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PLZ-07

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PLZ-07 Self-Propelled Howitzer
PLZ-07 Self-propelled artillery during Vostok 2018
TypeSelf-propelled artillery
Place of originChina
Specifications
Mass24.5 tons
Length6.6 m
Width3.28 m
Height2.5 m
Crew5
Caliber122 mm
Traverse360°
Maximum firing rangeStandard: 18 km
Base bleed: 22 km
Rocket assisted: 27 km
Main
armament
122 mm howitzer
Secondary
armament
12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun
Enginediesel
600 hp
Suspensiontorsion bar
Operational
range
500 km
Maximum speed 65 km/h

The PLZ-07 or Type 07 is a Chinese 122 mm self-propelled artillery made by the China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO). The PLZ-07 self-propelled howitzer was first unveiled to the public during the military parade celebrating 60th anniversary of the PLA on 1 October 2009. The PLZ-07 was developed to replace the older Type 89, Type 85 and Type 70/70-1 122 mm self-propelled artillery systems.[1]

Design and development

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PLZ-07 seen at Beijing Military Parade in 2009

PLZ-07 largely retained the design language of PLZ-89, the previous self-propelled howitzer developed by Norinco.[2] The new chassis for PLZ-07 self-propelled artillery is developed from ZBD-04 infantry fighting vehicles, featuring improved armor protection, fire suppression system, and NBC protection. The vehicle is 6.66 m long, 3.28 m wide and 2.5 m high to the turret roof. It carries a crew of five and its 440 kW (600 hp) diesel engine gives it a top road speed of 65 km/h and a maximum road range of 500 km.[3]

The PLZ07 122 mm tracked self-propelled gun mounts a PL-96 122 mm/L32 howitzer. The design of the PL-96 could be based on Soviet D30 howitzer. The vehicle weighs 22.5 tons fully loaded and carries 40 rounds of ammunition. The gun has a maximum range of 18 km with normal ammunition, 22 km with base bleed and 27 km with rocket-assisted rounds. The gun has an elevation from 0° to +70° and a maximum rate of fire of 6–8 rounds per minute. In addition to the 122 mm howitzer, the QJC-88 12.7 mm × 108 mm heavy machine gun is mounted on the turret roof, and there are two triple banks of 76 mm smoke grenade dischargers on either side of the turret.[4]

The PLZ-07 is land based while the PLZ-07B is the amphibious variant that shares a common design with modification derived from the ZBD-05.[2]

Variants

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PLZ-07
Land based variant.
PLZ-07B
amphibious variant with unique dedicated-designed amphibious chassis. Although this vehicle is part of the PLZ-07 series, the vehicle hull shares design elements from ZBD-05 amphibious fighting vehicle[5]

Operators

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 People's Republic of China

See also

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Related development
  • Type 70 SPH – 122 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by China in 1960s.
  • Type 85 SPH – 122 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by China in 1980s.
  • PLZ-89 – previous generation of self-propelled howitzer system developed by China.
Comparable ground systems

Notes

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  1. ^ "PLZ-07". militaryfactory.
  2. ^ a b "PLZ-07". Military Today.
  3. ^ "PLZ07". weaponsystems.
  4. ^ "PLZ-07 122mm Self-propelled tracked howitzer armoured vehicle". armyrecognition.
  5. ^ "PLZ-07B". Military Today.
  6. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2022, p.257
  7. ^ For Strategic Studies (Iiss), The International Institute (15 February 2023). "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003400226. ISBN 9781003400226. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
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