Where are the PLA's modern tactical trucks?

akita

New Member
I run the risk of looking foolish--I may have completly overlooked evidence of modern, self-loading PLA truck classes. But, just in case I haven't...where are they?

China has many truck makers today. They have learned the art of building modern heavy-duty trucks and are beginning to make their mark in the large truck export market.

That being the case, Where are the equivilant fourth-generation load carriers in current PLA photos and videas?

I have seen the very large and impressive Taian TA-series 12x12 monsters. They don't seem to include a PLS-equipped version, or even a model equipped with an onboard folding cargo crane to match those placed in service by Iveco/Astra, MAN or Oshkosh, etc...

Dongfeng has done an excellant job of building and marketinf a Sinocised Humvee, the EQ2050 'Armour'. That's good, a modern all-terrain multirole vehicle that the PLA has needed for years. For that matter, the updated, (with the help of Chrysler), BJ2022 jeep also looks set to fill an important niche in the new mobile units. The Iveco 4x4 light truck and 4x4 van have proven to be competant, dependable and adaptable to multiple roles.

Where, though, are the new generation 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 tactical trucks to match the western market trend setters? (Oshkosh, MAN, Iveco/Astra and Tatra all come to mind.)
Where are the self-loading heavy trucks, the palletized load/container carriers? (Yes, I've seen the photo of a Shaanqi PLS truck groaning under the weight of an ISO container. It's obviously not going to be able to lug that thing up and down the dirt roads of the outland provinces.)

Shaanqi Motors have, in fact, been improving the SX2110/2150/2190/2300 series of tactical trucks for over twenty years...and I have seen a few photos of a new generation cab on some of those trucks. Are they coming into the fleet? Are they equipped with indiginous systems instead of relying on 20-year old Austrian, (Steyr), technology? I have read that Shaanqi has entered into a licensing agrrement with MAN of Germany, the premier military truck builder in the world. Will the relationship include military truck terchnolagy?

Or have I missed an entire generation of modern, heavy trucks?

Does anyone have any photos/specs of anything more impressive than North-Benz and Tiema's 20-year old Mercedes Benz copies?

Is Dongfeng, Wanshan, Faw or anyone else coming out with a truly military, truly offroad truck line?

Just wondering.

Ben James
Oklahoma, USA
 

hallo84

New Member
you mean something like this?
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akita

New Member
Well, that sure is a good start. I realize that more than just Shaanqi Motor Co. build the SX2190 series truck but do you happen to know if that is what you are showing in the third and fourth photos?
Do you have a source for more photos, or more info about these units?

The first two photos still don't depict full offroad-rated trucks.The Dongfeng 4x2 in the first picture, (being loaded by mobile ramp) is definatly old-PLA, probably a EQ1093 with the tilt-cab instead of the regular bonneted cab. The second picture seems to show an SX2110 4x2 with a self-loading crane and, perhaps, an SX2190 with a crane also? hard to tell. Another DF 4x2 sits to their right--definatly highway vehicles rather than tactical trucks.

But nevertheless, thank you very much for the input. I've been looking for information like this for weeks on Google and Yahoo to no avail.

Ben James
Oklahoma, USA
 
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akita

New Member
I've studied it over and over, but I appreciate the lead. It was actually very he4lpful to my initial research on PLA tactical vehicles. I have located over 1300 photos of jeeps, FAVs, 3 differant makes of Chineese Humvees, and trucks of all types.
I do have a few pictures of a new generation PLA tactical truck, an indigenous cab in two-door and four-door versions on 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 chassis--both cargo trucks and tractors. Trouble is, it seems to carry more than one maker's logo, (one of them is Shaanqi Motor Co) and I can't find any pictures of one in PLA service.

Again, thanks for the input.

Ben James
Oklahoma, USA
 

hallo84

New Member
Well, that sure is a good start. I realize that more than just Shaanqi Motor Co. build the SX2190 series truck but do you happen to know if that is what you are showing in the third and fourth photos?
Do you have a source for more photos, or more info about these units?

third and fourth photos are PLS trucks from PLA Marine exercise.

Not sure about the make but seems to me PLA is reforming and standardizing logistics by palletizing load.

But I don't think your definition of highway vehicles fits the mentality in PLA. considering the conditions they put these trucks in.

Plus PLA seem to mix truck models depending on the load rather than the environment. See the train picture below.

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The SUV is for boarder troops but apparently its off road ability is not a good as an highway truck.
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Nice close up of the wheels.
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akita

New Member
Appreciate the photos Hallo84. The 6x6 trucks in photos 3 and 4 that you refer to are Shaanqi SX2190 PLS load carriers, (you can see their chrome logos.) Thanks for pointing out that they are Marine vehicles.

According to 'Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics 2004-2005', China does indeed follow a two-track military vehicle purchasing plan: all-terrain 4x4, 6x6, and 8x8 trucks are very expensive and not needed in many circumstances.
PAP, PLAAF and PLAN, even PLA proper, purchase tens of thousands of 4x2 trucks by Dongfeng, Faw, Howo, etc... These are definatly NOT off-road trucks.
The most common off-road trucks are Shaanqi SX2150/2190/2300, Dongfeng's cute little rigs and the MB clones like North-Benz and Tiema.
 

akita

New Member
Testing to see if I am uploading photos, (please be patient, Thanks)

Pictures of the Shaanqi SX2300 and two differant Tian tactical trucks already in service with the PLA. What I mean by 'new generation, all-terrain, tactical trucks.'

Does anyone have any similar photos?

Ben James
Oklahoma, USA
 

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akita

New Member
Personally, I think they look better than our country's hummer. It at least looks uniquely Chinese and not like an American Humvee.

Got any more pictures?

BTW, I'm trying to upload some more pictures and can't seem to get them on here. Are we only allowed to upload three at a time?

Ben James
Oklahoma, USA
 
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