The PLZ45 also called Type 88 is a Chinese-made 155mm 45 caliber tracked self-propelled howitzer designed and manufactured by NORINCO (North Industries Corporation). The first prototype of the PLZ45 was unveiled in 1988. In 1997, Kuwait has ordered 27 vehicles followed by another order of 27 vehicles in 2001.
Country Users: China, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Technical Data
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Armament
The main armament of the PLZ45 / Type 88 consists of one 155 mm/45 caliber ordnance with a slotted muzzle brake and a fume extractor. In travel position, the cannon is held in place by a manually released traveling lock mounted on the glacis plate. The ammunition handling system consists of the loader, rammer and shell trolley. The loader and the rammer are driven hydraulically with electric control. A total of 30 155 mm projectiles is carried in two positions, 24 rounds in the loader and six rounds on the right side below the loader. Ammunition is stored in the rear compartment of the turret. For its self-protection, a 1,7mm machine gun is mounted on the roof hatch of the commander. The turret has an elevation of +72 to -3 degrees with 360-degree traverse. The PLZ45 can fire a full range of ammunition as Extended Range Full Bore (ERFB), High Explosive (ERFB/HE), Base Bleed High Explosive (ERFB-BB/HE), ERFB-BB/RA, ERFB/WP, ERFB/Illuminating, ERFB/Smoke, and ERFB-BB/Cargo.
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Design and protection
The layout of the PLZ45 / Type 88 is conventional for a howitzer with the driver's and engine compartments at the front and the fighting compartment and turret at the rear. The PLZ 45 has a crew of five including commander, gunner, two loaders, and a driver. The driver is seated at the front of the hull on the left side with the engine compartment to his right. The turret is at the rear of the hull with the commander's cupola on the right side. The hull and turret of the PLZ45 system are of all-welded steel armour construction that provides protection from small arms fire and shell splinters.
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Mobility
The PLZ45 / Type 88 is motorized with Deutz BF12 L413FC air-cooled supercharged diesel developing 525 hp coupled to one manual gearbox with dual power take-off with 6 forward and 1 reverse gears. The PLZ45 uses torsion bar suspension which consists on each side of six dual rubber-tired road wheels with a distinct gap between the first, second and third roadwheels and the drive sprocket at the front, idler at the rear and three track-return rollers. The first and last roadwheel stations are fitted with a hydraulic shock-absorber. The PLZ45 can run at a maximum road speed of 56 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 450 km. The PLZ45 can negotiate a gradient of 58% and side slopes of 47%. It can cross natural or man-made vertical obstacles up to 700 mm high, and trenches 2,700mm wide.
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Combat Equipment
The PLZ45 / Type 88 is fitted with a fire control system which includes an automatic laying system, optical sighting system, gun orientation with a navigation system and GPS receiver. The 155 mm self-propelled gun-howitzer PLZ45 is fitted with an inertial direction-finder, a gunpoint display system and a gun display unit, with fire information coming from the battery or battalion command system. Standard equipment of the PLZ45 includes an auxiliary power unit, NBC system, an explosion detection and suppression system and a fire suppression system.
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