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K55 SPG

1985 COLD WAR MODERN SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY

History

Before the arrival of the K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Gun (SPG), the South Korean Army relied on a similar form and function of the K55 series. The K55 is a localized evolution of the US Military M109A2 Paladin SPG series licensed from Samsung Techwin / Samsung Aerospace Industries (SSA).

The South Korean government has procured more than 1,100 (1,180) missiles of this type, providing the military with a long-range heavy impactor capable of dropping conventional, chemical and nuclear bombs at any potential enemy, namely North Korea. The K55 entered service in 1985.

The 25-ton K55 borrows heavily from the American M109, including its traditional design, including an armoured tracked landing gear and a boxy turret superstructure. The vehicle is piloted by a crew of six and its main weapon is a 155mm main gun with a length of 30 calibers. Defense is provided by 1 x 12.7mm K6 heavy machine gun. Power is provided by a 450-horsepower Detroit Diesel 8V-71T turbodiesel engine.

The maximum travel speed on ideal ground is 56 km/h. The main gun fires at a rate of 4 rounds per minute, and aiming is done manually. The full load on the K55 is 36 rounds.

The K55 entered the modernization program in 1994, hence the designation K55A1.

The newer 47-ton K9 Thunder officially entered service in 1999 with a 5-person crew, 48 rounds of projectiles, a rate of fire of 6 rounds per minute, manual or automatic aiming. Furthermore, the engine provides road speeds of up to 66 km/h.