PLA's Amphibious Howitzer

**xinhui** · 9th November 2009 22:13

A swimming 122mm Howitzer.

An Norinco Type 96 122mm Howitzer mounted on a ZDB 05 amphibious chassis has been spotted. This new concept will allow the PLA’s amphibious assault party to have an organic indirect-fire platform without resolving to the NGS (naval gun support). The new 122mm howitzer provides fire support immediately after it is launched from the landing ship thus greatly reducing the need to secure a landing site or a firebase as required by traditional artillery. Such a specialized development continues to highlight PLA’s devotion toward amphibious warfare.

The ZDB 05 amphibious chassis has been in both the PLA and PLAN marine service since 2005 with three known variants – 105mm armed light tank, 30mm chain-cannon armed IFV and an enlarged command variant. Both the 105mm light tank and the 30mm IFV were featured recently in the 60th anniversary parade.

The Type 96 howitzer is based on the proven Russian D-30 design that can fire either the standard Russian separate loading ammunition or the new Norinco family of specialized munitions that include a new 33 top-attack bomblets cargo carrier and rocket assisted 27km extended-ranged rounds. It is likely that the new amphibious howitzer will also be equipped with the same semi-automatic loader found on other Chinese self-propelled howitzers such as the SH3 and the Type 89.

**xinhui** · 9th November 2009 22:13

Command Variant

**xinhui** · 9th November 2009 22:15

105mm light tank and the 30mm IFV Variant

**Chaobam Armour** · 9th November 2009 22:21

I note with interest that there are no pictures of it swimming, fairly close to the water, but if you look the tracks are heading toward the water and not out of the water!!!!!!!

**xinhui** · 9th November 2009 22:51

here are some

**xinhui** · 9th November 2009 22:52

............

**xinhui** · 9th November 2009 22:52

3rd set

**xinhui** · 9th November 2009 22:53

last set

**Chaobam Armour** · 9th November 2009 22:55

Very low in the water, I wouldn't like to be in one of those, especially if the sea was rough. Are they fully loaded do you know, ammo, fuel, food, full crew etc.?

**xinhui** · 9th November 2009 23:00

This is a photo of a minimal loaded Type 05 at full speed. not sure what type of range it will get by going at that speed.

**erik** · 12th November 2009 11:19

Maybe this will shine some bright light on the EFV for the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review.

**S-2** · 12th November 2009 17:30

Andy,

Great photos.

I'm not a marine artilleryman but G.G. is and I'd think he'd be impressed. Nothing looks bogus from the photos. All things being equal, short of a direct fire threat from shore, if these can swim, it diffuses the issues of manuever force fire support on a beach-head.

I'm sure it's caught the attention of the Taiwanese Army.

**xinhui** · 13th November 2009 08:51

Thanks S-2, but the ROC defenders know more about the PLA than we think.

There are currently three units that have Type 05 in service.

124th Amph Mech Infantry Division, 42nd Group Army, Guangzhou MR
1st Amph Mech Division, 1st Group Army, Nanjing MR
1st Marine Brigade, South Sea Fleet, PLA Navy.

Photo of the Type 05 from the 2nd battalion, Armor Regiment, 1st AMID. (still sporting its 60th national day parade number)

**xinhui** · 13th November 2009 08:55

Here are some 122mm rounds in service with the PLA, including the imported Kitolov 122mm laser-guarded

**Doomarias** · 13th November 2009 21:28

But can you fire accurately on the water with that system?

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