M1973

   The M1973 armored personnel carrier was developed in North Korea. It is a license-produced version on the earlier Chinese Type 63 APC with five road wheels. The M1973 designation was allocated by the US Department of Defense. Number in the designation indicates when this vehicle was first observed by the US intelligence. This armored personnel carrier is also referred as the VTT-323. It is the standard armored personnel carrier with the DPRK army.

   The M1973 has a box-like hull of all-welded steel construction with a small turret. The overall design is basic, being little more than an armored steel box on tracks.

   This armored personnel carrier is armed with two 14.5-mm heavy machine guns. These have a range of 2 000 m against ground targets and 1 400 m against air targets. Vehicle mounts a launch rail for the AT-3 Sagger anti-tank guided missiles. This ATGW has a range of 3 000 m. There is a turret variant fitted with one 14.5-mm and one 7.62-mm machine gun. This armored personnel carrier may also carry SA-7 or SA-16 portable surface-to-air missiles.

   The M1973 has a crew of four and provides accommodation for 10 troops. Occupants enter and leave the vehicle through the rear doors or roof hatches.

   This armored personnel carrier is fully amphibious. On water it is propelled by it's tracks.

   A number of this APC variants were observed, including 82-mm and 120-mm mortar carriers, 12-tube 107-mm multiple rocket launcher, 122-mm self-propelled howitzer, AT-3 Sagger ATGW carrier, SPAAG system with four 14.5-mm machine guns and M1985 amphibious light tank.