Source: China Military Network, China Military Number
Author: Xu Ping
The roar of "Katyusha".
On the occasion of commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's Volunteers in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, let's take a look at what heavy weapons the volunteers mainly used on the battlefield to resist US aggression and aid Korea, including various artillery, tanks, aircraft, etc.
Soviet-made Deshka anti-aircraft machine gun
The Deshka anti-aircraft machine gun was designed by the Soviet designer Deggalev in the early 30s of the 20th century, and began to be equipped with the Soviet Army at the end of the 30s, named the DshK-38 heavy machine gun, also known as the "Deggalev-Sparkin large-caliber machine gun", which is transliterated as "Deshka" in China. The gun can be mounted on the Soklov wheel mount as a flat-fire machine gun to kill clusters of living targets and destroy lightly armored targets, and can also be used as an anti-aircraft machine gun against low-flying targets.
Deshka anti-aircraft machine gun
Volunteer Deshka anti-aircraft machine-gun position
The anti-aircraft machine guns used by the Chinese Volunteers in the early days of the Korean War were mainly Japanese 7.7 mm, 7.92 mm and American 12.7 mm. With the entry of the Deshka anti-aircraft machine guns into the units of the Volunteer Army, the pressure on field air defense was somewhat reduced. The gun has a large caliber, long range, and great power, and is especially effective against enemy aircraft that dive strafe or drop bombs. And the gun in a flat-firing state can also be used against enemy infantry groups and light vehicles. Tang Lianglu, an outstanding shooter of a certain unit of the Chinese People's Volunteers, and his comrades-in-arms used Deshka anti-aircraft machine guns to shoot flat during the battle, destroying 30 enemy trucks one after another.
Tang Lianglu, a first-class combat hero of the Volunteer Army, and his comrades-in-arms fired horizontally with a modified Deshka anti-aircraft machine gun with a defensive shield
60-mm mortar
Mortar is the most basic fire support weapon of the infantry company of the Volunteer Army. The 60 mortars equipped by the volunteer army are mainly the following two types: one is the 31 type 60 mortar, which was produced by the Kuomintang government during the Anti-Japanese War by imitating the French Bronde light mortar, which was heavily equipped with the Kuomintang army and the People's Liberation Army had captured a large number of the artillery. The other is the American-made M2 60 mm mortar, which is also copied from the French Blond 60 mm mortar, which is somewhat "related" to the Type 31 60 mortar.
82-mm mortar
When the Volunteers first entered the DPRK, the most important battalion firearm was the 82 mortar, which was a Type 20 82 mm mortar. This mortar was remanufactured in the 30s on the basis of the Shanghai Type 82 mortar in the original Jinling Arsenal according to the French Blond mortar, and was the main artillery of the Chinese army during the Anti-Japanese War. During the Liberation War, our army captured a large number of them, and even in the late Korean War, Type 20 mortars were still in use.
Volunteer marksman Tang Zhanghong (left) and his comrades use a Type 20 82-mm mortar
In 1951, after the Soviet-made weapons were equipped with volunteers, battalion-level units were successively equipped with Soviet-made PM-37 82mm mortars. The PM-37 had a longer firing range than the Type 20 (more than 3000 meters), the shells were powerful, and they were very effective against enemy fortifications and enemy infantry groups during positional warfare. In 1953, the mainland successfully copied the PM-37 and finalized it as a Type 53 82-mm mortar.
Domestic Type 53 82-mm mortar
PM43型120毫米迫击炮
In the second half of 1951, the second batch of Soviet-style equipment was successively equipped with troops, and the number and types of heavy weapons were increased in this batch, including the Soviet-made PM43 120-mm mortar, which later shone brightly. This large-caliber mortar is an improved version of the well-known Soviet-made HM38 type 120 mm mortar, which increases strike intensity and operational performance. In the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, the gun fought as a regimental support fire support infantry detachment, with a long range, great power and excellent performance.
PM43型120毫米迫击炮
After the gun was put into the battlefield to resist US aggression and aid Korea, the volunteers had a great advantage in positional warfare. The shells of this cannon can effectively blow up the enemy's fortifications, and can hit cluster targets during defensive operations. In 1955, the mainland successfully copied the PM43 mortar, named the Type 55 120mm mortar.
Soviet-made 76.2 mm field guns
The M1942 76.2mm field gun was developed by the Grabin Design Bureau of the Soviet Union in 1940 and finalized in February 1942. It is mainly equipped with infantry division artillery regiments, which are used to support infantry, sabotage fortifications, fire suppression, and anti-armor operations.
Soviet M1942 Type 76.2 mm field gun
The Soviet M1942 76.2mm field gun was a weapon for aiding China during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, and the gun played an important role in the Korean battlefield.
American-made 105 mm howitzer
The American-made M2A1 105mm howitzer is a light field suppression artillery widely used by the United States in World War II, known for its power and accuracy.
The American-made M2A1 105mm howitzer equipped by the artillery of the People's Liberation Army at the founding ceremony parade
In the early days of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the artillery of the Volunteer Army was mainly equipped with captured Japanese and American artillery, including M2A1 howitzers. In the defensive operation in the autumn of 1951, the 4th company and 3rd squad of a certain artillery unit of the Volunteer Army supported and cooperated with the infantry to hold the 938.2 heights, and in the two-day defensive battle, this artillery squad used 1 American-made M2A1 howitzer to support the infantry against the enemy's concentrated attack, crushed the 3 group charges of more than two battalions of the US army, and suppressed the enemy's 2 firepower points and 1 mortar position, killing and wounding more than 500 enemy troops. After the war, the artillery squad was awarded the collective first-class meritorious service. After 1951, the Volunteer Army began to be equipped with Soviet-style 122-mm and 152-mm guns on a large scale, but the M2A1 howitzer was still equipped with the Volunteer Army until the end of the war.
志愿军装备的M2A1榴弹炮
Soviet-made M1938 Type 122 mm howitzer
The M1938 type 122-mm howitzer is a divisional howitzer developed in the 30s of the 20th century in the USSR, designed by the Petrov Design Bureau of the 172nd Arsenal in Perm, and mass production began in 1940. This type of gun was widely used in World War II.
Volunteer artillery 122-mm howitzers fired at night
In 1951, the mainland purchased this type of artillery from the Soviet Union to equip artillery divisions and divisional artillery regiments. By the end of 1951, there were 249 Soviet-made 122-mm howitzers in the whole army of the Volunteer Army. On the first day of the Shangganling Battle on 14 October 1952, the 9th Company of a certain artillery regiment of the Chinese People's Volunteers used this 122-mm gun, which is currently stored in the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution, to fire 96 shells in less than four minutes, blowing up a long ravine of several hundred meters where the enemy's two battalions had gathered the strength of the enemy's two battalions into a sea of fire and crushing the enemy's attack. Due to the brilliant achievements of the 9th Company, he was awarded the collective first-class merit and the second-class merit once.
The military museum has a Soviet-made M1938 122mm howitzer
American-made M1 155mm howitzer
The M1 155mm howitzer is a large-caliber artillery successfully developed by the United States in 1941. During World War II, the United States produced a total of 4,035 M1 155mm howitzers, ranking first among all support artillery with a caliber of more than 105 mm in the United States.
Volunteer artillery shelled the enemy with American-made 155-mm howitzers
In the first two battles to resist US aggression and aid Korea, the volunteers captured a large number of American-style equipment, including M1 155mm howitzers. During the Shangganling Campaign, the fifth company of a certain artillery unit of the Chinese People's Volunteers used an M1 155-mm howitzer to carry out mobile and fire support in all depths, defeated more than 10 group charges by the US army, and destroyed 48 howitzers of 105 mm or more, 3 mortars, 7 tanks, and 10 ammunition depots. For this reason, the whole company was awarded a first-class meritorious service. This howitzer is now in the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution.
American-made M1 155mm howitzer captured by the Volunteer Army
"Katyusha" rocket artillery
BM-13 "Katyusha" multiple rocket launcher was successfully developed and produced by the Voronezh Arsenal of the Soviet Union in the late 30s of the 20th century, 16 tubes are combined, a salvo can launch 132 mm rockets 16, the carrier vehicle is also the launch vehicle, firepower, high mobility. The Soviet Union showed great power in the Great Patriotic War, and when it was first put into use, it was not named for reasons of secrecy, but there was a letter mark "K" of the production plant on the gun carriage, which was affectionately called "Katyusha" by Soviet soldiers.
"Katyusha" rocket artillery
September 1, 1951 was the first battle day of the "Katyusha" rocket artillery of the Chinese People's Volunteers. On the same day, the 203rd Katyusha of the 24th Rocket Artillery Regiment carried out a covering artillery attack on the American troops located in the back hole. Subsequently, the infantry of the Volunteer Army broke through and successfully defeated the 2 battalions of the 7th Division of the US Army and occupied the position. During the Battle of Shangganling, the Katyusha Rocket Artillery Regiment supported the volunteer infantry fighting on the position with "warm" artillery fire, giving the infantry a strong morale boost. The correspondents of the Volunteer Army can always intercept the distress signal of the US military in the telegram: "We have been hit by devastating artillery fire from the enemy! Please send the air force to support as soon as possible!"
The "Katyusha" rocket artillery of the Volunteer Army of the Battle of Jincheng covered the enemy positions
Domestic 6-barreled 102-mm rocket launcher
In March 1951, the mainland's first rocket artillery was successfully trial-produced, the rocket launcher uses solid-fuel rotary stabilized rockets, adopts a 6-person gun squad, the launcher adopts a riveted open-leg steel wheel gun carriage, and 6 rocket launchers, named A3 102 mm rocket launcher.
Type A3 102-mm rocket launcher
The A3 102 mm rocket launcher that has just been successfully developed has also gone abroad to fight with the volunteers, for example, the 210th Regiment of the Volunteer Army Artillery has two rocket artillery battalions under its jurisdiction, equipped with a total of 36 A3 rocket launchers. The regiment arrived in Korea in October 1951 and was attached to the 43rd Army of the Volunteer Army for mobile defensive operations. In December of that year, the 5th Company of the regiment was ordered to participate in the 281.2 Heights Counterattack Battle, and in the fire suppression battle, it fired six salvos in a row, destroying two enemy infantry companies and mortar positions, and strongly supporting the troops in the battle.
The Volunteer Army used domestic 102-mm rocket artillery
Soviet-made M1939 Type 37-mm anti-aircraft gun
In 1938, the Kalinin Plant of the Soviet Union developed a 37-mm anti-aircraft gun based on the Swedish M34 40-mm anti-aircraft gun, which was officially finalized in 1939 and named "M1939 37-mm anti-aircraft gun", and was put into mass production in 1940. By 1945, the total production exceeded 18,000 vehicles. This type of gun was the main light anti-aircraft weapon of the Soviet Army in World War II.
Volunteer M1939 Type 37 mm anti-aircraft gun
During the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, there were a total of 53 independent anti-aircraft artillery battalions of the Volunteer Army, which were mainly equipped with Soviet-made anti-aircraft guns, including 85-mm anti-aircraft guns, 37-mm anti-aircraft guns and 12.7-mm anti-aircraft machine guns, of which the main force was the M1939 37-mm anti-aircraft guns, which were particularly effective against low-altitude targets. The 11th Independent Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion of the Chinese Volunteers shot down 35 US planes in the battle in the Kaesong area, and the 2nd Company and 3rd Squad of the battalion shot down 10 enemy planes. The 10 red stars painted on the shield of this M1939 37mm anti-aircraft gun are a testimony to its brilliant achievements.
"Ten Red Star Cannons"
T-34 tank
The T-34 tank was a medium tank designed before World War II by Mikhail Koshkin, a designer of the Comintern plant of the Soviet Union. From the 40s to the 50s of the 20th century, the Soviet Union produced a total of 84,070 T-34 series tanks, which were mainly of two types: T-34/76 tanks with 76.2 mm tank guns and T-34/85 tanks with 85 mm tank guns.
T-34 tank
In November 1950, New China introduced the first batch of 300 T-34 tanks from the Soviet Union, most of which were T-34/85 tanks, and soon put them into the battlefield to resist US aggression and aid Korea. The most famous T-34/85 tank group of the Volunteer Army is the 215th tank. The crew once carried out a single-vehicle raid during the battle, destroying three enemy heavy tanks at a time. During the entire period to resist US aggression and aid Korea, the vehicle crew destroyed 5 enemy tanks, damaged 1 vehicle, destroyed 9 chemical mortars and 1 car, destroyed 26 enemy bunkers, and destroyed 1 tunnel and command post. The leading organ of the Volunteer Army awarded the honorary title of "People's Hero Tank" to the 215 vehicle group, and recorded special merits for all the crew members. Commander Yang Aru was awarded the honorary title of "Second-Class Combat Hero" for first-class meritorious service. The T-34/85 tank, numbered "215", is now on display in the Military Museum of the Chinese Revolution.
Hero tank "215".
IS-2 tank
The IS-2 tank is a heavy tank developed and equipped by the Soviet Union in the 40s of the 20th century. On October 31, 1943, it was officially named the IS-2 heavy tank, also known as the "Stalin-2" type. In February 1944, the Soviet army was equipped and put into the battlefield. A total of 2250 units of this tank were produced, and together with the improved IS-2M, 3854 units were produced. Most of the IS-2 tanks equipped by China are IS-2M, a later modification of the IS-2 tank.
At the end of 1950, China purchased equipment from the Soviet Union for 10 tank regiments, including 60 IS-2 heavy tanks. The Volunteer Army successively had 3 tank divisions and a number of independent tank regiments to participate in the war in Korea, although the T-34 medium tanks were the mainstay, but there were also a small number of IS-2 heavy tanks.
Soviet-made IS-2 heavy tanks equipped by the Chinese People's Volunteers
In the counterattack of Maleangshan in November 1951, a total of 10 tanks from two tank companies of the Volunteer Army participated in the battle, including 3 IS-2 heavy tanks. In the entire Maleangshan counterattack, the 191st Division of the 64th Army of the Chinese Volunteers, with the cooperation of tanks and artillery, completely annihilated the regimental headquarters and 6 companies of the Royal Scottish Frontier Regiment of the 28th Brigade of the British Army, totaling more than 1,700 people, shot down and damaged 24 enemy planes, destroyed 6 tanks, and killed, wounded and captured more than 4,400 enemy troops together with the US army, which played a major role in stabilizing the war situation on the Western Front in Korea. After the war, the second tank company equipped with the IS-2 heavy tank, and the No. 402 IS-2 heavy tank were awarded second-class merit, and the driver Wan Fengchi was awarded first-class merit.
MiG-15 and MiG-15 Bis fighters
The MiG-15 fighter is the first generation of jet fighters developed by the Mikoyan Design Bureau of the Soviet Union. Design began in 1946 and production began in June 1948. The MiG-15 Biss was an improved version, which went into production in 1949, and by the end of 1950, it became the main fighter of the Soviet Air Force. By the time it was discontinued in 1954, the total production of various types of MiG-15 reached more than 16,500 units, creating the largest output of a single model of jet fighters!
The MiG-15 equipped by the Volunteer Army
"MiG" fighter of the Volunteer Air Force
Beginning in October 1950, before the Soviet Air Force units in East China and Northeast China assisted in air defense returned to China, in accordance with the relevant Sino-Soviet agreements, the Soviet Army handed over a batch of combat aircraft, including 160 MiG-15s, to China for a fee. In August 1952, the Soviet Union began to sell the "MiG-15 Bis" improved fighter aircraft to China, and by the end of 1952, China had six divisions of "MiG-15 Bis". Wang Hai, a combat hero of the Air Force, piloted this MiG-15 Bis plane numbered "2249" and not only personally shot down and damaged 9 enemy planes, but also led the flight group under his command to achieve remarkable feats in shooting down and damaging 29 enemy planes.
The "landline" of the first-level combat hero Wang Hai
(The author, Xu Ping, is an expert in military history)
(Produced by China Military Network, China Military Trumpet)