NORINCO PLL-05 (Type 05)

History

China Concern NORINCO adopted the 6x6 tire characteristics of many modern self-propelled howitzer designs and introduced its mobile artillery platform in 2001, the PLL-05 series of howitzers and mortar launchers, inspired by the early Soviet Union Designs such as the 2S9 series and continue in the 2S23 series. The PLL-05 is a powerful weapon of the Chinese Army and has been in service with the 127th Light Mechanized Infantry Division (54th Army).

The PLL-05 is also known by its alternate name "Type 05".

The PLL-05 is essentially an improved heavy weapons-carrying variant of the 6x6-wheeled WZ551 infantry fighting vehicle/armored personnel carrier introduced in 1995, as it shares the same chassis. Aside from their respective military classifications, the main difference between the two designs is that the PLL05 uses a 360-degree rotating powered turret that houses a 120mm main gun.

The gun has an elevation range of -4 to +80 degrees for indirect fire support, but it can also engage targets directly. It is also designed to fire howitzer and mortar rounds as needed. The base projectile has a range of up to six miles, while the rocket-launched version has a range of eight miles. The hull consists of a faceted design with beveled edges, a flat roofline and short glacis panels.

It also provides good ground clearance over obstacles and slopes, and is amphibious, the craft propelled into the water by a small water jet in the lower stern of the hull. ABC systems (nuclear, biological, chemical) protect crews in unconventional warfare.

The vehicle was piloted by four people, including the driver (who sat in the fuselage), the vehicle commander, the gunner, and the loader - the remaining three were in the turret.

While the PLL05 uses a dedicated loader, it also has a semi-automatic loader that allows the vehicle to fire up to 8 rounds per minute. Crews have access to a total of 36 ready-to-fire projectiles in the vehicle's turret and hull. Accuracy is achieved through a digital fire control system with assisted aiming. Ammunition types include basic HE (High Explosive), HEAT (High Explosive, Anti-Tank), HE-RAP (High Explosive, Rocket Assist, Armor Piercing) and Mortar. The range depends entirely on the type of ammunition used, terrain and environmental factors.

The vehicle's local defense against enemy infantry, light armored vehicles or low-flying aircraft is provided by a heavy 1 x 12.7mm Type 85 machine gun. The machine gun was mounted on top of the turret of the commander's cupola.

The front sidewall of the turret also provides space for 3 smoke grenade launchers (6 in total) to protect the vehicle's movement from enemy sight.

The PLL-05 is powered by a BF8L413F series 8-cylinder air-cooled turbocharged 320 hp diesel engine. The suspended hull allows for the desired onshore capabilities common to today's armored fighters, consistent with the level of mobility expected in modern warfare.

The car can reach a top speed of 53 mph.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

36 x 120mm bullet

500 x 12.7mm ammo

Changes