Type 83 SPH

Self-propelled artillery

Maximum 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, is also mounted on the turret. 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.

Operators

People's Republic of China

People's Liberation Army Ground Force - 150 PLZ-82/83^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Type 83, revised 29 set 09 Archived 13 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Appraisal of PLA Artillery Modernisation". Centre for Land Warfare Study.

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

Chinese modern armoured fighting vehicles

Main battle tank and Light tanks

Domestic	Type 59 Type 62^x Type 69/79^x Type 80/88^x Type 96 Type 99 Type 15
Export	Type 59G(BD) Durjoy Type 85^x Type 90^x MBT2000 VT1A VT2 VT4 VT5

Amphibious tanks and fighting vehicles

Type 63^x
Type 63A
ZTD-05
VN16

Infantry fighting vehicles

Domestic	ZBD-86/A ZSL-92/B ZBD-03 ZBD-04 ZBD-05 ZBL-08 ZBL-19
Export	YW-307 YW-501 Type 91 VN1 VN11 VN12 VN17 VN18 VN20 VN22 CS/AA5 Type 59 HIFV

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Domestic	Type 63^x Type 77 ZSD-89/A ZFB-91 ZSL-92 ZFB-05 ZSL-10
Export	YW531 Type 85/YW531H Type 89/YW534 Type 90/YW535 WZ-523 WZ-551 CS/VN9

Armored car and MRAPs

Self-propelled howitzers and mortars

Domestic	Type 70 SPG^x Type 83 SPH PLZ-89 PCP-001 PLL-05 PLZ-05 PLZ-07 PLL-09 PLZ-10 PCL-09 PCL-171 PCL-161 PCL-181
Export	Type 85 SPG SH-3 PLZ-45 PLZ-52 PLZ-04 CS/SM4 SH5

Tank destroyer/ATMC and Assault guns

Domestic	PTZ-89^x ZDF-89^x BJ2020 ATMC^x PTL-97^x PTL-02 WZ-550 ATMC ZBD-04A ATMC ZTL-11 CTM-133 ATMC CTL-181A ATMC CSK-181 ATMC
Export	ST1 VN-1 ATMC

SPAAGs

Domestic	Type 63^x Type 80^x Type 92 Yitian^x PGZ-88^x PGZ-95 PGZ-09 PGL-12 PGL-625 LD-2000 HQ-16 HQ-17
Export	CS/SA5 SWS2

MRLs

Domestic	Type 63 Type 70 Type 82^x PHL-81 / PHZ-89 / PHL-90 PHL-11 / PHZ-11 PHL-03 PHL-16
Export	Type 83 (WM-40) / WM-80 Type 90 SR-4 / SR-5 / SR-7 A-100E AR-3 WS-1 WS-2 WS-3 WS-6 WS-15 WS-22 / PR50 WS-32 WS-33 WS-35 WS-43 WS-63 WS-64 A200 A300 SY300 SY400