[Military Story] The Infinite Transformation of the 105mm Howitzer

Old 105mm Howitzer Mounted on Truck
Reborn as Wheeled Self-Propelled Howitzer 'Pungik'

The 105mm howitzer is an artillery piece designed based on the French 75mm field gun used during World War I. The U.S. military introduced the M101 model of the 105mm howitzer in 1941 and supplied it to the Army and Marine Corps. This model was used in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, and was later upgraded to the M102 model. After World War II, the United States sold or lent the M101 model to allied countries.

Our military received over 3,000 units of the 105mm towed howitzer from the United States by 1978. The 105mm towed howitzer is the oldest artillery piece in our military, having been in operation for more than 70 years since before the Korean War.

The military transformed the 105mm howitzer, which was being phased out by the Army artillery units, by mounting it on a 5-ton military truck, rebirthing it as the K105A1 (Pungik) wheeled self-propelled howitzer. Pungik is produced by Hanwha Aerospace, a domestic defense company. During President Yoon Suk-yeol’s inauguration ceremony last year, the Pungik wheeled self-propelled howitzer drew attention by firing 21 ceremonial rounds. In June last year, the Army named it "Pungik" in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Kim Pung-ik, an artillery officer during the Korean War. On June 26, 1950, at the Chukseokryeong battle in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, then-Major Kim Pung-ik, commander of the 2nd Training Battalion at the Artillery School, personally aimed and fired the 105mm howitzer to stop the advancing North Korean T-34 tanks, destroying the enemy tank with the first shot. However, as he was about to fire the second round, an enemy tank shell struck, killing him and his unit members.

The use of the 105mm towed howitzer is intended to utilize the existing stockpile of 3.4 million shells. It also has a higher hit rate than mortars and a shorter setup time. The reduction in setup time means faster firing capability. The first shot firing time for the 105mm towed howitzer, operated by 11 personnel, is about 4 minutes and 30 seconds. In contrast, Pungik requires only 3 personnel and 1 minute. Through the magic of upgrades, it has been reborn from an ugly duckling into a swan.

The advantage of Pungik lies in its automatic fire control system. The automatic fire control system receives and inputs coordinates of the target, after which the gunner loads and fires the shell. This reduces the margin of error and increases accuracy. Another feature is the integrated navigation system, which combines an inertial navigation system and a military GPS to account for the gun’s position and orientation when firing. It also boasts excellent mobility. It can travel at a top speed of 70 km/h, climb slopes of 31 degrees and 60%, and has braking power to stop and hold on an incline. The K105A1 can carry 60 rounds of 105mm shells, each weighing 15 kg, in the rear cargo bed of the vehicle. Armor plates are installed on the crew compartment and the sides of the vehicle to enhance protection.

Pungik is also being promoted for export. Its export name is EVO-105. It is known to be favored by countries in Central and South America and Southeast Asia. In the case of Vietnam, they mounted the U.S.-made 105mm howitzers used during the Vietnam War on Russian URAL trucks, but in terms of quality and price, they cannot compete with "K-defense" products.

An industry insider said, "Countries with limited defense budgets that have imported T-50s and KT-1s may prefer Pungik over the more expensive K9."