Various Exhibits Displayed in Korea

[PT-76]

At the War Memorial of South Korea, a Chinese-made Type 59 main battle tank and a Type 63 light tank are on display. The official description claims that these were captured by South Korean forces from North Vietnamese troops during the Vietnam War. However, the reality is more nuanced.

During the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive in 1972, these tanks were abandoned following joint air and ground attacks by the U.S. Air Force and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). Then these Tanks were captured by the South Vietnamese force and gave it to South korea as a gift to gratitude of participated the war.

By 1972, most of South Korean combat troops had already withdrawn from Vietnam, leaving behind only small numbers of non-combat personnel stationed in major cities. Therefore, it is unlikely that these tanks were directly captured by Korean forces in battle.

These exhibits are merely empty shells. because, there is no tool boxes on side of hull.

No Mantlet cover and Coax MG, and bulletproof window of gunner’s scope.

there is no headlight and splash board. and the shackle was removed and changed something else. It appears to have been modified to allow easier lifting or drag by crane.

Also, They removed original front fender and replaced hommade looking design. Who did this? In 2006, The Army of 80th Repair Battalion did it. I don’t know why they did that.

This is what it should look like originally.

They removed auxiliary fuel tank installation too.

The transmission door is missing, so you can see inside from here. There is a Main ammunition racks. this racks has been moved to engine location. idk. There is no engine, transmission anything at all. so that’s why shackle is removed and changed something else.

There are no single fuel tanks either.

There is a visible hole in the front of the wheel and the rubber has been violently torn away. It is presumed that the damage was caused by shrapnel from a nearby detonation of a 105mm or 155mm high-explosive shell. or a direct shot of Recoilless rifle or M72 LAW, Idk.

[Uncle-Heavy]

Excellent example of why museum exhibits and especially equipment displayed outside can be tricky to use as references.
Thanks for posting the photos and the descriptions of what is “wrong”.
Could still be used as reference for building a model of the exhibit.

[PT-76]

Could you change the title? Instead of the current one, I would like it to be “Various Exhibits Displayed in Korea.” I will upload the photo once it becomes possible.

[Uncle-Heavy]

Title changed

[PT-76]

The reason I am posting this is to highlight how appallingly South Korea manages its museum exhibits. It is a striking example of negligence and disorder in the stewardship of cultural artifacts.

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Sacheon(사천) in Gyeongsang Province has a nickname: the small city of airplanes. It has an Air Force base, KAI(Korea Aerospace Industries), and numerous factories that produce aircraft parts, along with many subcontractor plants for aircraft production. well, most of the products are for Fighter jet and Military helicopters.

​

But, I’m not interest in Aircraft lol. I’m an enthusiast of AFVs and guns.

Wow. A eight .50 Cal machine guns..

F4U Corsair.

B-29 Superfortress

The sign says.

After three years of negotiations, the aircraft was taken out of U.S. Navy storage in 1971, carefully dismantled into 18 pieces, and shipped here and reassembled. Only a few countries in the world—like the United States and the United Kingdom have it.

The engine is huge.

[PT-76]

This C‑124 aircraft is huge. I’ve never seen a plane this big in my life. Oh, sorry. it’s not that huge. it’s freaking enormous.

The engine is almost like a giant.

The Nike missile is always impressive in its large size.

[PT-76]

On the label it was simply described as a British 88 mm anti‑tank gun(wut??), which left me wondering what it really was. After Google searching, I found out. it is 120 mm BAT recoilless rifle.

25-pdr gun.

Propellant Charge Firing Table.

A inscription so thickly coated in paint that it cannot be read.

The M48A2C Patton is on display. These M48/M60 tanks always impress with their massive size, making even the Centurion and the German King Tiger (though I have never seen one in person) seem comparatively smaller. That’s how huge it is. I mean!

[PT-76]

This British made Centurion Mk. 5 tank on exhibit was originally built to Mk 3 and used by British forces during the Korean War(8th Royal Irish Hussar). After the war ended, it was returned to the United Kingdom, where it was later upgraded to the Mk 5. In 1981, with the assistance of General Anthony Farrah Hockley, the tank was donated to Korea for exhibition. The tank was once operational, but in the late 1990s or early 2000s its engine and key components were removed, leaving it solely as a static exhibit.

In the back, There was K-111 Jeep and KM900 APC(License built Italian Fiat 6614). I don’t know why I didn’t took a photos, maybe it is too common? idk.

The paint was applied too thick.

[PT-76]

The last paragraph says, This tank was dismantled in Shenyang, China, in April 1998, and reassembled in Korea in July of the same year.

Also, while googling. It is said that this tank can fully operated in Korea until the early-mid 2000s.

Another source I’ve found. “A report was received from a U.S. veteran who claimed to have discovered a T‑34 tank in a yard in Manchuria, China. The association then sought to verify the facts and officially confirmed, through a Chinese military historian, that this tank had participated in the Korean War for two years starting in 1951. After the war, it was returned to China and was later modified into the Type 58.”

Remember what I said before? Their restorations are done in a very shixxy way…

NOW BEHOLD!!!

Oh no! Look at that Red primer paint. My eyes were hurt, ahhh. lol.

This Chinese T-34-85 tank on display was produced at the Soviet. specifically at Factory No.112 Mod. 1945 (or shortly after the war), before being converted into the Type 58. At an unknown date, the Soviet Union transferred it to China.

The four Fasteners on the side of the turret (marked “210”) should not exist, but it is highly likely that Chinese were added as part of a Type 58 modification.

Did you recognize something?

The tank does not retain its original T-34 fenders; instead, T-54/55 fenders have been fitted. At first, I thought the korean restorer did this, but I found out it was already in this condition from China.

Judging by another big cupola and Type 54 DShKM machine gun mount on the Loader’s hatch, it is clearly a Chinese Type 58.

The tank was once capable of operation, but at an unknown time its engine and the exhaust pipe was removed and sealed. And the tail light is missing and the upper engine covers have different designs. sigh. and yuck!

Thanks for watching!

[Uncle-Heavy]

Thank you very much for the photos!
Appreciated!

[Damraska]

I wonder if that T34/85 is the reason the texture on the Academy/Airfix T34/85 is so crazy.

[Karl187]

Thanks for posting those photos @PT-76 !

[Dan]

Great pics and the Chinese T34 is interesting to see.

[Jakko]

@PT-76

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A inscription so thickly coated in paint that it cannot be read.

It starts with the word IMPORTANT so I would not be surprised to hear it says “IMPORTANT Do not cover this panel in paint to the extent that this text is no longer readable!”

[PT-76]

Hahaha

[Reaper2020]

My son is stationed in the Republic Of Korea and he sent me a bunch of photos he and his wife took. I do hope to visit one day.

[VultureDave]

If I painted my models like that museums Cent I might actually get something finished😀

[Jakko]

I kind of want to make that particular T-34-85 now, and enter it in a contest