Hi,

I made a division concept about a week ago, and thankfully, people seemed to like it! I also got some good suggestions and ways to improve it. So, thank you all for showing interest. If nobody had given a damn, it would have been quite sad. South Korea would be a very interesting addition to WARNO even if we don't stretch too far with various prototypes like in WGRD.

If the 1st Infantry Division 'Jeonjin' was defensive, today's proposal is a division structured in an offensive style. Like the previous post, this is written in a Eugen devblog-style article. Let's go!

-A 'defense' division and an 'attack' division

South Korea's biggest threat in 1989 (and today) is primarily North Korea. If the North were to attack, front-line 'defense' divisions such as the previously introduced 1st Infantry Division would defend around the General Outpost (GOP) and DMZ. These units would delay the North Korean advance as much as possible while preserving their combat power for future use.

8th Infantry Division (another so-called 'attack' division) conducting air mobile operations in 1984

While the front-line divisions conduct delaying action, divisions slightly back from the front line would gear up and leave their barracks to head to the front. These 'attack' divisions conducted far more offensive exercises compared to regular front-line divisions (such as armored warfare and airmobile operations). Now, what kind of unit would prepare to counterattack during a Second Korean War, you ask? This important mission is given to the Sudo Gigyehwabobyeong Sadan (there is no way foreigners are going to read this properly), or Capital Mechanized Infantry Division 'Maengho.'

-Capital Mechanized Infantry Division 'Maengho' history

Sudo Gigyehwabobyeong Sadan emblem

This unit started as the 'Capital Defense Command' in 1949. After the capital fell into communist hands in July 1950, it went through a lot of reorganization. This is when the unit became the Sudo Sadan, or Capital Division. After the Incheon landings, it pushed north with other UN elements until it reached Chongjin, making it the northernmost UN unit of the entire war.

However, after China entered the war, this division was pushed back near the 38th parallel. It was then deployed to various battles and used to hunt down communist guerrillas for the remaining period of the war. When the ceasefire happened, this division was spread out throughout the Pocheon area.

A map showing upper Gyeonggi province with the 1st Infantry, Capital Mechanized Infantry Division, and a sneak peak of the two upcoming proposals!

Post-Korean War, this unit was an infantry division stationed in the Pocheon and Gapyeong area. It was later deployed to Vietnam to support its US allies, alongside other Army and Marine divisions. Showing impressive performance on the tropical battlefield (and thanks to its divisional insignia), it earned the nickname 'Tiger Division.'

What to expect for the Sudo Gigyehwabobyeong Sadan

After withdrawing from Vietnam, it was finally reorganized as the Capital Mechanized Infantry Division, bolstered with equipment passed down by the US. As one of two mechanized divisions in South Korea's arsenal during the Cold War, this division trained to attack in case another war broke out on the peninsula. Being such an important formation, this division was the first to receive armored equipment and was expected to receive help from other units to support a major counterattack. Expect field modifications for enhanced combat as well!

-Sudo Gigyehwabobyeong Sadan in WARNO

How will the Sudo Gigyehwabobyeong Sadan be featured in WARNO? New units are both bold and italic. As always, the following is still a work in progress and subject to change.

LOG

An expensive category. The Sudo Gigyehwabobyeong Sadan, or Su-Gi-Sa, maneuvers north with only mobile logistic assets at its disposal, meaning it will not feature a BOGEUPSO (FOB)!

Command units are the following:

-The ubiquitous K111 BONBU jeep and the tracked M577 BONBU APC.

-Supply units are the KM113A1 BOGEUP tracked supply and the K-511 BOGEUP medium truck. It will also feature the CH-47D BOGEUP Chinook supply helicopter as a heavy option.

INF

A good category. Expect a lot of Gigyehwabobyeong, or mechanized infantry, to support your push!

K200 APC during trials

-The backbone is the Gigyehwabobyeong, or GI-BO: an 8-man squad with 1x K1A submachine gun, 6x K2 rifles, 1x M60, and an M72 LAW. They will ride the unarmed K-511, the ROKA UH-1Y, or the KM113A1 .50 cal-armed APC. Since the Panzerfaust 3 started to be issued in the late 80s, this will be reflected in one card of GI-BO [PZF]: an 8-man unit with 7x K2, 1x M60, and the Panzerfaust 3. These will deploy in the unarmed K-511 or the domestic K200 .50 cal-armed APC. This APC was developed to replace the old KM113A1 and will be identical to the Belgian and Dutch AIFV.

-The command variant is the GI-BO BONBU, a 6-man squad with 6x K2 and an M72 LAW, riding the K-311, ROKA UH-1Y, or KM113A1.

-HWAGI-BAN is a fire support unit from the mechanized infantry battalion's weapons company: a 6-man team with 3x K2, 3x M60, and an M72 LAW. They will ride the K-511 or the K200 M40, a field-modified K200 sporting the M40 recoilless rifle and a .50 cal. Mechanized infantry divisions were seen fielding the M40 on K200 APCs in the future. Consider this unit a predecessor of that!

Support units include:

-The M60 HMG, deployed in K-111 jeeps.

-I**-TOW**, deployed in K-111 jeeps thanks to corps anti-tank support.

-The usual HEONBYEONG 4-man military police squads, armed with K2 rifles. They will ride the K-111 HEONBYEONG military police jeep to control the long armored column.

Crucial for armored formations, engineer support is as follows:

-POKPA GONGBYEONG is a 6-strong engineer squad specializing in explosives, with 6x K2, an M72 LAW, and satchel charges.

-JEONTU GONGBYEONG is an 8-man combat engineer squad with 7x K2, 1x M60, and an M202 FLASH launcher.

-The GONGBYEONG BONBU is a 10-strong command squad with 8x K2 and 2x M60.

Capital Mechanized Infantry Division unit fielding a double-mounted .50 cal during TEAM SPIRIT '85

All engineers will feature the shock trait and ride the K-711 heavy truck or the KM113A1 JIWON, an M113 modified to arm a double .50 cal mount!

TEAM SPIRIT '89

-The division will also get support from US 2nd Infantry Division units in Uijeongbu, adjacent to Pocheon. Although a ROK/US Combined Division concept didn't exist in the 80s, American units were expected to support Korean units, or vice versa, in case of war. This will be implemented as one AIR CAV. TROOPERS in UH-60A BLACKHAWK.

ART

An average category. As a mechanized division, this unit's artillery was among the first to receive SPGs, while towed artillery was expected to keep pace with lead formations via helicopter when necessary.

-Mortars consist of the KM29A1 81mm mortar carried by a K-311 truck or KM113A1. The self-propelled option is the M106 4.2" mortar carrier.

M101 being airlifted by a Chinook

-The sole towed artillery is the M101 105mm KOKSA-PO, towed by the K-511 truck or airlifted by the ROKA CH-47D.

K55 JAJU-PO during a live fire exercise in 1989

-Unlike the 1st Infantry, Su-Gi-Sa had the 8" JAJU-PO as organic artillery. But that's not all! South Korea was in the process of enhancing artillery mobility from the mid-80s onward. The fruit of this development was the K55 JAJU-PO, a 155mm SPG similar in stats to the M109A2. As the first domestic SPG, this piece was issued to important units such as the Su-Gi-Sa, since arming this division was a top priority.

TANK

A very good category. The Capital Mechanized Infantry Division was an armor-heavy division despite being a mechanized infantry division — almost heavy enough to be called an armored division. The difference was clear when compared to the rival 20th Mechanized Infantry Division, which had more mechanized infantry than tanks.

The K-1 '88 Tank' manouvering during a appointment ceremony in 1987

-The workhorse of the Su-Gi-Sa is the K-1 main battle tank. This tank began as an idea for a domestic design to replace the phased-out M48 Patton, starting in the mid-1970s. The US, already developing the M1 Abrams at the time, offered to help with the project, so its design was heavily influenced by America. With various research conducted in the early-to-mid 80s, South Korea finally adopted a domestic tank in 1987. This tank will be in the middle of the original M1 Abrams and M1IP stats-wise. As the first division to receive this tank, it will field numerous cards of the 'vanilla' and BONBU variants, both sporting the 105mm gun, a .50 cal MG, and 2x M60.

-Despite being first in line for the K-1 MBT, the Su-Gi-Sa didn't receive all of it — a few of its tank battalions had lower priority than other divisions or armored brigades. This will be reflected by the division fielding one card each of the M48A5K 'vanilla' and BONBU leader variant.

ATGM assets are available as follows:

-K-113 TOW I-TOW jeep, courtesy of higher corps anti-tank elements.

REC

A decent category. One of many differences between a regular infantry division and a mechanized division was that the latter had Gigap Susaek battalions (armored recon), similar to a West German Panzeraufklärungsbataillon. A Gigap Susaek battalion consisted of light recon (infantry) and heavy recon (vehicle), conducting various recon missions from scouting to Reconnaissance-In-Force (RIF). Since this battalion served as the whole division's eyes, it was first in line for new equipment, even within the division. All recon infantry will feature the shock and mountaineer traits, thanks to their hardened training.

-SUSAEK BAN is a light 4-man scout unit with 4x K1A submachine guns. They will ride the K-111 jeep or ROKA UH-1Y. There is also some of the larger GIGAP SUSAEK, an 8-strong unit armed with 7x K2, one K2 TRILUX (a K2 rifle fitted with the British L2A2 SUIT scope), and a Panzerfaust 3. They will ride either the unarmed K-511 or the K200 JEONGCHAL .50 cal-armed APC.

Vehicle recon units are as follows:

-K-111 JEONGCHAL jeep, armed with an M60.

Gigap Susaek battalion elements in front of their K-1 MBT in the late 80s

-The division will also have one card of the K-1 GEONGCHAL recon tank. The armored recon battalion of the Su-Gi-Sa was one of the first to receive the K-1 MBT — even before some tank battalions! Having the same stats as the version in the TANK tab, this unit reflects the heavy recon duties the battalion was capable of.

-Aerial recon is handled by the UH-1Y JEONGCHAL armed with 2 M60 machine guns. South Korea did not have a proper recon helicopter at this time, so the Huey was pressed into the recon role — not by attaching recon equipment... but simply by giving the crew binoculars.

AA

An expensive category. Since most Korean AA assets were towed, they had a hard time keeping pace with the advancing armored columns. But US forces will support this division's counterattack with their own assets — don't forget to thank good ol' Uncle Sam!

-The MANPADS option is the HYU-SAM JAVELIN, riding the K-111 jeep. South Korea purchased Javelin missiles in 1986 during the official visit of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, in an attempt to replace the unreliable REDEYE.

A KM113A1 with the VADS (left) during the Busan-Masan Uprising in 1979

-The anti-air gun is available as the towed KM167 VADS. But to improve mobility, the Su-Gi-Sa will field another modification: the KM113A1 VADS, which bolts a KM167 VADS onto a KM113A1.

-The USFK's 5th Air Defense Artillery, stationed near Uijeongbu, will allot a few M48A1 CHAPARRAL to cover the skies with greater mobility.

HEL

An average category. The Capital Mechanized Infantry Division will get support from both older and newly delivered helicopters.

An AH-1J during an exercise to hold off enemy mechanized units in 1982

-First up is the older AH-1J [RKT] variant, armed with the M197 20mm Gatling and two sets of 38x Hydra rockets.

-Alongside this, expect the AH-1S COBRA, armed with the M197 20mm Gatling, 38x Hydra rockets, and 8x I-TOW missiles, and the AH-1F COBRA, which replaces the I-TOW with the more powerful TOW-2.

AIR

Another average category. Due to the critical nature of the Su-Gi-Sa's mission, the ROKAF will commit some of its newest fighter jets, while the USFK fighter fleet provides limited support.

Ground attack roles are handled by:

-The KF-5E JEGONGHO [RKT] fighter, with twin 20mm guns and 38x FFAR rockets.

-The F-4E PEACE PHEASANT II [AT] variant, armed with the Vulcan, 2x AGM-65B Maverick missiles, and 2x AIM-7E missiles, plus the F-4E PEACE PHEASANT II [HE1], with the 20mm Vulcan, 2x AIM-7E missiles, and 6x MK 82 bombs.

ROKAF F-16C being armed with Maverick missiles

-ROKAF's newest toy, the F-16C BLOCK 32 [HE], armed with the Vulcan, 2x MK 83 bombs, and 2x AIM-9L, and the F-16C BLOCK 32 [AT], which replaces the iron bombs with 2x AGM-65B Maverick missiles.

Expect air cover from the following:

-F-16C BLOCK 32 [AA], armed with the Vulcan and 4x AIM-9L (not a shotgun variant, mind you!).

-F-4E PEACE PHEASANT II [AA], fielding the 20mm Vulcan, 4x AIM-7E missiles, and 4x AIM-9P missiles.

-USFK 8th Tactical Fighter Wing assets, represented as one card of F-16C [AA].

Summary

The Sudo Gigyehwabobyeong Sadan is a heavy division that relies on tanks and APCs with decent support from the US. However, it has a tight logistical and AA situation, so make every decision count for each attack!

Ending remarks

Like my previous post, I hope this was an interesting read! As an offensive division, this division had all the best South Korea had in the late 80s. I tried to gather all possible sources while writing this. Video references, any US documents related to this division, and a lot of human sources. Since the basic research was done when I started with the 1st Infantry, it was a bit easier. Now, some notes before ending!

-Why not more K200 APCs?

While the K-1 MBT was prioritized for the Capital Mechanized Infantry, the K200 APC was focused on the 20th Mechanized Infantry Division. Due to this, the 20th would have more K200s, but have fewer K-1 tanks and way more M48A5Ks.

-Giving binoculars to helicopter crew turns a helicopter into a make-shift recon?

I wanted to give a recon helicopter option in any way possible. South Korea invited the 'magician' Uri Geller in hopes of finding North Korean underground tunnels during the late 80s. Given how unreal reality was, I think giving binoculars to helicopter crews is not an 'unrealistic' option.

-KAFV 25 or 40/50?

An interesting unit in WGRD indeed! I loved them in WGRD so much. However, this project was done in the mid 90s with only 5-6 real prototypes. I know WARNO allows an M2W with units developed around the first Gulf War, but this short-lived project was after that war. But it could be an interesting unit only available to the GI-BO [PZF] if possible.

A unit worth mentioning is the K-1A1 tank armed with the 120mm smoothbore cannon instead of the 105mm. Development started as intelligence reports said North Koreans adopted the T-72 in the early 90s (which turned out not to be true in real life). With a history twist in WARNO, adding a 120mm cannon could have happened earlier, since my scenario for the Second Korean War mentions the Soviets supplying new weapons to North Korea. But I feel this is a decision Eugen should make. Leave your thoughts in the comments!

-USFK units

My initial proposal had more American units to reflect how close this division was to the forward-deployed US 2nd ID elements (ATGM vehicles, helicopters, etc.). But my ego to make a more 'Korean' division won. And besides, I have plans to propose 2nd ID; so it could be an overlap when this division is already interesting!

-ROKAF F-16Cs being able to fire the AIM-7 Sparrow

Some of the research and sources indicated that the Korean F-16Cs were one of the few foreign Fighting Falcons which can fire the Sparrow missile. But unfortunately, my confidence in Air Force units is lower than in ground units. So I decided not to feature them, since USFK elements already have long-range air-to-air missiles.

If you have other suggestions, or think something is weird, please leave a comment!

Hi all,

I played WARNO since early access and always enjoyed seeing WARNO memes and reading numerous country/division suggestion posts on Reddit. With new DLCs and expansions taking place in theatres outside Western Europe, I started to wonder: what if my country was represented in WARNO?

I've actually read some divisional concepts right here on Reddit by other people, but I thought my country could be better represented by someone who can search for more info and actually served in its military. So without further ado, let me introduce... South Korea!

ROKA (Republic of Korea Army)

If Eugen ever plans to release an East Asian DLC, South and North Korea would be essential nations. Of course, countries like Japan, China, and Taiwan are key elements in that sort of DLC as well. But for now, I mapped out a sizeable DLC by making it like the NORTHAG/SOUTHAG expansions; a 'Second Korean War' DLC featuring four South Korean/American BLUFOR divisions, and another four for the North Korean/Soviet REDFOR counterpart.

With the given timeline in WARNO, it's unfortunate I can't introduce some cool weapons since a genuine improvement of equipment started in the 90s. However, I will still try to march-to-war some units to add flavor while not stretching too far. Likewise, I'll try to weigh more on the 'fun' aspect instead of emphasizing realism in a fake war.

I tried to make it in a Eugen devblog-style article. It became longer than I expected, but if you're into military and military history, it could be worth the read. I also added a lot of pics for easier understanding and to make it less boring. Hope you enjoy it!

-South Korean Military history

Let's talk about the Daehanminguk Gukgun, or Republic of Korea Armed Forces, in the late 1980s. South Korea was led by military dictatorships during most of the Cold War. With the first coup d'état in 1961 that led to a prolonged dictatorship until 1979, a sudden assassination of the dictator caused another turmoil and coup. The second dictatorship would go on over most of the 80s and end in 1988. Despite long military dictatorships, Korea experienced rapid economic growth during this period. And of course, the Korean Armed Forces started modernizing its army thanks to the growing wealth. As a country that relied on conscripts, it maintained around 600,000 troops during the Cold War.

During the Cold War, South Korea's main focus was always on holding back its unfriendly brother in the north. The Korean War devastated the peninsula, and after the war, the South Korean forces were a poorly equipped army using US equipment that depended on the US 8th Army(USFK).

Start of modernization

But from the 1970s, in an attempt to rely less on the US, South Korea started to modernize and develop weapon systems of its own. Starting from rifles to tanks, South Korea started making weapons that fit their terrain and needs.

-South Korea in the WARNO timeline

Ever since Gorbachev was overthrown by hardline communists, South Korea has been on high alert. North Korean-Soviet relations suddenly became tighter than ever, and intelligence agencies report that the Soviets are sending instructors and supplying North Korea with new weapons. Tensions grow on the front line, with intense firefights at the GOP, and a surge of North Korean espionage operations.

With the Cold War gone hot in Europe, the shadow of war circles the Korean peninsula. When the Soviets attacked Fulda, North Korean troops mobilize on their front line in the far east and start a daring attack on the same day. And the first unit to receive gunfire on the Korean peninsula... is the South Korean Je-il Bobyeongsadan, or 1st Infantry Division 'Jeonjin'.

-South Korean 1st Infantry Division 'Jeonjin' history

Je-il Bobyeongsadan flag

After achieving independence from the Japanese Empire after World War 2, this division started as a border guard unit in 1946. It then became the 1st Brigade in 1947, and finally evolved into the 1st Infantry Division in 1949.

Stationed in Kaesung patrolling the 38th parallel, it carried out defensive operations in the Imjin River and Paju area during the early stages of the Korean War. It would then slowly retreat further down, executing delaying action on the North Korean invaders, until it reached the outskirts of Busan.

After successfully holding Busan, the 1st Infantry Division would participate in the Incheon landings and spearhead north. This division was the first Korean unit to capture Pyeongyang, and would continue going further north; this was when the Korean president gave its nickname 'Jeonjin,' which means forward.

Paju, Munsan area. Only 30km north of Seoul

However, after the Chinese intervention, the tide started to change, leaning more toward a defensive operation against the swarm of Chinese units. The division would be pushed way back to the Imjin River and Paju area, ending the war there. After the war, South Korea would fortify its border by building General Outposts (GOP) that stretch all across the Korean border, and Guard Posts (GP) within the DMZ.

General Outpost (GOP)

During the 1980s, the Je-il Bobyeongsadan would guard the GOP and GPs in the Paju and Munsan area, surveilling infiltrations and suspicious North Korean movements. As the '1st' implies, this division was treated with pride, and was the infantry division to receive new equipment first in line. Although lacking heavy armor or helicopter support, this division has a large pool of infantry and recon force, and can count on artillery support from both divisional and corps assets.

The Je-il Bobyeongsadan in WARNO

How will the Je-il Bobyeongsadan be featured in WARNO? New units are both bold and italic. As always, the following is still work in progress and subject to change.

LOG

An average category. The South Korean Je-il Bobyeongsadan can count on organic logistical units made up of domestic trucks. However, it lacks helicopter options due to higher demands elsewhere.

-The sole command unit in the Logistics tab is the venerable K111 BONBU jeep. South Korean divisions were far from motorized/mechanized in the late 1980s. Regular infantry divisions lacked armored assets, hence why there are no armored CVs.

K-511 truck

-Supply units include the K-511 BOGEUP medium truck and the K-711 BOGEUP heavy truck. As the division would be defending its operations area, it would also receive the BOGEUPSO (being a FOB).

INF

A very good category, since this is a very infantry-heavy division after all!

-The core of this tab is the BOBYEONG, which are 8-strong squads with 7x K2 rifles, 1x M60, and M72 LAW. The BOBYEONG [M67] replaces the M72 LAW with an M67 recoilless rifle, but has fewer cards than the regular BOBYEONG. Both will ride the unarmed K-511 or K-511 MG50 .50 armed trucks.

K-511 MG50 during TEAM SPIRIT '89

-The BOBYEONG BONBU is a 4-strong command squad with 2x K1A submachine guns, 2x K2, and smoke grenades. They will come in a K111 jeep.

Support units are the following:

-Weapon support team include: M60 HMG teams and MG50 .50 cal teams, they will all deploy in the K-311 light truck.

-One card of I-TOW deployed in a K111 jeep from the divisional anti-tank company

-Rear security is done by the HEONBYEONG 4-man military police squads armed with K2 rifles. They will perform security duties with the K-111 HEONBYEONG military police jeep.

-K-116, a jeep armed with the M40 recoilless rifle

Engineers play a core role in South Korean operations. They would demolish key infrastructure, fortify key choke points, and even be used as regular infantry if necessary (Engineers were armed and trained as line infantry as well). They will all have the shock trait and ride the heavy K-711 trucks:

-POKPA GONGBYEONG is an 8-strong engineer squad specializing in explosives with 8x K2, M72 LAW, and satchel charges.

Individuals fire the M202 wearing fire proof clothings (but obviously won't be wearing those during a war though)

-JEONTU GONGBYEONG is a 6-strong combat engineer squad with 5x K2, 1x M60, and a M202 Flash launcher. Korea was the only country outside of the US to use the M202!

-The GONGBYEONG BONBU is a beefy 10-strong command squad with 8x K2, 2x M60.

ART

A pretty good category. The key mission of South Korean artillery was to saturate the North Korean DMZ sector and neutralize pre-planned key targets. The division can count on its organic artillery as well as corps-level support from the nearby 1st Artillery Brigade to do this job.

-Mortars consist of the KM29A1 81mm mortar and the KM30 4.2" mortar. Both will be carried by the K-311.

-Divisional artillery will be the M101 105mm KOKSA-PO and M114 155mm KOKSA-PO; both will be towed by the K-511 truck. This was a time before South Korea started standardizing to self-propelled guns. So divisional assets were still limited to towed guns.

KH-179

-1st Artillery Brigade assets are represented as the KH-179 155mm KOKSA-PO. The KH-179 was a domestic towed artillery piece made to replace the aging M114, and will perform similarly to the in-game US M198 155mm. But there's more! As the brigade had one of the few M110 battalions in Korea, they will also bring their valuable 8" JAJU-PO (no improvements or anything, just a Korean designation for M110) as heavy hitters.

TANK

A not-so-good category. An infantry division's tank battalion was not really the best in both quality and quantity during the 80s. Due to this, slot costs will rise very quickly.

M48A5K during a parade in 1984. Although the tanks in the picture are from the 2nd Armored Brigade (which is also in the Paju area), by 1989 these tanks would have been supplied to regular infatnry divisions.

-The division can only count on the M48A5K 'vanilla' and BONBU leader variant. This tank would perform similarly to the West German M48A2GA2 or Spanish M48A5E2. But due to the side skirt, it will have 1 more side armor.

K-113 TOW jeep securing an anti-tank barricade wall in the outskirts of Seoul

-Divisional anti-tank company lends a hand with the K-113 TOW jeep armed with an I-TOW.

REC

Another very good category with a lot of cheap slots... and A LOT to talk about! The 1st Infantry Division had an intelligence company, recon battalion, and each of the three infantry regiments had its own recon company as well. But ironically, reconnaissance was heavily focused on foot, meaning a very limited vehicle recon option.

A generic GOP patrol (look how the barbed wire fences go endlessly far!)

-Infantry divisions that guard the GOP, such as the 1st Infantry, had one infantry regiment doing surveillance duty 24/7. As a sort of forward observation force for the entire division, it would guard and patrol the long mountainous border. This regiment will be represented as one card of GOP BOBYEONG. These are 8-strong squads, the same as the regular BOBYEONG in the INF tab but with the mountaineer trait and riding the K-511 truck to battle.

How a typical GP would look like. Some enemy GPs would be so close that if someone yells, someone from the enemy GP would yell back.

But there is someone closer to the enemy than the GOP; the units in the GP. The GOP regiments' recon company elements would guard these concrete fortresses within the DMZ with hardly any support from others.

A soldier from an unknown unit aiming down an M16A1 with the British L2A2 SUIT scope (or so-called Trilux in Korean service).

-The GP elements will be represented as the GP SUSAEK. A 6-man team with 4x K2, one K3 LMG (a Korean SAW), one M16A1 DMR, and one M18 recoilless rifle. Although the same conscripts, SUSAEK units were trained more harshly and thoroughly. As such, they will have the shock and mountaineer traits. They will ride the unarmed JEONGCHAL K-311 recon truck.

One of the missions of recon units was to escort anti-North spies back through the DMZ. These spies, vaguely known as HID (Headquarters of Intelligence Detachment), are classified individuals trained to speak North Korean lingo, use their equipment, and sabotage the enemy as much as possible.

HID agent fielding an AK-74

-Although a unit commanded by Intelligence Command, we decided to represent these spies caught in the firefight of a conventional war! HID is a 6-strong unit fielding 5x Type 88 (North Korean AK-74), 1x Type 73 (North Korean PK machine gun using a 30-round magazine), and satchel charges. As tough spies, they will have the shock, special forces, and false flag traits. Since they were units within North Korean territories, they will wear North Korean uniforms and be airborne-forward-deployed, riding the stolen TALCHWI GAZ-69.

Unlike the plentiful infantry option, vehicle recon options are quite dreadful:

JEONGCHAL K111 during a night exercise

-The sole option is the JEONGCHAL K111. A jeep armed with an M60 and searchlights.

-Aerial recon is provided by the US. As the USFK regularly scouted the DMZ area, a US OH-85C SCOUT will be represented as helicopter recon.

AA

An average category that has the necessities. South Korea was in the process of improving their AA assets from the late 1970s.

STINGER purchase requests started from the late 70s. Although there are no declassified documents mentioning the exact date the STINGER was put into service; by 1989, AA units most definetly had this in use.

-MANPADS are available as HYU-SAM STINGER Stinger Basic teams. They will deploy in the K-111 jeep.

-Towed anti-air guns are the KM167 VADS Vulcan cannon.

-Paju and Munsan, the area the division covers, was one of the most heavily defended corridors in the western front. This also applied to anti-air assets. The ROK Army Air Defense Artillery Command will lend a few I-HAWK at their disposal.

HEL

An expensive category with only two slots. Divisional helicopter assets were basically non-existent at this time, meaning the division has to count on the already busy corps-level air assets.

-The sole 'pure' attack helicopter is the AH-1S COBRA armed with the M197 20mm Gatling, 38x Hydra rockets, 8x I-TOW missiles.

-Another option to fill in the gap is the 500MD TOW DEFENDER. A 500MD helicopter sporting 4x I-TOW missiles.

AIR

An average category as the DAEHANMINGUK GONGGUN, or the Republic of Korea Air Force scrambles its jets to support the division. Expect already seen options with a bit of a tweak!

Air superiority missions are done by:

KF-5E JEGONGHO similar in stats with the Dutch NF-5A

-KF-5E JEGONGHO [AA] (Korean made F-5E) figther with twin 20mm guns and 2x AIM-9P missiles.

-South Korea used its F-4E fleet to its maximum capacity. Firstly, this will be reflected as the F-4E PEACE PHEASANT II [AA] fielding the 20mm Vulcan, 4x AIM-7E missiles, and 4x AIM-9P missiles as a sort of 'gun truck' variant.

Ground attack missions are handled by:

-KF-5E JEGONGHO [HE] with twin 20mm guns and 2x MK 82 bombs.

An F-4 with 'Defense Donation Aircraft' paint. 7.1 billion KRW donated by the South Korean people were used to by 5 Phantom jets. It would be cool to use this paint job for ground attack role F-4s.

-F-4E PEACE PHEASANT II [HE1] with the 20mm Vulcan, 2x AIM-9P missiles, 6x MK 82 bombs. And an [HE2] variant that replaces the MK 82 bombs with 4x MK 83 bombs.

-The F-4E PEACE PHEASANT II [AT] variant armed with the Vulcan, 2x AGM-65B Maverick missiles, and 4x AIM-9P missiles.

Summary

The South Korean Je-il Bobyeongsadan is a division with excellent forward deployment that can hold ground with plenty of infantry and artillery support.

Ending remarks

I hope this was an interesting read! Despite it being an army from about 40 years ago, South Korea does not have many, or any, declassified documents regarding the TO&E or equipment that units had. Despite this, I looked at all the information available (starting from defense reports by the US, video documentation of the Korean forces from the late 80s, etc.). Nevertheless, it was more difficult to write this up than I expected.

While I was writing this up, some concepts or weapons never made it to the list. Nevertheless, it is still something worth mentioning.

-Mountaineer trait for ALL infantry units

Since South Korea is covered in mountains (about 60%), exercises emphasize mountain warfare even to this day. Due to this, I thought of giving the mountaineer trait to every infantry unit, but eventually concluded that this would make the trait less special.

-Army reserve units

South Korea had about 3 to 4.5 million reserves in the 1980s. A lot of reserves were to be sent to the front line to bolster regular army units in case of war. However, with a sudden war like this, there is no way reserves would have made it to the front lines within 24 hours. And I already plan to make a mobilization division proposal anyway.

-USFK elements

There were tons of US 8th Army units near the frontline in the 80s (especially on the western front). There were so many that it wouldn't make sense not to feature them more often in this division. But I wanted to make this a more Korean division since future proposals include the US 2nd ID or Korean units to have heavier US support.

-March-to-war elements

• Would you believe it if all infantry riding trucks were march-to-war to begin with? Regular infantry divisions were barely motorized in the late 80s. Most infantry were expected to walk to their defensive positions if a war happened because divisions lacked vehicles to begin with.
• The Panzerfaust 3 was probably used in 1989 (like I said, no declassified documents to prove this, but the introduction date is the late 80s). However, such a new high-tech weapon would have been prioritized for more important units such as mechanized infantry divisions.
• The K-1 Main Battle Tank was introduced in 1987. Since Gorbachev was overthrown by hardline communists in the same year in WARNO's timeline, South Korea would have definitely boosted the production of this new tank. But still, as is with the PZF-3, these tanks would have been prioritized for mechanized divisions and armored brigades.
• Research for the K-9 Thunder SPG started in 1989. With WARNO's history twist, it could have started earlier. But even then, prototypes would have been far from the front line (Similar to the AS-90 in HDR London), making it very difficult for any front-line divisions to have them.

If you have any other suggestions, please leave a comment! I'd love to hear what other people think about South Korea and how you think it should be represented! Hopefully I'll come back soon with another South Korean unit proposal