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 used 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]

The weapon system has many names. Type 89 is possibly a temporary designation for PLAGF, while PLL-01 is the official designation in PLA. An earlier export designation, or possibly prototype name, is WA-021 or WAC-21, with one of the names being corrupted. The update export name marketed by Norinco is AH-1.[1][10]

Design

The PLL-01/WAC-021 is a license-produced variant of the Austrian NORICUM GHN-45 howitzer, thus, two systems are compatible in the choice of ordnance. The NORINCO Type WAC-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.[11]

One unique feature of PLL-01 and WAC-021 is the onboard auxiliary power unit (APU), which provides power to the hydraulics and the wheels, permitting the self-deployment and autonomous movement of the howitzer. For the earliest version, PLL-01 and WAC-021, the APU consists of an air-cooled diesel engine, developing 77 hp. It is mounted on the carriage, powring the emplacement and displacement of the howitzer. In an emergency, a single crew can jack the gun with the APU power in 90 seconds. The APU also allows the howitzer to move autonomously for 18 km/h. The maximum range for auto-propulsion is 100 km. Typically, the howitzer is towed by a 6x6 military truck, which carries the crew and ammunition. When towed, the highest permitted speed is 90 km/h.[1] The export AH-1 has an improved APU with 110hp and increased auto-propulsion speed of 20 km/h.[1]

Deployment

The weapon system is used by People's Liberation Army Ground Force and by the Iranian army as towed artillery.[11] 50 to 150 such howitzer was built.[10]

The PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzer was sold to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Algeria.[7][8][9] It is also used by Iraq.[3]

Variants

SH-1 howitzers of the Myanmar Army
WAC-201
Export version, towed
PLL-01
Domestic production, towed[10]
AH-1
Export version based on PLL-01, improved, towed[10]
AH-2
Export version based on AH-1, 52 calibers with longer range, towed[10]
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.
W-90
Self-propelled 203 mm howitzer.[12]
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[13]

Operators

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "PLL-01". military today.
  2. ↑ "G5 155mm 45-caliber, towed gun howitzer". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
  3. 1 2 William Scott Malon (February 10, 1991). "THE GUNS OF SADDAM". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  4. 1 2 "PLL01". globalsecurity.
  5. ↑ "A general survey of recent artillery developments". Armada International. 1989. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20.
  6. ↑ "PLL01 155mm Gun-Howitzer". Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "PLZ-45". weaponsystems.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "plz-45". globalsecurity.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "plz45". military-today.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "155mm PLL01". weaponsystems.
  11. 1 2 3 "Chinese artillery".
  12. ↑ "China's Secretive Quest for Heavier Artillery". defense one. 27 April 2023.
  13. ↑ "SH-1". Military Today.
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