K1 Type 88

K1 Type 88
Countries	South Korea
Role	Main battle tank
In service	1987–present
Built	1400+

The K1 is a South Korean main battle tank in use with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, developed by Hyundai Precision (later Hyundai Rotem). The vehicle’s early design work was based on General Dynamics’ M1 Abrams, with some noticeable differences including a combined system of hydropneumatic suspension and torsion bars, and a river-crossing fording kit, to meet the required operational capability that was specific to combat operations in the mountainous and swampy terrain of the Korean Peninsula. The K1A1 entered service in 1999, upgraded with a 120 mm smoothbore gun, and outfitted with more modern electronics, ballistic computers, and fire control systems developed by Samsung Electronics. Hyundai Rotem produced 1,511 K1 and K1A1 tanks between 1985 and 2010.

Source: K1 Type 88 on Wikipedia

K1 Type 88 Walk Around
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General Characteristics

The K1 Main Battle Tank, also referred to as the Type 88 (88 전차), was the first domestically developed tank of the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA). Its design, which began in the early 1980s, was heavily influenced by the US M1 Abrams, but was modified to suit South Korea’s specific operational requirements, particularly its mountainous terrain. This led to unique features like the hybrid hydropneumatic and torsion bar suspension system and a lower profile than the M1 Abrams. The K1 series remains the backbone of the ROKA’s armored forces.

Property	Typical Value (K1 Base Model)
Role	Main Battle Tank (MBT)
National Origin	South Korea
Manufacturer	Hyundai Rotem (formerly Hyundai Precision Industry)
In Service	1987–Present
Crew	4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver)
Combat Weight	51.1 tonnes
Length (Gun Forward)	9.67 m (31 ft 9 in)
Height	2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)

Armament and Fire Control

Main Armament (K1): 1 x 105 mm KM68A1 rifled gun (licensed production of the US M68A1), manually loaded.
Main Armament (K1A1/A2 Upgrade): 1 x 120 mm KM256 smoothbore gun (licensed production of the US M256).
Ammunition Capacity: 47 rounds (105 mm) or 32 rounds (120 mm).
Secondary Armament:
- 1 x 12.7 mm K6 heavy machine gun (commander’s).
- 1 x 7.62 mm M60D machine gun (loader’s).
- 1 x 7.62 mm M60E2-1 coaxial machine gun.
Fire Control System: Computerized FCS with a Nd:YAG or later CO2 laser rangefinder, allowing for high first-round hit probability while on the move (hunter-killer capability enabled by commander’s panoramic sight).

Protection and Mobility

Armor: Classified composite armor, closely related to the British Chobham armor technology used on the M1 Abrams.
Engine: MTU MB 871 Ka-501 8-cylinder water-cooled diesel engine.
Engine Power: 1,200 hp (890 kW).
Power-to-Weight Ratio: Approx. 23.4 hp/tonne.
Maximum Speed (Road): 65 km/h (40 mph).
Operational Range: 500 km (310 mi).
Suspension: Hybrid system combining hydropneumatic units (front and rear roadwheels) with torsion bars (center roadwheels), which allows the driver to adjust the tank’s posture for better gun depression/elevation in hilly terrain.
Fording Capability: Can ford 1.2 m unprepared or 2.2 m with preparation (snorkel kit).