The WS51200 is an extremely large

heavy goods vehicle A large goods vehicle (LGV), or heavy goods vehicle (HGV), in the European Union (EU) is any lorry with a gross combination mass (GCM) of over . Sub-category N2 is used for vehicles between 3,500 kg and and N3 for all goods vehicles over ...

built by Wanshan Special Vehicle in

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

, converted by the

Democratic People's Republic of Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

into a

single-use A disposable (also called disposable product) is a product designed for a single use after which it is recycled or is disposed as solid waste. The term is also sometimes used for products that may last several months (e.g. disposable air filter ...

transporter erector launcher A transporter erector launcher (TEL) is a missile vehicle with an integrated tractor unit that can transport, elevate to a firing position and launch one or more rockets or missiles. History Such vehicles exist for both surface-to-air missiles ...

(TEL). The WS51200 is one of the largest in the WS family of transport trucks and TELs. The size of the WS51200 allows it to carry

intercontinental ballistic missiles An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a ballistic missile with a range (aeronautics), range greater than , primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery (delivering one or more Thermonuclear weapon, thermonuclear warheads). Conven ...

(ICBMs). Despite being made in China, North Korea remains the only military user of these vehicles.

Description

The WS51200 is a large 16x12 special wheeled transporter erector launcher which used some technology from the

Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...

ian Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant's

MZKT-79221 The MZKT-79221 () is a Russian army 16x16 transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) designed and developed by the MZKT in Belarus. It was developed in 1996-1997, and serial production began in 2000. Developed primarily for use as a RT-2PM2 Topol-M TEL, ...

vehicle. Its large size allows the WS51200 to carry extremely heavy loads of up to 80 tons. As such, the WS51200 could easily mount a nuclear-tipped ICBM. Unlike smaller Chinese TELs from Wanshan Special Vehicle, the WS51200 uses and is powered by the American

Cummins Cummins Inc. is an American multinational corporation, multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and distributes engines, electric vehicle components, and power generation products. Cummins also services engines and related equipmen ...

KTTA19-C700 turbocharged diesel engine rather than the German-made Deutz turbocharged diesel engine. This more powerful engine gives the WS51200 700 hp and a maximum range of a 1,000 km. The TEL is steerable on its first 3 and last 3 axles, which significantly reduces turning radius and makes it surprisingly maneuverable despite its size.

North Korean controversy

North Korea currently uses the WS51200 to mount the Hwasong-13 and the

Hwasong-14 The Hwasong-14 () is a mobile intercontinental ballistic missile developed by North Korea. It had its maiden flight on 4 July 2017, which coincided with the United States' Independence Day. North Korea is the only known operator of this missil ...

intercontinental ballistic missiles. In 2014, it was reported that North Korea imported eight civilian WS51200 vehicles from China. UN and

Asean The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated as ASEAN, is a regional grouping of 10 states in Southeast Asia "that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its ten members." Together, its member states r ...

investigators have concluded that Chinese WS51200 trucks were legitimately exported to North Korea for timber transport, with the sales contract specifically prohibiting use of the vehicles for military purposes. However, North Korea illegally converted them into TELs by installing hydraulic gear and controls to erect a missile. Despite being converted to fire a missile, the truck would not be likely to survive damage from the rocket exhaust like a purpose-built TEL, making it a single-use launcher. Despite this evidence, in 2017 the

United States Treasury The Department of the Treasury (USDT) is the national treasury and finance department of the federal government of the United States. It is one of 15 current U.S. government departments. The department oversees the Bureau of Engraving and ...

sanctioned Wanshan Special Vehicle, accusing the company of deliberately proliferating of weapons of mass destruction by aiding North Korea's mobile ballistic missile capability, but kept silent about their American

engines.

Operators

Current operators

North Korea is the sole and current operator of the WS51200.

Former operators

While not an operator, The PRC is the chief manufacturer of the WS51200 TEL.

References