The PLL05 (or Type 05) is the self-propelled
mortar-howitzer system based on a WZ551 6X6 wheeled chassis. The
system combines features of the conventional mortar and the howitzer,
firing projectiles at both short-range, high-arcing ballistic
trajectories and longer-range, less steep ballistic trajectories for
indirect fire. The PLL05 has been equipped by the 127th Light
Mechanised Infantry Division of the 54th Group Army since 2008. A
track-based version of the system is currently in development.
Programme
The concept of
mortar-howitzer was first developed by Russia on the 2S9 NONA-S 120mm
tracked SP artillery system, which entered service with the Russian
Army in 1981. The same artillery system was later adopted by the 8X8
wheel-based 2S23 NONA-SVK. Although neither system has been exported,
China may have managed to obtained an example from a third country in
the 1980s and developed its own mortar-howitzer system based on the
Russian design. The PLL05 was said to be superior to the 2S9/2S23 in
range.
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The Chinese-designed
mortar-howitzer system was first revealed by the NORINCO for the export
market in 2001, but the system did not receive any order. An improved
variant with a redesigned turret was adopted by the PLA under the
designation PLL05. The artillery system can be found in the artillery
regiment organic to a light (wheel-based) mechanised infantry division,
with 18 vehicles organised into a mortar-howitzer battalion.
Design
The PLL05 uses a 6X6 wheeled chassis derived from the ZSL92/WZ551
armoured personnel carrier (APC) with steeled hull. The combat weight
is 16.5 tonnes, enabling the vehicle to be airlifted by a Y-8-sized
transport aircraft. A crew of four (commander, driver, gunner, and
loader) are protected inside the hull with collective NBC protection
system.
Armaments
The main armament is a
120mm rifled gun, with no muzzle break or fume extractor. The gun has
an elevation range of -4°~+80°, and an azimuth range of 360° (in
contrast to the +/-35° azimuth range of the 2S23). The maximum range
is 9.5km when firing the howitzer projectile, 8.5km when firing the
mortar projectile, and 1.2km when firing the HEAT projectile. The
artillery could also fire the rocket-assisted mortar projectile, which
has a maximum range of 12.8km. The artillery is capable of both
in-direct and direct firing. Fire accuracy is attained by a
fire-control system, which allows three aiming methods: automatic,
semi-automatic, and manual.
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While the 2S9/2S23 is
manually loaded, the PLL05 is equipped with a semi-automatic loader,
which gives a rate of fire of 6~8 rounds/minute (howitzer projectile),
10 rounds/minute (mortar projectile), and 4~6 rounds/minute (HE-AT
projectile). The turret is fitted with a cylinder-shape
electro-optical device, which may allows the use of smart ammunitions
like the Russian KBP Gran laser-guided mortar round. 36 rounds are
carried inside the turret and hull.
Secondary weapon includes a
Type 85 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the commander
copula. There are two sets of smoke grenade launchers in group of
three, with one fitted on each side of the turret.
Propulsion
The vehicle is powered by
a BF8L413F 4-stroke, 8-cylinder, turbo-charged, air-cooled diesel
engine, which produces a standard power of 235kW (320hp) at 2,500rpm.
The vehicle is capable of a maximum speed of 85km/h on paved road and
8km/h when afloat. Two propellers are fitted at the rear of the vehicle
for swimming.
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