- K1 88-Tank
Infobox Weapon
name=K1
caption=K1 88-Tank
origin=flag|South Korea
type=Main battle tank
is_vehicle=yes
manufacturer=Hyundai Rotem
unit_cost= ₩ 4,500,000,000.00 KRW
$ 43,035,000.00 MXN
$ 4,066,00.00 USD
€ 2,870,000.00 EUR
designer=General Dynamics
service=1987–present
production_date=1986–present
crew=4 (commander, gunner, loader and driver)
length=K1 -- 9.67 m
K1A1 -- 9.71m
width=3.60 m
height=2.25 m
weight=K1 -- 51.1 tons
K1A1 -- 54.5 tons
armour=Composite
primary_armament= K1 -- KM68A1 105 mm (47 rounds)
K1A1 -- KM256 120mm (32 rounds)
secondary_armament=12.7 mmK6 HMG on right pintle mount for commander
7.62 mm M60 on left pintle mount for loader
7.62 mm M60 on coaxial mount
engine=10-cyl. water-cooleddiesel MTU 871 Ka-501
engine_power=1200 hp (890 kW) at 2600 rpm
transmission=ZF LSG 3000 (Four forward, two reverse)
suspension=Hydropneumatic at front, torsion bar at rear of the chassis
speed=65 km/h
pw_ratio=K1 -- 23.4 hp / ton
K1A1 -- 22.0 hp / ton
vehicle_range=500 kmThe K1 is a
main battle tank in use with the South Korean ground forces. The vehicle was designed byGeneral Dynamics , while the production is handled domestically by Hyundai Precision. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/hyundai.htm Hyundai.] Retrieved on January 9, 2008]Name
The K1 is often incorrectly dubbed as Type 88 by foreigners. The correct name for the tank is 88 Tank (Hangul: 88전차 -- In South Korea, it is commonly referred to as the "Eight-Eight" tank, not "Eighty-Eight".). "Type 88" would actually translate into 88식, which is completely different as the South Korean military applies the American method of marking their equipment, such as "M#A#", and do not use the "Type ##" designations to refer to their equipment. It was put into service with
Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) andRepublic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) in 1987, but is tagged 88 to honor the1988 Summer Olympics that took place in Seoul, KoreaK1 overview
K1 is a fifty-two ton tank with a 105 mm main gun, sophisticated 32-bit
fire control system by Hughes andcomposite armour . Because of the similarity of its outer appearance to that of the U.S. Military'sM1 Abrams tank, American troops stationed in South Korea dubbed the tank the "Baby Abrams". Other than the size, the K1 is different from its American counterpart in several ways: the fire control system is similar to that of the GermanLeopard tank ; the powerplant is a German MTU diesel engine that is produced under license domestically; and is equipped with a hybrid suspension system consisting of hydropneumatic at the front and torsion bar at the rear on the chassis.North Korean defectors have indicated that the K1 is superior to the North Korean army's tanks. This led the North Koreans to upgrade their
T-62 (seeCh'onma-Ho ) in hopes of creating an effective countermeasure against the K1. Despite the effort, the North Koreans apparently have not come up with an effective means of countering the K1 threat, and have given the K1 and the K1A1 battle tanks the nickname of "Monster Tank". (Hangul: 괴물 전차)K1A1 overview
The K1A1 was accepted into Korean service on
October 13 ,2001 after the first one was produced onApril 3 ,1996 [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/k1a1.htm K1A1 Main Battle Tank.] Retrieved on January 9, 2008.] . It is similar to its predecessor, with the exception of a larger 120 mm main gun with vastly improved penetration power. The new version also includes an improved fire-control system featuring thermal image KGPS (Korean Gunner's Primary Sight), KCPS (Korean Commander's Panoramic Sight), along with improved survivability for the engine. The FCS gives the tank a 90% or greater chance of hitting its target while on the move, while the highest score it achieved topped off at 98%. The improved armor is roughly equivalent to that of an M1A1 without depleted uranium plating inserts. Thelaser rangefinder is CO2-based.The KCPS specifications for K1A1 is as follows;
*Zoom: 3× / 10× (day & night)
*Vertical scan angle (the amount of angle which the optics can move up and down): +/- 35˚
*Horizontal scan angle (the amount of angle which the optics can turn): 360˚
*Gunner's alternate sight zoom: 8×The
carbon dioxide laser rangefinder's specification is as follows;
*Range: 200 ~ 7,990 m
*Daytime magnification: 1× / 10×
*Nighttime magnification: 3× / 10×The K1A1 can easily be distinguished from the K1 by the shape of the gun, location of the co-axial machinegun, the shape of the commander's panoramic sight, and the overall angular shape of the turret. (The K1A1 has more curved surfaces than the K1.) The 120 mm smoothbore gun of K1A1 is thicker than the K1's 105 mm rifled gun and has a thicker thermal sleeve a third of the way from the base of the gun. The co-axial machinegun on K1A1 is located at a much higher point compared to the K1. The K1A1 also features a somewhat cone-shaped day/night KGPS compared to day-only sight of the K1 that has a plain, tube-like appearance to it.
Variants
K1 ARV
The K1 Armored Recovery Vehicle is based on the K1 tank. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/hyundai.htm Hyundai.] Retrieved on January 9, 2008] It has a crane, winch and dozer system built on the vehicle [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/k1-arv.htm K1 ARV.] Retrieved on January 9, 2008.] . Created with assistance from Krupp Mak maschinbau Gmbh (now Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH)and was created from
1988 to1992 with first deployment in1993 . [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/k1-arv.htm K1 ARV.] Retrieved on January 9, 2008.]K1 AVLB
The K1 Armoured vehicle-launched bridge Vehicle variant uses a scissor-type bridge system mounted on the chassis. Developed from
1988 to1992 with help from Vickers Defense Systems. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/k1-avlb.htm K1 AVLB.] Retrieved on January 9, 2008.]K1M
This is a proposed export variant for
Malaysia that never took off. In 1997, Malaysia expressed high interest for obtaining the K1, and ROK responded by showing them the concept for K1M, which had several features not present in baseline K1, including LASER warning system and air conditioning unit. It was to weigh 49.7 tons, while the total ammunition capacity would have been reduced to 41 rounds. The two nations never reached an agreement as ROK offered a contract for 210 K1M's, but Malaysia responded that it was not enough, and chose to go withPoland 'sPT-91 .K1A1
See K1A1 overview above for details.
General overview
The tank can "sit" and "stand", as well as "kneel" by using its extensive suspension system that allows each of the road wheels, or "bogies", to be adjusted in height. "Sitting" gives the tank lower profile and offers better handling over roads. "Standing" allows the tank better maneuverability over rough terrain. "Kneeling" increases the angle that the tank's gun barrel can elevate and depress, which allows the tank to fire its main gun downhill—something that very few tanks can do—and gives it better ability to engage low-flying aircraft.
Its mobility allows it to climb slopes as steep as 60 degrees.
The suspension system is not completely without its own flaws, as it reportedly breaks down often from extremely intensive usage. The Hydropneumatic Suspension Unit is installed at the front axle, with a torsion bar at the rear.
Both the K1 and K1A1 have two
M60 machine gun s, one pintle-mounted M60D and one coaxial M60E2. It also uses the K6 heavy machine gun on a pintle mount.Operators
ROK - Over 1500 by 2010 [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/army-equipment.htm Republic of Korea Army Equipment.] ]
The future of K1
The K1 series are expected to replace the older
M48 Patton tanks. The ROK Army & Marine Corps plans to field approximately 1,027 K1 and 484 K1A1 MBTs in the future as reserves once the 680K2 Black Panther MBTs project reaches its peak.ee also
K2 Black Panther References
External links
* [http://www.rotem.co.kr/eng/main_html/business.asp?url="2-6-1-M" K1A1 Tank Overview] at
Rotem Website (Best viewed inInternet Explorer ).
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/type-88-mbt.htm Type 88 K1 Main Battle Tank] atGlobalSecurity.org
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/k1a1.htm K1A1 Main Battle Tank] at GlobalSecurity.org
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/k1-pics.htm Photos] at GlobalSecurity.org
* [http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/k1a1.htm K1A1 Photos and Walk Arounds at Prime Portal]
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