Type 83 SPH

Type 83 Self-Propelled Howitzer
Type	Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin	China
Production history
Designed	1980
Produced	1983 – 1990
Specifications
Weight	30 tons
Length	9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
Width	3.24 m (10 ft 8 in)
Height	3.50 m (11 ft 6 in) with AAMG
Crew	5

Caliber	152 mm (6.0 in)
Traverse	360°

Main armament	152 mm howitzer
Secondary armament	12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun
Engine	WR4B-12V150LB 12-cyl diesel 520 hp (382 kW)
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational range	450 km (280 mi)
Speed	55 km/h (35 mph)

The Type 83 is a 152 mm self-propelled howitzer used by the People's Liberation Army of China.

This self-propelled gun system was developed by Factory 674 (Harbin First Machinery Building Group Ltd) and based on a tracked chassis. The project's development started in the late 1970s and the prototype was completed in February 1980, followed by a second in 1981. Production was authorized in 1983 under the designation Type 83. The first production run started in May 1983 and the first public display was on 1 October 1984.^[1] This self-propelled gun is similar to the 2S3, with a modified version of the Type 66 gun and a Type 321 utility tracked chassis and is the first modern self-propelled gun in service with the People's Liberation Army. Production ended in 1990, after only 78 examples were built. Manufacturing also involved factory 5318 (artillery), 298 (aiming), 754 and 843.^[1]

Unlike the U.S. M109 howitzer, this self-propelled gun is made from steel and not aluminum alloy. It has six wheels on each side with the engine is in the forward hull. There is stowage for 30 shells, included a Chinese version of the Krasnopol laser ammunition. The elevation is 0-62° giving a range of 17 km. There is also base-bleed ammunition with improved range, cluster and fragmentation projectiles. A secondary weapon, a 12.7 mm machine gun and a hand-held Rocket-propelled grenade launcher completes the weaponry set. The engine is a 520 hp (382 kW) WR4B-12V150LB four-stroke, liquid-cooled diesel engine. The maximum speed is 55 km/h and range 450 km.^[1]

The typical Chinese artillery regiment (one for each armoured division) has 18 SPG organized as one battalion with three batteries. Not long after entering service it was determined to be obsolescent and China started to develop new systems, like the PLZ-45 (mainly for international market) and the real Type 83's replacement, the PLZ-05.

References

1 2 3 Type 83, revised 29 set 09

Type 83 152MM SELF-PROPELLED GUN-HOWITZER, retrieved 29 set 09

Chinese modern AFVs

Main battle tanks	Gongchen (modified Type 97 Chi-Ha)^x T-34^x IS-2^x Type 59 Type 59G Type 62^x Type 62G Type 69/79^x Type 88^x Type 96/A Type 99 Type 99A

Export MBTs	Type 85^x Type 90^x MBT2000 VT1A VT2 VT4

amphibious tanks	Type 63 Type 63A ZTD-05 VN16

Infantry fighting vehicles	YW307 Type 91 ZBD-97 ZBD-04 ZBD-05 ZBD-04A ZBL08 VN1 VN18 VN11 VN12

APCs	Type 63 Type 77 ZSD-85 ZSD-89 ZSD-90 ZSL-92 VN2 ZFB-05 ZBL09 ZBD-08

SPGs	Type 85 PLZ07A PLZ07B PLL-05 Type 83 SPH ZBL09 SPH ZBL09 Mortar PLZ-45 PLZ-89 PLZ-52 PLZ-05 PLZ-04

Tank destroyer	PTZ-89 ZBL09 tank destroyer ST1

MRLs	Type 63 Type 81 Type 82 Type 83 Type 90 Type 90A Type 90B WM-40 WM-80 SR-4 PR50 AR3 A100 A200 A300 WS-1 WS-2 WS-3 WS-6 WS-15 WS-22 WS-32 WS-33 WS-35 WS-43 WS-63 SR-5 SY300 SY400 Weishi

SPAAG	LD2000 PGZ-95 PGZ-04A CS/SA5 SWS2

Wheeled assault guns	ZBL09 assault gun ST1

Prototypes	WZ-111 Type 98 WZ-132 WZ-122 59-16 Type 80

Note: ^x = retired from service or has ceased development

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