Self Propelled Gun/Rocket Launcher

Skywatcher

Captain
Chinese artillery is one of the most, if not the most, advanced in the world. As is South African artillery.
Just compare the round range of Chinese artillery to other US or Russian artillery of same period.

Legacy of Gerald Bull. The Chinese are ahead of the other major powers by like two decades.

The US is trying to mitigate this lack of range with the latest M109A7 with longer barrel.
Well, they still call it the M109 still but it's in fact a whole new artillery unit. Not even chassis is the same.
It uses Bradley chassis with the NLOS-C Future Combat Systems gun.
Changing the turret (once ERCA comes around) and a virtually new chassis, but keep the M109 designation. Feels kind of like the same trick the PLA pulled with the ZTZ-99A.
 

Dishi

New Member
Registered Member
I wonder if this new chassis is one of the results from this test bed from way back
I believe it is the same chassis but with front engine placement much like t-14 & t-15. It's highly possible that the PLA is going with the armata strategy of a single unified heavy armored chassis for the family of future mbt, sph and heavy ifv for the heavy combined arms brigades to simplify production, training and maintenance. Very exciting development.
 

Mt1701d

Junior Member
Registered Member
I believe it is the same chassis but with front engine placement much like t-14 & t-15. It's highly possible that the PLA is going with the armata strategy of a single unified heavy armored chassis for the family of future mbt, sph and heavy ifv for the heavy combined arms brigades to simplify production, training and maintenance. Very exciting development.
If it pans out as you predict @Dishi then that would be a welcoming and exciting development indeed... I guess all the different chassis models across the sometimes mind boggling range is finally paying off... Would really like to see the revolution result in Chinese heavy armoured chassis designs rather then the evolution from old existing base designs. If it means a uniquely Chinese design with other’s influence rather than other‘s base designs with Chinese influences that would be a great change of pace and something to look forward to!
 

by78

General
A routine exercise on the Tibetan plateau.

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jimmyjames30x30

Junior Member
Registered Member
Some nice screen grabs of the new 122mm SPH based on the Mengshi-III chassis.

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This is where I am confused about. Why is semi-auto loading 122mm on both the mengshi platform as well as the 4x4 truck platform? Is it just to to make supply, repair and maintenance easier for the light brigade, as a result of a universal platform?
 

Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General
This is where I am confused about. Why is semi-auto loading 122mm on both the mengshi platform as well as the 4x4 truck platform? Is it just to to make supply, repair and maintenance easier for the light brigade, as a result of a universal platform?

Semi auto loading reduce set up time and reduce crew fatigue allowing it to make rapid fire and egress fast. Before they were located by the foe artillery's radar and fire counter gun to hit them. That is the main reason of integrated gun and carrier(truck or 4X4). Towed artillery is very vulnerable and obsolete these days with the proliferation counter artillery radar. As well it is compact and air transportable and can be deployed fast providing big gun support for airborne troop
 

jimmyjames30x30

Junior Member
Registered Member
Semi auto loading reduce set up time and reduce crew fatigue allowing it to make rapid fire and egress fast. Before they were located by the foe artillery's radar and fire counter gun to hit them. That is the main reason of integrated gun and carrier(truck or 4X4). Towed artillery is very vulnerable and obsolete these days with the proliferation counter artillery radar. As well it is compact and air transportable and can be deployed fast providing big gun support for airborne troop

No, that's not what I was talking about. I was talking about that fact that the new semi-auto 122mm has two platforms so far: one is on the 6x6 Mengshi, the other is on a 4x4 truck(the PCL-161) similar to the PCL-181. My question is why is there a need for two different wheeled platforms that is very similar to each other.
 

Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General
No, that's not what I was talking about. I was talking about that fact that the new semi-auto 122mm has two platforms so far: one is on the 6x6 Mengshi, the other is on a 4x4 truck(the PCL-161) similar to the PCL-181. My question is why is there a need for two different wheeled platforms that is very similar to each other.

You didn't read my post well. Simple "the 4X4" is compact and air transportable maybe even using Y9 The PCL 181 need Y20. The Mengxi weight is guess 3 ton the gun itself maybe 4 to 5 ton Total 8 ton. Y9 carrying capacity is around 20 ton So you can carry 2 PCL-161. More flexible deployment and can equipped airborne troop or marine using yuyi hovercraft or Heavy Helicopter.

It is more compact and lesser weight so it can negotiate narrow and winding mountain road. Bridges also have maximum weight requirement
 
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ansy1968

Brigadier
Registered Member
No, that's not what I was talking about. I was talking about that fact that the new semi-auto 122mm has two platforms so far: one is on the 6x6 Mengshi, the other is on a 4x4 truck(the PCL-161) similar to the PCL-181. My question is why is there a need for two different wheeled platforms that is very similar to each other.
HI jimmyjames30x30,

Same here bro, from my analysis the Mengshi is meant for the light force or RDF (Rapid deployment force), the PCL-161 is for brigade used , while the PCL-181 is Division asset.
 
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