K-9 howitzer

Infobox Weapon|is_vehicle=yes
name=K9 Thunder


caption=
type= Self-Propelled Howitzer
origin=flagicon|South Korea South Korea
flagicon|Turkey Turkey (T-155 Fırtına)
is_ranged=yes
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=yes
is_missile=
is_UK=
used_by=flagicon|South Korea Republic of Korea Army
flagicon|South Korea Republic of Korea Marine Corps
flagicon|Turkey Turkish Army
designer=Samsung Techwin
design_date=1996
manufacturer=Samsung Techwin
production_date=1999
variants=K-10, T-155 'Firtina' (Storm)
range= 360 km
max_range=30,000 m (HE) 38,000 m (DP-ICM base bleed) 41,600 m (Extended range full-bore-base) 52-56,000 m (BB+RAP extended range)
rate= 6~8 round/min (Maximum) 2 rounds/min (Sustained) 3 rounds in 15.0 seconds (Burst)
length=12 m
width=3.4m
height=2.73m
weight= 47 tonnes (K-9)
56 tonnes (T-155 'Firtina')
suspension= hydropneumatic
speed= 66 km/h
vehicle_range= 480 km
primary_armament= 52 cal (155mm howitzer)
secondary_armament= 7.62 mm machine gun
armour=
engine= MTU MT 881 Ka-500 8-cylinder water-cooled diesel
crew=5 (Commander, Driver, Gunner, 2 Loaders)
engine_power=1000 hp
pw_ratio= 21 hp/ton

The K-9 Thunder is an indigenous South Korean self-propelled 155 mm howitzer developed by Samsung Techwin.

General characteristics

K-9 is an indigenous system of an all-welded steel armour construction which is rated to withstand impact by 14.5 mm armour piercing shells and 152 mm shell fragments. The main armament consists of a 155 mm/52 caliber ordnance with a maximum firing range of 40 km. State-of-the-art mobility subsystems include a convert|1000|hp engine with potential for growth and hydropneumatic suspension unit, a requirement for Korea's rugged mountainous terrain.

It was designed to give the artillery wing of the Republic of Korea Army a significant improvement in capability. With a claimed range of 40 km, it offers greater mobility, longer range, higher rate of fire, and increased battlefield survivability as it can quickly be brought into action, open fire and come out of action. Consequently, it is less likely to be engaged by counterbattery fire, relying on shoot-and-scoot.

The unit also supports full NBC protection.

Time-On-Target

The K-9 has the ability to fire its shells in time-on-target mode. In the TOT mode, the K-9 is able to lob three shells in under 15 seconds--1 shell every 5 seconds--each in different trajectories so that all of the shells will arrive on their target at the same time, creating three times the effect that of previous generation artillery systems.

History

The development program of this 155 mm/52-caliber self-propelled howitzer has been underway since 1989. In 1996 the first prototype of this new artillery system was tested. The contract for the new K-9 artillery system was awarded to Samsung Aerospace Industries (SSA) by the Korean Government on 22 December 1998. The contract, the Republic of Korea Army received the first production batch of K-9 from prime contractor SSA in 1999.

Turkey has licensed the design of the K-9 and used it to develop their indigenous self-propelled howitzer, the T-155 Firtina. See T-155 Firtina below for more information.

The K-9 is also one of the three contenders for SPH part of Australia's Land 17 Artillery Replacement Program, facing off against Krauss-Maffei Wegmann's PzH 2000 and Denel's G-6.

Variants

K-10 tracked munition carrier/replenisher

The K-10 is a munition carrier/replenisher responsible for re-arming the K-9 Thunder. It is built upon the K-9's chassis. Conventional munition carrier/replenisher for field artillery units are often wheeled cargo trucks that can be hampered by rough terrain and harsh environment, as well as crews who have to expose themselves and manhandle the shells, making them vulnerable to counterbattery fire. The K-10, however, is fully tracked and enjoys the same mobility that K-9 has, and can follow along the main artillery battery without lagging behind.

The reloading process is fully automated, and neither of the crews in the K-9 or K-10 have to expose themselves in order to re-arm. The reloading is done through a munition bridge on the K-10 that extends out to lock itself into the square hole located at the rear of the K-9. This allows for the unit to re-arm itself under harsh conditions where crews' exposure to the environment poses a significant risk, such as nuclear, biological or chemically contaminated areas.

T-155 Fırtına (Storm)

T-155 Fırtına (Turkish: "Storm") is the Turkish version of the Korean designed K-9 self-propelled howitzer. Though the production of the howitzers took place within Turkey, the production rights and design belong to Samsung Techwin, the manufacturer of the K-9.

External links

* [http://blog.naver.com/ichuka/51268352 K-9 and K-10 Video]
* [http://blog.naver.com/ichuka/51268075 K-9 Hybrid Propulsion Projectile - 55 km]
* [http://blog.naver.com/mch7506?Redirect=Log&logNo=33468769 K-9 Howitzer and K-10 Artillery Munitions Carrier images]
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/k9.htm FAS on K-9 Howitzer]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/k9.htm Global Security on K-9 Howitzer]