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K9 Thunder

K9 Thunder
K-9thunder.jpg
K9 Thunder
Type Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin South Korea
Service history
In service 1999 – present
Used by See Operators
Production history
Designer Samsung Techwin, Agency for Defense Development
Designed 1989–1998
Manufacturer Hanwha Techwin (formerly Samsung Techwin)
Unit cost $3.9 million
Produced 1999–present
Variants K10
Specifications
Weight 47 tonnes (K9)
Length 12 m
Width 3.4 m
Height 2.73 m
Crew 5 (Commander, Driver, Gunner, 2 Loaders)

Maximum firing 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)

Main
armament
52 cal (155mm howitzer)
Secondary
armament
12.7 mm (.50 caliber) K6 HMG
Engine MTU MT 881 Ka-500 8-cylinder water-cooled diesel
1000 hp
Power/weight 21 hp/ton
Transmission S&T Dynamics X1100-5A3
Suspension hydropneumatic
Operational
range
480 km
Speed 67 km/h

The K9 Thunder is a South Korean self-propelled 155 mm howitzer developed by Samsung Techwin for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. It was developed to supplement and then replace the K55 self-propelled howitzers in South Korean service. K9 howitzers operate in groups with the K10 automatic ammunition resupply vehicle.

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 K9 artillery system was awarded to Samsung Aerospace Industries (SSA) by the Korean Government on 22 December 1998. The Republic of Korea Army received its first batch of K9 in 1999.

The K9 Thunder saw the first combat during the Bombardment of Yeonpyeong on November 23, 2010. Six ROKMC howitzers engaged against the surprise attack from the North Korean artillery. Prior to the battle, the howitzers returned from a scheduled firing exercise, using most of the shells stored within the howitzer. In addition, one howitzer experienced a problem during the exercise that a shell became stuck in the barrel, disabling it. Two units received slight damage to their firing control systems during the initial North Korean attack, meaning only three out of the six units were able to counterattack. Eventually, the howitzer that had barrel problems joined the second counterattack after receiving field repairs. The K9s fought back in the ratio of shooting one shell every one minute and 30 seconds, because the marines had to carry the shells from the armory and manually load the howitzer under heavy fire after exhausting B/L rounds.

K9 is an indigenous system of an all-welded steel armour construction which is rated to withstand 14.5 mm armour piercing rounds, 152 mm shell fragments, and anti-personnel mines. The main armament consists of a 155 mm/52 caliber ordnance with a maximum firing range of 40 km; the K307 BB-HE projectile propelled by the K676 top charge has a muzzle velocity of 928 m/s (3,040 ft/s). State-of-the-art mobility subsystems include a 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) engine with potential for growth and hydropneumatic suspension unit, a requirement for Korea's rugged mountainous terrain.


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