K200A1 armored personnel carrier armed with M2HB in turret and M60 on pintle mount.
Source: Mu Yeol Lee @ www.primeportal.net -
© copyright lies with original owner
The KIFV is an armored personnel carrier of South Korean origin. It was developed in the early 1980's and is a further development of the US AIFV. The name KIFV stands for Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Unlike most users of the AIFV design South Korea never adopted a variant with an autocannon as mechanized infantry combat vehicle.
The KIFV has the same general layout as the AIFV. The two hatch arangement with the turret on the right is retained. Only several specialist vehicles having a single turret in the middle. The early batch KIFV already had a slightly better mobility than the original AIFV. The improved A1 model is the the standard production variant and introduces a steering wheel instead of tillers, a more power engine and a fully automatic transmission. The KIFV resulted in an entire family of vehicles. All these variants are based on the A1 model.
The standard armored personnel carrier is armed with a 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun in a small one man turret on the right. Additionally a 7.62mm M60 machine gun on a pintle mount is fitted at the commander's hatch at the left. The KIFV variants, described separately, include 81mm and 107mm mortar carriers and an air defense version with 20mm Vulcan turret.
The KIFV has an aluminum hull with additional spaced steel armor on the sides. This protects the crew from small arms fire and shell splinters all around and from heavy machine gun rounds over the frontal arc. An NBC system is optional and six smoke grenade dischargers are fitted.
The tracked chassis provides a good all terrain performance. A MAN 350 hp diesel engine provides propulsion in the A1 models. The maximum speed is 70 km/h and the operational range is 480 km. The KIFV is fully amphibious and propelled in the water by its tracks.
The KIFV is the main armored personnel carrier in South Korean service with over 2.000 in service. The only export sale of the KIFV was to Malaysia.
K200A1 armored personnel carrier demonstrating its amphibious capability.
Source: US Army -
© public domain
The K200 is the standard armored personnel carrier version of the KIFV and is the most produced variant. It is armed with a one man turret with 12.7mm M2HB machine gun and a pintle mounted 7.62mm M60 machine gun.
Based on this chassis a wide variety of specialist models was developed. These are describe separately.
The K277A1 is an armored command post vehicle based on the K200. It has a raised roof can is fitted with tables, communications equipment and an NBC detection unit. A ring mounted 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun is fitted. A tent can be erected at the rear to increase the available space.
The K263A1 is the self-propelled anti-aircraft gun variant of the KIFV. It is fitted with the same turret as used on the US M163 Vulcan. The K263A1 is fitted with the range only radar on the right of the turret. The 20mm M168 minigun may also be used against ground targets.
The K242 and K281 are mortar carriers based on the KIFV chassis. The mortar is mountd on a turntable at the rear and fires through large hatches in the roof. The crew and ammunition are carried within the vehicle. A baseplate is carried to use the mortar away from the vehicle. A 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun is fitted for self-defense. The K242A1 is amortar carrier with 107mm M30 mortar. The K281A1 is a mortar carrier with 81mm mortar.
The K288A1 is an armored recovery vehicle based on the KIFV. It is fitted with a 10 t winch that can be double rigged for a 20 t capacity. A 6t crane is located at the rear of the of the vehicle which may be used to change engine blocks. Additionally tools and spare parts are carried. Two outriggers are fitted at the rear for use when operating the winch. A ring mounted 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun is fitted for self-defense.
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