PLL-01
The PLL-01, also known as the WAC-021, is a type of 155 mm howitzer designed by Gerald Bull and built by Chinese defense manufacturer Norinco.[1]
History
In 1980s, Chinese military industry acquired the license to produce GHN-45 howitzer from Noricum, subsidiary of the Austrian company Voest-Alpine, whom developed CHN-45 based on the design of the GC-45 howitzer. GHN-45 (Gun, Howitzer, Noricum) featured several improvements to the original GC-45, such as better ammunition and fire control systems. Due to the design improvement, GHN-45 had considerably longer ranges than other 155 mm cannon systems used by NATO and Western countries. This capability initially caused worry for allied forces in the Persian Gulf War.[2] The designer Gerald Bull was contacted by China to develop his work for them, which he agreed. China also purchased extended-range ammunition technology from him.[3]
The Chinese production designation of the GHN-45 is WAC-021 and PLL-01,[4] which entered service in 1987.[5][6] China continue to acquire and develop other technologies for the PLL-01, such as precision guided projectiles GP1. China also mounted the PLL-01 onto an indigenous-designed tracked chassis, resulting in the PLZ-45 (also known as the Type 88) and an ammo-carrier based on the same chassis. The PLZ-45 did not enter service with the People's Liberation Army Ground Force because China still use the doctrine developed for the Soviet-standard 152 mm ammunition at the time. However, two major batches of PLZ-45s were sold to Kuwaiti in 1997 and to Saudi Arabia in 2008.[7][8][9]
Design
The PLL-01/WAC-201 is license-produced variant of the Austrian NORICUM GHN-45 howitzer, thus two systems are compatible in the choice of ordnance. The NORINCO Type WA-021 has an auto-frettaged barrel 45 calibers long, fitted with a multi-baffle muzzle brake, which has an efficiency of 30 percent. A screw-type breech mechanism opening to the right is employed and the chamber volume is 22.95 liters. The rifling employs 48 grooves with a twist of 1 in 20 calibers, and the grooves are understood to be three times deeper than the rifling depths found on comparable Western 155 mm designs.[4] The weapon also accepts locally made Chinese ammunitions and NATO-compatible ammunitions.[10]
Deployment
The weapon system is used by People's Liberation Army Ground Force, Iranian army as towed artillery.[3] The PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzer was sold to Kuwit, Saudi Arabia and Algeria.[7][8][9]
Variants
- WAC-201
- Export version, towed
- PLL-01
- Domestic production, towed
- AH-1
- Export version based on PLL-01, towed
- AH-2
- Export version based on AH-1, 52 calibers with longer range, towed
- FGT-203
- Experimental 203 mm towed howitzer. Based on PLL-01, this artillery system was developed by Norinco in cooperation with Space Research International of Belgium.
- PLZ-45
- Export, self-propelled version introduced in 1997
- PLZ-05
- Domestic production, self-propelled version introduced in 2005
- SH-1
- Export, truck-mounted version introduced in 2002[11]
References
- ^ "PLL-01". military today.
- ^ "G5 155mm 45-caliber, towed gun howitzer". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ a b William Scott Malon (February 10, 1991). "THE GUNS OF SADDAM". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
- ^ a b "PLL01". globalsecurity.
- ^ "A general survey of recent artillery developments". Armada International. 1989. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20.
- ^ "PLL01 155mm Gun-Howitzer". Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ^ a b "PLZ-45". weaponsystems.
- ^ a b "plz-45". globalsecurity.
- ^ a b "plz45". military-today.
- ^ "Chinese artillery".
- ^ "SH-1". Military Today.
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