Daewoo K2
Encyclopedia
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 in 1984. The K2 formally entered South Korean military service in 1987.
, 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
.
is commonly regarded as a carbine version of the K2, it is better to consider the K1 a separate carbine
because:
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces
Military of South Korea
The Republic of Korea Armed Forces or ROK Armed Forces, is the armed forces of the Republic of Korea...
, manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries
S&T Daewoo
S&T Daewoo is a South Korean firearms and auto parts manufacturer founded in 1981. Its firearms equip most frontline units of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.- History :...
. It is a shoulder-fired, gas-operated, selective-fire assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
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 in 1984. The K2 formally entered South Korean military service in 1987.
Design
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, but only some of the parts are interchangeable. The gas operating system is derived from the AK-47AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
, 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
Grenade launcher
A grenade launcher or grenade discharger is a weapon that launches a grenade with more accuracy, higher velocity, and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand....
patterned after the American M203
M203 grenade launcher
The M203 is a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the older M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilize the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low. Though versatile, and compatible with many rifle models, the M203 was...
.
K1 carbine and K2 rifle
While the K1/K1A carbineDaewoo K1
Daewoo Precision Industries K1/K1A assault carbine is the first modern firearm developed by Agency for Defense Development and manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries, and entered service in Republic of Korea Armed Forces in 1981.-Development:...
is commonly regarded as a carbine version of the K2, it is better to consider the K1 a separate carbine
Carbine
A carbine , from French carabine, is a longarm similar to but shorter than a rifle or musket. Many carbines are shortened versions of full rifles, firing the same ammunition at a lower velocity due to a shorter barrel length....
because:
- The K1 was developed earlier than the K2.
- The K1 uses direct impingementDirect impingementDirect impingement is a type of gas operation for a firearm that directs gas from a fired cartridge directly to the bolt carrier or slide assembly to cycle the action.- Evaluation :...
gas system, while the K2 uses a long stroke gas piston system. - The K1 has a 1-in-12 riflingRiflingRifling is the process of making helical grooves in the barrel of a gun or firearm, which imparts a spin to a projectile around its long axis...
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.223 RemingtonThe .223 Remington is a sporting cartridge with almost the same external dimensions as the 5.56×45mm NATO military cartridge. The name is commonly pronounced either two-two-three or two-twenty-three. It is loaded with a diameter, jacketed bullet, with weights ranging from , though the most common...
. DR-300 is chambered for 7.62x39mm.
- K2C: Carbine version of K2 rifle with RAS and minor modification.
Users
- Used by Special Warfare Diving And SalvageSpecial Warfare Diving and SalvageThe Special Warfare Diving and Salvage or SWADS is an elite Special Operations Force of the Bangladesh Navy.-Organization:The Bangladesh Special Warfare Diving and Salvage is a specially organized and elite team of highly trained personnel who are equipped and trained using many of the same...
operators.: Used by Republic of Fiji Military Forces, exact numbers unknown.: 210 K2 rifles purchased in 2008.: Serving as primary issued rifle to ROK forces. Used extensively in the Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraq War.: First customer of K2. 3,000 rifles purchased in 1983.: Used by the Infantería de Marina del Perú (Peruvian Naval Infantry).