PLZ-45

Overview

PLZ-45

type	Self-propelled artillery
origin	China
is ranged	yes
is artillery	yes
is vehicle	yes
used by	See
wars	Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)
designer	Norinco
design date	1980s – early 1990s
manufacturer	Norinco
unit cost	$ 7.1 millions
production date	1997
mass	33 tonnes‡R1R‡
length	10.5 m‡R1R‡
width	3.3 m
height	2.6 m with AAMG
crew	5
caliber	155 mm
rate	Maximum: 5 rounds/min Sustained: 2 rounds/min
range	(HE) 24 km; (ERFB) 30 km; (ERFB-HB-BB) 39 km
traverse	360°
armour	Protection against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters
primary armament	PLL-01 howitzer
secondary armament	12.7 mm heavy machine gun 2 sets of 4-barrel grenade launchers
engine	Deutz turbocharged air-cooled diesel engine
engine power	525 hp
pw ratio	15 hp/tonne
suspension	Torsion bar
vehicle range	550 km
speed	55 km/h (on-road)

The PLZ-45 or Type 88 is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by Norinco. It is based on Norinco's Type 89 (PLL-01) 155 mm/45-calibre towed gun-howitzer.[2]

The PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzer is used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army, the Algerian People's National Army, the Kuwait Army and the Saudi Arabian Army.

History

Noricum, the arms division of the Austrian steel company Voestalpine, purchased the design rights to the GC-45 howitzer after Space Research Corporation moved to Brussels. They made a number of detail changes to improve mass production, resulting in the GHN-45 (Gun, Howitzer, Noricum), which was offered in a variety of options like the APU and fire-control systems. Once out of prison, Gerald Bull was soon contacted by China.[3]

Design

Armament

Operated by a crew of five (commander, gunner, two loaders and a driver), the PLZ-45 is armed with a 155 mm, 45-calibre main gun, with a semi-automatic loader and an electrically controlled and hydraulically operated ram that enables projectile loading to take place at any angle of elevation with the charge being loaded manually. The turret has an elevation of +72 to –3 degrees with 360 degree traverse.[2]

Secondary weapons include a roof-mounted W-85 heavy machine gun and two sets of four-barrel smoke grenade launchers on the turret's side.

Ammunition is stored at the rear of the turret. A total of 30 rounds for the gun-howitzer and 480 rounds for the machine gun are carried on board. 24 howitzer rounds are carried in the loader and 6 rounds on the right side below the loader.

The fire-control system of the PLZ-45 includes an automatic laying system, optical sighting system, gun orientation and navigation system, and a GPS receiver.[2]

Munitions

The PLZ-45 howitzer fires a range of Extended Range Full Bore (ERFB) ammunition, including High Explosive (ERFB/HE), Base Bleed High Explosive (ERFB-BB/HE), ERFB-BB/RA, ERFB/WP, ERFB/Illuminating, ERFB/Smoke, and ERFB-BB/Cargo.[2]

China obtained the Russian Krasnopol laser-guided projectile technology in the 1990s, and successfully developed its own 155 mm laser-guided ammunition. Designed to defeat armoured vehicles and weapon emplacements, the projectile has inertial mid-course guidance and semi-active laser homing. The projectile has a range of 3 - 20 km, and can hit a target by the first shot without registration.[2]

Combat

A standard PLZ-45 battalion consists of 3 batteries, each with 6 PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzers (SPH) and 6 PCZ-45 ammunition support vehicles (ASV). Each battery has a battery command post and 3 battery reconnaissance vehicles (BRV), both of which are based on the Type 85 APC. These are supported by W653A armoured recovery vehicles, 704-1 artillery locating and fire correction radar, 702-D meteorological radar, and fire support maintenance vehicles.

Propulsion

The PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzer is powered by a 525 hp Deutz turbocharged air-cooled diesel engine, giving a max road speed of 55 km/h.[6]

Armour and protection

The armour of the PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzer protects against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. It is fitted with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems.[2]

PLZ-45

History

Design

Armament

Munitions

Combat

Propulsion

Armour and protection

Operational history

Operators

Current operators

Potential operators

See also

References