VIDAR - Revision history

U44629479: Undo revision 193502 by U154783694 (talk)

2024-10-13T15:55:23Z

Undo revision 193502 by U154783694 (talk)

U154783694: /* Description */

2024-10-13T13:17:12Z

‎Description

U38088265 at 16:33, 5 July 2024

2024-07-05T16:33:47Z

Show changes

U91965995: Usage in Battles / Pro/Cons redux

2024-05-21T06:11:18Z

Usage in Battles / Pro/Cons redux

U91965995: General edits to usage in battles ; UNFINISHED

2024-05-21T01:27:57Z

General edits to usage in battles ; UNFINISHED

U44629479: /* Ammo racks */ Edits

2024-05-11T14:17:16Z

‎Ammo racks: Edits

U89964250 at 23:24, 27 April 2024

2024-04-27T23:24:36Z

U91965995: Armament, mobility, general info revision up to modern standards (grammar etc)

2024-03-28T05:57:37Z

Armament, mobility, general info revision up to modern standards (grammar etc)

U91965995: History revision / Partial description redux

2024-03-27T01:21:38Z

History revision / Partial description redux

U91965995: Image of the XK-9 added to provide visual aids of the prototype K9

2024-03-11T00:58:39Z

Image of the XK-9 added to provide visual aids of the prototype K9

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
-The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a self-propelled fasz artillery system fielded by Norway since 2019. The system is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Artillery Gun, which Norway acquired to replace its aging M109A3GNMs of American origin. The orders so far have been in two batches, the initial 2017 contract for 24 K9s and an extra order in 2022 for 4 more systems. The system has some differences compared to the South Korean version, most notably the ODIN fire control system developed domestically and direct-fire enabling equipment. This system was given to the ''Artilleribataljonen'' of the ''Brigade Nord'', the only artillery unit in the Norwegian army.
+The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a self-propelled artillery system fielded by Norway since 2019. The system is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Artillery Gun, which Norway acquired to replace its aging M109A3GNMs of American origin. The orders so far have been in two batches, the initial 2017 contract for 24 K9s and an extra order in 2022 for 4 more systems. The system has some differences compared to the South Korean version, most notably the ODIN fire control system developed domestically and direct-fire enabling equipment. 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 a thermal imaging system and a laser rangefinder. 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-55AM-1]]. The vehicle also has a fairly poor turret rotation speed and no stabilizer, and, being an artillery system, the armor protection is fairly thin and its gun depression limited. However, it has good mobility for a vehicle of its size, and a very good reverse speed of 42 km/h. The VIDAR is best suited for highly mobile warfare, moving around rapidly after firing a few accurate shells towards your enemies.

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
-The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a self-propelled artillery system fielded by Norway since 2019. The system is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Artillery Gun, which Norway acquired to replace its aging M109A3GNMs of American origin. The orders so far have been in two batches, the initial 2017 contract for 24 K9s and an extra order in 2022 for 4 more systems. The system has some differences compared to the South Korean version, most notably the ODIN fire control system developed domestically and direct-fire enabling equipment. This system was given to the ''Artilleribataljonen'' of the ''Brigade Nord'', the only artillery unit in the Norwegian army.
+The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a self-propelled fasz artillery system fielded by Norway since 2019. The system is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Artillery Gun, which Norway acquired to replace its aging M109A3GNMs of American origin. The orders so far have been in two batches, the initial 2017 contract for 24 K9s and an extra order in 2022 for 4 more systems. The system has some differences compared to the South Korean version, most notably the ODIN fire control system developed domestically and direct-fire enabling equipment. 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 a thermal imaging system and a laser rangefinder. 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-55AM-1]]. The vehicle also has a fairly poor turret rotation speed and no stabilizer, and, being an artillery system, the armor protection is fairly thin and its gun depression limited. However, it has good mobility for a vehicle of its size, and a very good reverse speed of 42 km/h. The VIDAR is best suited for highly mobile warfare, moving around rapidly after firing a few accurate shells towards your enemies.

@@ Line 130: / Line 130: @@
 Talking about stabilizers first, the VIDAR finds itself at a Battle Rating where stabilizers start being more common. Iconic Cold War icons like the [[Leopard 1]] and [[M60]] don't come equipped with them, but vehicles such as the [[T-55A]], [[M60A1 (AOS)]], [[M3 Bradley]] and others like it are dime a dozen just 0.3 BRs higher at 8.3. These vehicles can, as the name implies, fire on the move, as their guns are stabilized in one or more axes, while your slow horizontal slew rate and lack of one means against these vehicles you are unlikely to fire the first shot against them while on the move yourself. It may be beneficial to find longer ranged sightlines or flanking the enemy in uptiers using your high mobility, as you may outflank and destroy enemy vehicles without them noticing your presence rather than accidentally meeting one of these vehicles head on and suffering the consequences of an unstabilized gun.
-In terms of autocannons the VIDAR doesn't fare much better either, unfortunately. The VIDAR has very thin armor which is mostly superficial when it comes to protecting against enemy direct fire with a gun larger than 12.7 mm, which means most if not all autocannons with AP rounds or higher will easily go through your armor.
+Against autocannons the VIDAR unfortunately doesn't fare much better, either, with superficial armor when it comes to protecting against direct enemy fire. This as a result means that if you take fire from the enemy you will at best be crippled, and at worst suffer a catastrophic detonation should one of the penetrating shells hit the ammo. The benefit of autocannons is that, even if unstabilized, they can usually be "sprayed" at a target and have generally somewhat accurate results. Vehicles with a high slew rate on their turrets such as the [[AMX-30 DCA]] and [[Marder IFV (Family) | Marder IFV]]s can also fire on the move quasi-stabilized as well, so if you hear autocannon fire near you stay vigilant. One of the benefits of fighting vehicles with such armament is that they too are also generally lightly armored, so as a result should you ambush them or get a direct hit on them first chances are you will win the engagement with minimal damage taken. Vehicles to generally be wary of around this BR would be stabilized autocannon vehicles such as the [[Gepard]], [[M3 Bradley]], [[BMP-2]] and many others.
-Using the very good acceleration and turning speeds of the VIDAR will help the commander move quickly from one favourable position to another. Using natural cover such as trenches, ditches, muddy riverbanks, or small clusters of trees will help conceal the vehicle while remaining within viewing distance of the battlefield.  The excellent sights will provide the opportunity to spot and engage enemies from afar, and the near-instant-use laser rangefinder will automatically raise or lower the gun to the right horizontal elevation for the targeted enemy who finds himself at the receiving end of the L/52 cannon.
+Using the very good acceleration and overall high mobility of the VIDAR will help you relocate from long range firing position to firing position easily. The excellent sights will provide the opportunity to spot and engage enemies from afar, especially with the help of thermals, and the near-instant-use laser rangefinder means your gun will automatically elevate or depress to the correct distance setting within your aiming parameters, significantly easing your main downside of having to hit near the turret or hull roof specifically to cause proper overpressure damage. It is to be noted however that while the VIDAR itself is mobile, the turret traverse in the horizontal can be lacking. It is recommended to always point your turret towards potential enemies while on the move, should you encounter someone on the way to another area of the map. It is also noteworthy to keep the tank's limited gun depression in mind, as this may prove a hinderance on slopes or terrain with frequent vertical elevation changes. Try and find gentle slopes or flat ground if possible, as the VIDAR's large size and poor gun depression limit its effectiveness around hilly terrain.
-The choice of HE-VT means the VIDAR can successfully engage aircraft. Using the laser rangefinder, one can target helicopters at range, both stationary and moving. With some practice, it becomes relatively easy to engage moving aircraft using the high muzzle velocity, good sights, and good proximity fuzing radius. Enemy planes flying directly against the VIDAR can be "swatted" out of the sky with ease.
+The choice of HE-VT means the VIDAR can successfully engage aircraft. Using the laser rangefinder, one can target helicopters at range, both stationary and moving. However, it is somewhat inadvisable to aim at aircraft with the shells available unless they are flying directly at you - mostly due to M107 (PF)'s middling shell velocity of only 580 m/s, almost half that of your nominal HE shell (OE F3 155 mm) which flies at 935 m/s - meaning that hitting enemy aircraft unless highly experienced in other contemporaries which use the same shell will prove surprisingly difficult. It may help to just take a few shots, however, given that you are safe, as if your aim is true you can prove to the enemy that you are a force to be reckoned with and that there is no escape.
 === Pros and cons ===
@@ Line 142: / Line 142: @@
 * Great firepower
-* Fast reload rate for a SPH
+* High reload rate for the first 3 ready rack shells
 * Agile and nimble chassis
 * Thermal imager and laser rangefinder
@@ Line 156: / Line 156: @@
 * Poor gun depression
 * Relatively small first-stage ammo rack
 == History ==

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 {{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,420|rbMinHp=884}}
-To drive the K9 series and its ~47 ton weight up to a max speed of 67 km/h, the K9 uses a powerpack with 1,000 HP.The STX Engine-MTU joint-venture for the MTU 881Ka-500 V8 engine and SNT Dynamics-Allison joint-venture for the X1100-5A3 transmission enables the vehicle to have a HP/t ratio of over 20, which is almost unheard of for a SPH in this weight class. This was due to the 'shoot-and-scoot' battle doctrine, and as a result the VIDAR is incredibly mobile for its size while also having high reverse to boot as well. Even other SPHs considered mobile like the [[2S3M]] top out at 18.9 HP/t and have less armour, lack the initial rate of fire and fire their shells at a noticeably lower velocity, giving the K9 and by extension the VIDAR a distinct niche.
+To drive the K9 series and its ~47 ton weight up to a max speed of 67 km/h, the K9 uses a powerpack with 1,000 HP. The STX Engine-MTU joint-venture for the MTU 881Ka-500 V8 engine and SNT Dynamics-Allison joint-venture for the X1100-5A3 transmission enables the vehicle to have a HP/t ratio of over 20, which is almost unheard of for a SPH in this weight class. This was due to the 'shoot-and-scoot' battle doctrine, and as a result the VIDAR is incredibly mobile for its size while also having high reverse to boot as well. Even other SPHs considered mobile like the [[2S3M]] top out at 18.9 HP/t and have less armour, lack the initial rate of fire and fire their shells at a noticeably lower velocity, giving the K9 and by extension the VIDAR a distinct niche.
 === Modifications and economy ===
@@ Line 126: / Line 126: @@
 VIDAR's [[CN98 (155 mm)|CN98 (155mm)]] cannon can only inflict damage with HE rounds, so players should be at least aware of how [[Damage mechanics#Overpressure|Overpressure]] works in War Thunder. Having some knowledge of where vehicles can be overpressured (turret rooftops, the upper plates of the hull, areas around hull ammunition storages and so on) is the bare minimum to be able to do any consistent damage to enemy vehicles.
-The VIDAR can generally consider two types of enemies as its most noteworthy adversaries; vehicles with stabilized guns, which can fire on the move, and enemy APCs, IFVs, and SPAAGs with high-calibre, rapid-firing heavy machine guns or autocannons. While the VIDAR is constructed mainly out of 35 mm hardened steel plates as opposed to the thin aluminium of its older artillery brethren such as the M109s, it still requires smart planning and quick moving to remain intact. Any enemy main gun will make short work of the VIDAR, and the thin plating can only resist HMG and certain autocannon rounds. Most enemy vehicles must therefore be considered lethal; while the vast majority of 12.7 mm (.50 cal) and 14.5 mm HMG rounds can be shrugged off, anything bigger is much more likely to either fully penetrate or at least severely harm the vehicle. Many 20 mm APDS rounds will go through the armour at normal engagement ranges. Any sort of HVAP or APDS bigger than 20 mm will ignore the steel plates; APFSDS will not even think of it as a barrier between itself and the crew or ammunition load! Here, enemy IFVs such as the Bradleys, Type 89, or BMP series can be considered dangerous opponents to face. An enemy missile hitting the VIDAR is more likely than not to destroy the vehicle.
+The VIDAR can generally consider two types of enemies as its most noteworthy adversaries; vehicles with stabilized guns, which can fire on the move, and vehicles equipped with autocannons. While the VIDAR is constructed mainly out of 35 mm hardened steel plates as opposed to the thin aluminium of its older artillery brethren such as the [[M109 (Family) | M109]]s, it still requires smart planning and quick moving to remain intact. Any enemy main gun will make short work of the VIDAR, and the thin plating can only really resist HMG and certain autocannon rounds.
 Using the very good acceleration and turning speeds of the VIDAR will help the commander move quickly from one favourable position to another. Using natural cover such as trenches, ditches, muddy riverbanks, or small clusters of trees will help conceal the vehicle while remaining within viewing distance of the battlefield.  The excellent sights will provide the opportunity to spot and engage enemies from afar, and the near-instant-use laser rangefinder will automatically raise or lower the gun to the right horizontal elevation for the targeted enemy who finds himself at the receiving end of the L/52 cannon.

@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
 ==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
-[[File:Hager's X-Ray view with Vidar.png|thumb]]
+[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}_1.png|right|thumb|250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
-[[File:Hager's X-Ray view with Vidar - 2.png|thumb]]<!-- [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] -->
+[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}_2.png|right|thumb|250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 <!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
 {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 |-
-! '''Full<br>ammo'''
+! Full<br>ammo
-!'''Ammo'''
+! Ammo<br>type
-'''Type'''
+! 1st<br>rack empty
-! '''1st<br>rack empty'''
+! 2nd<br>rack empty
-! '''2nd<br>rack empty'''
+! 3rd<br>rack empty
-! '''3rd<br>rack empty'''
+! 4th<br>rack empty
-! '''4th<br>rack empty'''
+! 5th<br>rack empty
-! '''5th<br>rack empty'''
+! Visual<br>discrepancy
 |-
 | '''48'''
-|''Projectiles''
+| Projectiles <br> Propellants
-''Propellants''
+| 34&nbsp;''(+14)'' <br> 31&nbsp;''(+17)''
-| ''34(+14)''
+| 19&nbsp;''(+29)'' <br> 21&nbsp;''(+27)''
-(+17)
+| 10&nbsp;''(+38)'' <br> 3&nbsp;''(+45)''
-| ''19(+29)''
+| 3&nbsp;''(+45)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+47)''
-(+27)
+| 1&nbsp;''(+47)'' <br> N/A
-| ''10(+38)''
+| No
 |-
 |}
 === Machine guns ===

@@ Line 150: / Line 150: @@
 ** Can't be overpressured from <120 mm HE
 ** Cannot be penetrated by HMGs
 '''Cons:'''
@@ Line 177: / Line 178: @@
 File:XK-9 Prototype Taken At WMoK 2023-06-24.jpg|<small>XK-9 (The predecessor to the K9/K9A1, produced in 1995 for testing) on display at the War Memorial of Korea</small>
 </gallery>
 ;Skins

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 {{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 <!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
-Thanks to the overall improved armor technology, the hardened armor on both the chassis and turret can now make sure even basic 20 mm ammunition (generally used by non-combat SPAA or as auxiliary weapon by some medium tanks) cannot harm the crew from any direction at ranges of 300 m or above, but do not take it as a medallion to go for the frontline - even weakest autocannons can still tear down the vehicle with relative ease through the turret neck or at point blank range.
+The VIDAR is a variant of the ROKA's K9A1 Thunder SPH, making it one of the newest vehicles in the game. However, even a modern SPH is still a SPH, so the vehicle does not sport armour thick enough to deflect anything above heavy MG fire at range. This is not a major issue in real life, as SPHs aren't meant to engage enemy armor directly, but in War Thunder is definitely something to keep note of. The vehicle can deflect 20 mm autocannon fire from the common [[Rh202 (20 mm)]] or similar cannons on various vehicles at this tier from mid to long range as well, but at close range it can most definitely give you a bad day.
-The SPG is extremely sturdy and will not take overpressure damage unless obliterated by another artillery tank or hit into three very specific weak spots - the belly right above the tracks next to the turret (not going to happen under normal circumstances), the turret ring (while not impossible, might be difficult to hit before VIDAR fires) or the gun breech (only vulnerable to 105+ mm HE and poses risk of the cannon catching the shell), so anyone trying to parry VIDAR with HESH/HE/ATGM thinking "it's just another SPG" is going to have a very bad time. The kinetic shells will easily penetrate, so having a teammate to cover the flank against random snipers is always a good idea to extend VIDAR's service life for as long as possible.
+The SPG is extremely sturdy and will not take overpressure damage unless hit by an enemy howitzer / large caliber HE shell or hit in three very specific weak spots - the belly right above the tracks next to the turret (very low likelihood), the turret ring or the gun breech (only vulnerable to 105+ mm HE and poses risk of the cannon barrel catching the shell), so anyone trying to fire a poorly placed chemical round at the VIDAR may find their shell doing surprisingly little before being blasted back to the hangar. Kinetic shells however will easily penetrate the vehicle anywhere, so positioning yourself so that teammates cover the flanks against enemy advances is always a good idea to stay in the fight for longer.
-As for the crews, thanks to the long hull and large engine block, shrapnel from enemy shots to the hull might have a hard time to cause lethal damage to the turret crew (but costs the driver); if enemy players are aware of the huge turret, the crew of four can rotate as generally only two of them will be knocked down by the projectile, unless the detonation of up to 48 shells at the rear of the turret happens, in which case there will be huge fireworks as the turret flies hundreds of meters away.
+As for the crews, thanks to the long hull and large engine block, shrapnel from enemy shots to the hull generally have a hard time causing lethal damage to the turret crew (but costs the driver); if enemy players shoot the turret instead, if the spalling reaches your ammunition racks stationed in the turret rear you may experience what is known as a 'significant emotional event'.
 '''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations -->
@@ Line 47: / Line 46: @@
 <!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
-{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,420|rbMinHp=884}}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.
+{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,420|rbMinHp=884}}
 === Modifications and economy ===
@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 <!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 {{main|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 ammunition, CN98 makes VIDAR a fearsome SPH even against "doomsday tank" and early-Cold War tanks, enemy aircraft will also fall victim of it if VT shell is loaded, turning it into a 155 mm anti-aircraft cannon. Do note that the gun does not have an autoloader and upon severe crew loss the reload speed advantage is lost.
 {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 == Description ==
 <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
-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.
+The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a self-propelled artillery system fielded by Norway since 2019. The system is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Artillery Gun, which Norway acquired the system to replace its aging M109A3GNMs of American origin. The orders so far have been in two batches, the initial 2017 contract for 24 K9s and an extra order in 2022 for 4 more systems. The system has some differences compared to the South Korean version, most notably the ODIN fire control system developed domestically and direct-fire enabling equipment. This system was given to the ''Artilleribataljonen'' of the ''Brigade Nord'', the only artillery unit in the Norwegian army.
 == General info ==
@@ Line 158: / Line 159: @@
 == History ==
 <!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
-The '''{{Specs|name}}''' 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 '''{{Specs|name}}''' 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 ammo resupply vehicles in 2017 to replace their aging American-made M109A3GNM. The K9 won out in the competition which consisted of the CAESAR wheeled artillery system, the K9, German PzH2000 and M109G, with the M109G and K9 being the final two contenders before the K9 was selected in December of 2017 as the winner.
-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, based on experiences with the K55 license-produced M109 howitzer. The vehicle was developed to be fully compatible with NATO ammunition, and to have good mobility to perform counterbattery fire and change positions rapidly. 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 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 seen combat 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. During the incident, some criticism was leveled at the K9 due to its return rate of fire being 1 round every 90 seconds - however, this was due to the fact that the K9's ammunition reserves were empty from the military exercise just minutes prior, meaning soldiers were running to the ammunition depots to fetch shells to fire back. The Korean Army deemed the K9's protection during the incident to be adequate against North Korean field gun shrapnel, and increased production of the K9 by a hundred extra units by 2011. This led to the K9s positioned near the border also retaining internal ammunition at all times, in case of a similar incident in the future.
-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 Pzh2000, 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.
-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.
+In December of 2013, the program to improve the K9's performance was passed, which led to the K9A1. The K9A1 modification upgraded the FCS of the K0 up to K55A1 standard, added GPS navigation on top of the original INS system, the addition of an APU and a night vision periscope for the driver as well as a rear view camera. The software was also updated from a DOS based framework up to a Windows based digital FCS, to provide a graphics based fire control system for the crew to enhance performance.
 == Media ==

@@ Line 170: / Line 170: @@
 == Media ==
 <!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
+<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
 ;Skins