105th Armored Division (North Korea)
Encyclopedia
The 105th Armored Division is a military formation of the Korean People's Army
. It was North Korea's first armored unit and took part in the Korean War
.
. Its equipment-tanks, weapons and vehicles, were Russian-made.
The brigade had three tank regiments - the 107th, 109th, and 203rd - and a mechanized infantry regiment, the 206th. The 83d Motorized Regiment was also part of the division during the Korean War.
Each tank regiment had three medium tank battalions, each having 13 tanks. Each tank battalion had three tank companies with four tanks to a company. Tank crews consisted of five men. Battalion, regimental, and divisional commanders each had a personal tank. The mechanised infantry regiment had a strength of about 2,500 men.
The 105th Armored Brigade was raised to division status in Seoul
at the end of June 1950 before it crossed the Han River
to continue the attack southward.
The 105th Armored Division is at present equipped with Chonma-ho and Pokpung-ho tanks.
between August and September 1950.
The 107th Tank Regiment, equipped with T-34 tanks, defeated Task Force Smith
during the initial advances of the Korean People's Army
. The regiment then fought with the rest of the division in the Battle of Pusan Perimeter
.
At the end of October and the first week of November 1950, the 105th Armored Division, partly reconstituted since the Naktong battles, was committed to help the Chinese
and did so with tank fire in a few instances, but it played a negligible role in the fighting. The U.S. Fifth Air Force
destroyed most of its tanks behind the battle front. On November 7, for instance, U.N. aircraft reportedly destroyed six tanks, three armored cars, and 45 vehicles in Pakchon
and the area eastward.
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
. It was North Korea's first armored unit and took part in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Formation and structure
The division was established in October 1948 as the "105th Armored Battalion" and increased to regimental strength in May 1949. By June 1950, the "105th Armored Regiment" had become the 105th Armored Brigade with a strength of 6,000 men and 120 T-34 tanksT-34
The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II...
. Its equipment-tanks, weapons and vehicles, were Russian-made.
The brigade had three tank regiments - the 107th, 109th, and 203rd - and a mechanized infantry regiment, the 206th. The 83d Motorized Regiment was also part of the division during the Korean War.
Each tank regiment had three medium tank battalions, each having 13 tanks. Each tank battalion had three tank companies with four tanks to a company. Tank crews consisted of five men. Battalion, regimental, and divisional commanders each had a personal tank. The mechanised infantry regiment had a strength of about 2,500 men.
The 105th Armored Brigade was raised to division status in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
at the end of June 1950 before it crossed the Han River
Han River (Korea)
The Han River is a major river in South Korea and the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Duman, and Nakdong rivers. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River , which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River , which originates on the slopes of Mount...
to continue the attack southward.
The 105th Armored Division is at present equipped with Chonma-ho and Pokpung-ho tanks.
Korean War
During the Korean War, it was part of the North Korean advance from Seoul to Taejon and subsequent Battle of Pusan PerimeterBattle of Pusan Perimeter
The Battle of Pusan Perimeter was a large-scale battle between United Nations and North Korean forces lasting from August 4 – September 18, 1950. It was one of the first major engagements of the Korean War...
between August and September 1950.
The 107th Tank Regiment, equipped with T-34 tanks, defeated Task Force Smith
Battle of Osan
The Battle of Osan was the first engagement between United States and North Korean forces during the Korean War, on July 5, 1950. A U.S. task force of 400 infantry supported by an artillery battery was moved to Osan, south of the South Korean capital Seoul, and ordered to fight as a rearguard to...
during the initial advances of the Korean People's Army
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
. The regiment then fought with the rest of the division in the Battle of Pusan Perimeter
Battle of Pusan Perimeter
The Battle of Pusan Perimeter was a large-scale battle between United Nations and North Korean forces lasting from August 4 – September 18, 1950. It was one of the first major engagements of the Korean War...
.
At the end of October and the first week of November 1950, the 105th Armored Division, partly reconstituted since the Naktong battles, was committed to help the Chinese
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
and did so with tank fire in a few instances, but it played a negligible role in the fighting. The U.S. Fifth Air Force
Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
destroyed most of its tanks behind the battle front. On November 7, for instance, U.N. aircraft reportedly destroyed six tanks, three armored cars, and 45 vehicles in Pakchon
Pakchon
Pakchon is a kun, or county, in southern North Pyongan province, North Korea. It is bordered to the north by Taechon, to the east and southeast by Nyongbyon, and to the west by Unjon. To the south, it looks across the Chongchon River at Anju city and Mudok county in South Pyongan province...
and the area eastward.