The Model 1981 "Shin'heung" (Rise) is a North Korean amphibious light tank. Its common western designation is PT-85. It is built for the needs of their army, with around 500 examples operated.[2] The Model 1981 "Shin'heung is based on the lengthened VTT-323 APC chassis, and although the turret appears similar to PT-76, the PT-85 has a higher horseshoe-shaped turret, with an 85 mm gun and hatches similar to those of a T-54.

Model 1981 "Shin'heung" upgrades

Early examples of the Model 1981 "Shin'heung" tank have shown a 9M14 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. In recent parades, the Model 1981 "Shin'heung" has been observed with a large IR projector (possibly a reverse engineered copy of a L-2 Luna IR spotlight on the turret, linked to the gun with a brace for elevation, as on the Russian T-55/62 tanks.

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. The AT-3 "Sagger" missile is also now absent on the PT-85; it's unclear if these new or upgraded variants can be armed with that missile, and if so where the launcher would be installed.

In 2015, Model 1981 "Shin'heung" tanks in parades have also been observed with a Manpad SAM installed on the rear of the turret, as well as three smoke mortars on each side of the turret.

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PT-85 during Pyongyang yearly parade of 2011, by Massimo Tessitori

Type 83 light tank (estimates)
Dimensions	7.63 m oa x 3.10 m x 2.80 m
Total weight, battle ready	Mass 20.0 t
Crew	4 (driver, Cdr, gunner, loader)
Propulsion	V12 diesel 1000-1100 hp
Suspension	Torsion bars
Speed (road)	Est. 60 km/h/10 kph water
Range	Est. 500 km
Armament	85 mm tank gun, 9M14 Malyutka launcher ATGM Secondary: 14.5 mm KPT AA, 7.62 MG
Armor	30 mm hull max penetration
Total production	250+ (current)

Sources

https://massimotessitori.altervista.org/armoursite/nkindigenoustanks/pt-85/pt-85.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_1981_%22Shin%27heung%22
http://www.military-today.com/tanks/m1985.htm
"PT-85 North Korean amphibious tank". www.massimotessitori.altervista.org. Retrieved 2016-12-28.
https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Model_1981_%22Shin%27heung%22_(PT-85)_North_Korean_Light_Amphibious_Tank)


Author's rendition of the PT-85

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