Daewoo Precision Industries K2

Daewoo Precision Industries K2
Daewoo Precision Industries K2 assault rifle with K201 launcher.
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Republic of Korea
Service history
In service	1984–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Gulf War Operation Enduring Freedom[1] Iraq War[1] 2006 Fijian coup d'état
Production history
Designer	Agency for Defense Development Daewoo Precision Industries
Designed	1983
Manufacturer	Daewoo Precision Industries[2]
Produced	1984–present
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	3.26 kg
Length	980 mm, 730 mm with folded stock
Barrel length	465 mm
Cartridge	5.56 x 45 mm NATO
Action	Gas operated, Rotating bolt
Rate of fire	750 RPM
Muzzle velocity	920 m/s (SS109), 960 m/s (M193)
Effective range	500-600 m (SS109), 460 m (M193)
Maximum range	2400 m
Feed system	Various STANAG Magazines.
Sights	Iron sights

The Daewoo Precision Industries K2 is an assault rifle of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries. It is a shoulder-fired, gas-operated, selective-fire assault rifle that feeds from a 20 or 30 round magazine and is chambered for 5.56 NATO. The K2 replaced the M16A1 rifle in South Korean military use^[3] in 1984.^[4] The K2 formally entered South Korean military service in 1987.^[5]

Design

Daewoo K2

Daewoo K2 with folded stock

The K2 uses a tough polymer for the forearm, pistol-grip and side-foldable buttstock. Externally similar in appearance to the AR18, its bolt carrier group is derived from the American M16 rifle,^[6] but only some of the parts are interchangeable. The gas operating system is derived from the AK-47, and is consequently different from that of the M16. The K2 uses the same magazine and bolt as the M16; the bolt carrier does not interchange with the M16. The fire control system is derived from that of the M16 but few parts interchange without modification. The barrel rifling has 6 grooves, 1-in-7.3 right hand twist. The K2, as well as the K1 carbine, can be equipped with the Daewoo K201, an undercarried 40mm grenade launcher patterned after the American M203.^[1]

K1 carbine and K2 rifle

While the K1/K1A carbine is commonly regarded as a carbine version of the K2, it is better to consider the K1 a separate carbine ^[7] because:

• The K1 was developed earlier than the K2.
• The K1 uses direct impingement gas system, while the K2 uses a long stroke gas piston system.
• The K1 has a 1-in-12 rifling twist for KM193 (5.56 mm) rounds, while the K2 has a 1-in-7.3 rifling twist for both the KM193 (5.56 mm) rounds and the K100 (5.56 mm) green tip, full metal jacket rounds.
• The K1 was originally developed as a sub-machine gun, not as an assault carbine.

Variants

• Export versions of the K2 were sold as the DR-100 and DR-200, chambered in .223 Remington.^[8] DR-300 is chambered for 7.62x39mm.^[3]

• K2C: Carbine version of K2 rifle with RAS and minor modification.^[9]

Users

•  Bangladesh: Used by Special Warfare Diving And Salvage operators.^[10]
•  Fiji: Used by Republic of Fiji Military Forces, exact numbers unknown.^[11]
•  Indonesia: 210 K2 rifles purchased in 2008.^[12]
•  Republic of Korea: Serving as primary issued rifle to ROK forces. Used extensively in the Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraq War.^[1]
•  Lebanon^[13]
•  Nigeria: First customer of K2. 3,000 rifles purchased in 1983.^[13]
•  Peru: Used by the Infantería de Marina del Perú (Peruvian Naval Infantry).^[14]
•  Senegal^[13]

See also

• Daewoo Precision Industries K1
• S&T Daewoo XK8
• S&T Daewoo K11

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} http://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/CurrentIssue/dl.php?filename=201003140001071.pdf
2. ^ "Business Outline, Defense Business". S&T Daewoo. http://www.sntdaewoo.com/st/business07.html. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Guns World's Daewoo K2 rifle. Retrieved on October 27, 2009.
4. ^ "The 5.56 X 45mm: 1980-1985". The Gun Zone. http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw-8.html. Retrieved 2008-10-30. 
5. ^ "The 5.56 X 45mm: 1986-1994". The Gun Zone. http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw-9.html. Retrieved 2008-10-30. 
6. ^ "Daewoo K2 Assault Rifle". Gun's World. http://www.gunsworld.com/gun_ar/DaewooK2_us.html. Retrieved 2008-10-30. 
7. ^ Rifles n Guns' Daewoo K1 Page. Retrieved on October 27, 2008.
8. ^ Modern Firearm's Daewoo K2 and K1. Retrieved on October 30, 2008.
9. ^ "K계열 6가지 소총 직접 쏴보니". 아시아경제. http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2011051816525411562. 
10. ^ Bangladesh Military Forces. "Bangladesh Navy Special Warfare Diving And Salvage (SWADS)". http://www.bdmilitary.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=324&Itemid=138. Retrieved 2010-01-14. 
11. ^ Capie, David (2003). Under the gun: the small arms challenge in the Pacific. Victoria University Press. ISBN 9780864734532. 
12. ^ http://dtirp.dtra.mil/TIC/treatyinfo/UNITA/unita_report_08.pdf
13. ^ ^{a b c} "한국의 무기 이야기". http://www.segye.com/Articles/News/Politics/Article.asp?aid=20110531004060&subctg1=&subctg2=. 
14. ^ http://www.dintel-gid.com.ar/galerias/desfileperu2007.html

External links

• World Guns link
• S&T Daewoo Homepage