Difference between revisions of "VIDAR"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
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The '''{{Specs|name}}'''is a self-propelled artillery system employed by Norway since 2022. The system is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Artillery Gun. Norway acquired the system to replace its aging M109A3GNMs of American origin. Norway acquired a total of 24 K9 Thunder artillery systems. The deliveries started in 2019 and concluded in 2021. The system has some differences compared to the South Korean version, like a combined NBC protection and air conditioning situated at the rear of the turret. This system was given to the ''Artilleribataljonen'' of the ''Brigade Nord'', the only artillery unit in the Norwegian army.
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a self-propelled artillery system employed by Norway since 2022. The system is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Artillery Gun. Norway acquired the system to replace its aging M109A3GNMs of American origin. Norway acquired a total of 24 K9 Thunder artillery systems. The deliveries started in 2019 and concluded in 2021. The system has some differences compared to the South Korean version, like a combined NBC protection and air conditioning situated at the rear of the turret. This system was given to the ''Artilleribataljonen'' of the ''Brigade Nord'', the only artillery unit in the Norwegian army.
  
 
Introduced in [[Update "Sons of Attila"]], the VIDAR is fitted with excellent optics and fire control system. At its BR, it is one of the few vehicles with both thermal imaging system and a laser rangefinder. However, the VIDAR lacks substantial armour. Its best round is a 155 mm HE shell that is capable of destroying most tanks but requires very good aiming when it faces heavily armoured targets like the T-55AMD. The vehicle also has a poor turret rotation speed and no stabilizer, and, being an artillery system, the gun depression is very mediocre. However, it has good mobility for a vehicle of its size, and a very good reverse speed of 42 km/h.
 
Introduced in [[Update "Sons of Attila"]], the VIDAR is fitted with excellent optics and fire control system. At its BR, it is one of the few vehicles with both thermal imaging system and a laser rangefinder. However, the VIDAR lacks substantial armour. Its best round is a 155 mm HE shell that is capable of destroying most tanks but requires very good aiming when it faces heavily armoured targets like the T-55AMD. The vehicle also has a poor turret rotation speed and no stabilizer, and, being an artillery system, the gun depression is very mediocre. However, it has good mobility for a vehicle of its size, and a very good reverse speed of 42 km/h.

Revision as of 21:46, 9 December 2023

VIDAR
sw_k9_vidar.png
GarageImage VIDAR.jpg
VIDAR
Show in game
STORE

Description

The Versatile InDirect ARtillery is a self-propelled artillery system employed by Norway since 2022. The system is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Artillery Gun. Norway acquired the system to replace its aging M109A3GNMs of American origin. Norway acquired a total of 24 K9 Thunder artillery systems. The deliveries started in 2019 and concluded in 2021. The system has some differences compared to the South Korean version, like a combined NBC protection and air conditioning situated at the rear of the turret. This system was given to the Artilleribataljonen of the Brigade Nord, the only artillery unit in the Norwegian army.

Introduced in Update "Sons of Attila", the VIDAR is fitted with excellent optics and fire control system. At its BR, it is one of the few vehicles with both thermal imaging system and a laser rangefinder. However, the VIDAR lacks substantial armour. Its best round is a 155 mm HE shell that is capable of destroying most tanks but requires very good aiming when it faces heavily armoured targets like the T-55AMD. The vehicle also has a poor turret rotation speed and no stabilizer, and, being an artillery system, the gun depression is very mediocre. However, it has good mobility for a vehicle of its size, and a very good reverse speed of 42 km/h.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull40 / 35 / 35
Turret35 / 35 / 35
Crew5 people
Visibility102 %

The VIDAR is based on ROKA's K9A1 Thunder SPH, although the vehicle can be said as one of the most modern vehicle in-game, the overall survivability is still not for frontline operations due to its nature of a SPH. The purpose of protection for SPH is for stopping rifle-caliber bullets and close-call shrapnel from injuring the crew, supporting vehicles like such are usually deployed at the rear of battlefield to support the assault forces - this is no exception for VIDAR; but thanks to the overall improved armor technology, the harden armor on both the chassis and turret can now make sure even .50 cal cannot harm the crew by any means up-front, but do not take it as a medallion to go for the frontline - autocannons can still tear down the vehicle with relative ease. But be extra careful on the flank and rear as these parts are not rated for extensive protections, so having a teammate to cover the flank is always a good idea to extend VIDAR's service life as long as possible.

As for the crews, thanks to the long hull and large engine block, shrapnel from enemy shots might have a hard time to cause lethal damage to the turret crew (but costs the driver); if enemy players do aware the huge turret, the crew of four can have a very bad day where they will be knock-down by the projectile or the detonation of up to 48 shells at the rear of the turret - which can be a huge fireworks as the turret can fly hundreds of meters away.

Armour type:

Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 40 mm 35 mm Top
35 mm Bottom
35 mm 10 - 35 mm
Turret 35 mm Turret front
20 mm Gun mantlet
35 mm 35 - 45 mm 35 mm
Cupola 20 mm 20 mm 20 mm 20 mm

Notes:

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB73 / 44 km/h
RB and SB68 / 40 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
4 back
Weight48.0 t
Engine power
AB1 908 hp
RB and SB1 000 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB39.8 hp/t
RB and SB20.8 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 73 44 48 1,420 1,908 29.58 39.75
Realistic 68 40 884 1,000 18.42 20.83
To drive the K9 series at its enormous size and up to 48 t in mass, ROKA seek STX Engine-MTU joint-venture for the MTU 881Ka-500 V8 engine and SNT Dynamics-Allison joint-venture for the X1100-5A3 transmission, which pushes the vehicle at up to 68 km/h while maintaining a very fast reverse speed (at -38 km/h), making it a very mobile SPH for its size.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB2 795 Sl icon.png
RB2 901 Sl icon.png
SB3 593 Sl icon.png
Crew training10 000 Sl icon.png
Experts440 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 100 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 340 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 150 / 210 / 250 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 190 / 190 / 190 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement sw.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Mods tank ammo.png
155mm_M110_Smoke_ammo_pack
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Mods tank ammo.png
155mm_M107_HE_PF_ammo_pack
Mods thermal sight.png
NVD
Mods tank ammo.png
155mm_NATO_HE_ammo_pack
Mods tank laser rangefinder.png
Laser rangefinder

Armaments

Laser rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder
Night vision device
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.
Thermal imager
Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night

Main armament

155 mm CN98 cannon
Ammunition48 rounds
First-order2 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
7.8 → 6.0 s
Vertical guidance-2° / 70°
Main article: CN98 (155 mm)
For countering possible enemies, Hyundai WIA developed the domestic 155 mm CN98 L/52 howitzer for K9 Thunder using NATO standard 155 mm ammunition, it is no exception for the export VIDAR for Norway; thanks to its rather fast reload rate (for the first three shells on the "ready-rack") the and varieties of ammunitions, CN98 makes VIDAR a fearsome SPH even against "doomsday tank" and early-Cold War tanks, enemy aircrafts will also fall victim of it if VT shell is loaded, turning it into a 155 mm anti-aircraft cannon.
155 mm CN98 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 48 -4°/+70° ±180° - 8.8 12.2 14.8 16.4 17.4 7.80 6.90 6.36 6.00
Realistic 5.9 7.0 8.5 9.4 10.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
M107 HE 61 61 61 61 61 61
M107 (PF) HE-VT 61 61 61 61 61 61
OE F3 HE 61 61 61 61 61 61
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M107 HE 563 43.1 0.3 0.1 9.14 79° 80° 81°
OE F3 HE 935 44.4 0.3 0.1 9 79° 80° 81°
Proximity-fused shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Arming
distance (m)
Trigger
radius (m)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M107 (PF) HE-VT 580 43.1 0 0 300 3 9.14 79° 80° 81°
Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Screen radius
(m)
Screen deploy
time (s)
Screen hold
time (s)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
M110 563 40.8 21 5 30 50

Ammo racks

Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
6th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
48 __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __

Machine guns

Ammunition600 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance-6° / 15°
Main article: M2HB (12.7 mm)
12.7 mm M2HB
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 600 (200) 575 -6°/+15° ±180°

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Great firepower
  • Great reload
  • Agile
  • Thermal Imager and Laser Rangefinder

Cons:

  • Poor protection
  • Poor gun depression
  • Relatively small first-stage ammo rack and slow replenishment

History

The Versatile InDirect ARtillery is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self Propelled Artillery System, in service with the Norwegian Army. Norway decided to acquire a total of 24 K9 Thunder systems as well as 6 K10 resupply vehicles to replace their aging American-made M109A3GNM.

The VIDAR is operated by the only artillery unit in the Norwegian Army, the Artilleribataljonen of the Brigade Nord. The vehicle was manufactured by the company Hanwha Land Systems, deliveries started in 2019 and finished between 2020 and 2021. All units were considered operational by the Norwegian Army by January 1st, 2022.

The K9 Thunder was developed by South Korea, inspired by the American M109 Paladin. The vehicle was meant to be compatible with NATO projectiles and have good mobility to counteract counterbattery fire and change positions quickly and safely. The K9's first prototype was unveiled in 1996. The contract for its development was awarded to Samsung Aerospace Industries and just 3 years later in 1999 the ROK Army started to receive its first units of the vehicle. The first nation to acquire the production rights for the system was Turkey.

The K9 has only seen action in the Yeonpyeong bombardment of 2010, an artillery exchange between South Korean and North Korean soldiers. In this incident, 6 K9 systems from the South Korean Marine Infantry opened fire against North Korean positions.

The K9 has received very good export deals. Competing in the international markets with very powerful systems like the American M109 and German Pzh 2000, it has sold more than 1,700 units, including those for South Korea. Turkey has also fitted their own version of the system, the T-155 Firtina, with 300 units expected to be deployed.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


Sweden tank destroyers
Strv m/41 derivatives  Spj fm/43-44 · Sav m/43 (1944) · Sav m/43 (1946) · Pvkv II · Pvkv III
Ikv 72/103  Ikv 72 · Ikv 103
Pvkv m/43  Pvkv m/43 (1946) · Pvkv m/43 (1963)
ATGM  UDES 33 · Pbv 302 (BILL) · Pvrbv 551
Other  SAV 20.12.48 · Bkan 1C
Norway  VIDAR

Sweden premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  ▄T-26E · Strv m/39 · Pbil m/40 · Strv m/41 S-I · CV9035DK · CV 90105
Medium tanks  Sherman III/IV · Strv 81 (RB 52) · Strv 103-0 · Leopard 1A5NO2 · Christian II
Heavy tanks  ▄KV-1 m1942 · Kungstiger
Tank destroyers  Ikv 73 · SAV 20.12.48 · VIDAR