber gun that, according to estimates, has a firing range of up to 40 km with standard high-explosive fragmentation shells and up to 60 km with scarce rocket-assisted projectiles. Its rate of fire is 1–2 rounds every 5 minutes. The first such self-propelled guns were spotted on the front line at the beginning of January this year.
Regarding the M-1989 Koksan, it was previously reported that russia had received 120 units of these self-propelled guns and is expected to receive another 120. Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of M-1989 units being destroyed, which may indicate a growing presence of these systems on the front line.
The M-1991 has standard unguided rockets weighing 407 kg, with a warhead of approximately 90 kg. It also has questionably accurate missiles with an estimated range of up to 60 km. Each M-1991 MLRS is equipped with 22 launch tubes of 240mm caliber. In terms of caliber and tactical use, the M-1991 is an equivalent of the 220mm Uragan MLRS.
Although reports have already mentioned the transfer of 240mm M-1991 MLRS, there is currently no confirmation of their use or presence in frontline areas.
Read more: North Korean Koksan Guns and M1991 MLRS Support Vehicles Were Spotted on Military Train in Crimea (Photo)
