The Pegasus is an improved version of the Soviet T62 tank, which is generally translated in the West as "Flying Horse" or "Pegasus", meaning "winged horse" or "Pegasus", the tank is also known as the "Chollima Tank", which is arguably the most mysterious of the world's active main battle tanks.
Conceptual drawing of the Pegasus tank
According to relevant sources, the DPRK obtained T62 tanks from the Soviet Union around the 1980s, and these T62s are still some of the earlier versions, not the improved T62M.
T62
Compared with the earlier version of the T62, the performance of the T62M can be said to have been greatly improved, mainly including the improvement of the electronic system, the replacement of the engine, the replacement of the improved torsion bar, and also the improvement of the armor capability. It can be said that the improved version of the T62M is not inferior to the American M60 tank in many ways. Over the past many years, whether in rugged Afghanistan or in the urbanly diverse city of Chechnya, the T62M has proven itself to be truly capable in the war.
It's still useful today
According to the relevant sources, through various methods, the DPRK at that time obtained the design drawings of the T62 tank from the Syrian side, and slowly digested it in the subsequent process, and gradually evolved into the later "Tianmahu" tank. And not as many people say, just a simple assembly of the T62.
According to South Korean sources in 1998 and 1999, there are already at least two improved versions of the T62 tank in use, and they are more powerful than the previous T62 tanks, which are later Tianmahu tanks.
The basic data of the tank is as follows, weighing about 40 tons, length about 6.63 meters, width 3.52 meters, height about 2.4 meters, crew of 4 people, can travel 50 kilometers per hour, travel about 450 kilometers.
Although the "Tianmahu" has developed a number of models, according to the information now public, in addition to the latest model of the "Tianmahu" main battle tank, the rest of the models basically follow the chassis and power unit of the T-62M main battle tank.
The Pegasus 1, the original Pegasus Tank, has almost identical appearance characteristics to the T62 tank, and is said to have simply changed a little equipment, although there are several simple improved versions of the Pegasus 1 later, but people are generally accustomed to calling it the Pegasus 1. Some people also say that the Tianmahu 1 is actually a light T62 tank, with thinner armor.
The main improvement of the Tianmahu 2, Tianmahu 2 tank is to add a laser rangefinder and computer on the basis of the Tianmahu 1, renamed the Tianmahu 2 tank, in fact, it is somewhat similar to the Soviet side for the T62M related improvements, I believe that the DPRK side has made a reference for this. From the appearance of the tank, a square box is seen at the top, which is the laser rangefinder.
The main improvements of the Tianmahu 3 and Tianmahu 3 tanks are mainly as follows, one is to add stacked additional armor on both sides and the rear, and the other is to add side group plates on both sides of the hull. Third, some related devices were installed on the front of the tank. All three improvements revolve around improving the tank's armor. From the appearance, the Tianmahu Type 3 is significantly different from the Type 1 and Type 2. Distinctly out of the style of Soviet tanks.
The Pegasus 4 and Pegasus 4 tanks are not much improved over the Pegasus 3, with the main difference being the installation of reactive armor on the front and left.
Tianmahu 5, Tianmahu 5 tank is a comprehensive version of the Pegasus series of tank modifications, in addition to adding armor similar to the T80 tank, it is reported that there are also some ideas from the T72, but at present, many of the performance of the tank is not yet known.
The tank was produced 470 (originally in 1976) in the years after 1980, for a total of more than 1200 units. As of 1985, there were 1200 T62 and Pegasus tanks in service, 1500 in 1990 and 1800 in 1995, and hundreds are still in service.
Tianmahu's biggest rival , South Korea's K1