Rocket Forces and Artillery are a branch of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Ground Forces. They are designed to engage the enemy with fire in all types and forms of combat operations. This branch of the Chinese Ground Forces includes formations armed with tactical missile systems, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) of various calibers, various artillery pieces (cannons, howitzers, mortars), anti-tank guns and anti-tank missile systems, as well as parts and artillery reconnaissance units.
HUGE ADVANCED IN ARTILLERY
As of the beginning of 2015, the PLA's rocket forces and artillery had more than 13,178 units of artillery weapons systems of various types and calibers.
Self-propelled guns - 2280 units, of which: 122 mm - 1600 units (Type-89 - 750 units, Type-07 (PLZ-07) - 300, Type-07V (PLZ-07V) - 150, Type-09 (PLС -09) - 300, Type-09 (PLL-09) - 150, 152-mm Type-83AV howitzers - 390, and 155-mm Type-05 (PLZ-05) - 290 units).
Towed guns - 6140 units, including guns of 122 mm caliber - 3800 units (Type-54-1 / Type83 / Type69 (D-74) / Type-96 (D-30) guns, 130 mm guns - 234 units (Type-59 (M-46) / Type-59-1), 152 mm guns - 2106 units (Type-54 (D-1) / Type-66 (D-20).
There are 300 combined howitzers in the combat composition of the missile forces and artillery, of which: Type-05 (PLL-05) - 200 units, Type-05A (PLL-05A) - 100 units.
There are more than 1,870 multiple launch rocket systems in combat, of which: self-propelled - more than 1,810 units, 122-mm MLRS - 1,643 units (including 1,250 Type-81 systems, 375 Type 89 (PHZ-89) systems, and 18 Type-10 (PHZ-10) systems, and 300 mm multiple launch rocket systems - 175 units (Type-03 (PHL-03).
There are 2586 units of mortars of various calibers in service with the Chinese army (82-mm Type-53 / Type-67 / Type-82 / Type-87, 100-mm - Type-89).
Anti-tank weapons of the missile forces and artillery of the Land Forces of the PLA are represented by the following samples:
- self-propelled anti-tank missile systems (ATGM) - 924 units, including complexes of the HJ-8 type - 450 units, complexes of the HJ-10 type - 24 units, and of the ZSL-02В type - 450 units;
- recoilless guns - 3966 units, including 75-mm Type-56 guns, 82-mm Type-65 (V-10) / Tip78 guns, 105-mm Type-75 guns and 120-mm Type-98 guns;
- anti-tank guns - 1,788 units, of which: self-propelled anti-tank guns - 480 units, Type-02 (PTL-02) cannons - 250 units, and 120-mm Type-89 (PLZ-89) cannons - 230 units;
- towed anti-tank guns - 1308 units (Type-73 (T-12) / Type-86).
RECEIVING AND FIRING SYSTEM
In the course of the modernization of the missile forces and artillery of the PLA Ground Forces, the command sets the ultimate task of transforming them into a reconnaissance and fire system capable of long-range fire destruction of the enemy.
As a firing component of such a system, it is planned to use advanced tactical missile systems of increased range and accuracy; multiple launch rocket systems with the ability to automatically target and correct the flight path of missiles, as well as self-propelled howitzers with increased rate of fire and fire performance.
The anti-tank forces are supposed to be equipped with anti-tank missile systems (ATGM) of a new generation, capable of reliably hitting the armored protection of all modern and promising enemy tanks in conditions of limited visibility.
The reconnaissance component of reconnaissance-strike and reconnaissance-fire complexes should be space systems, reconnaissance aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other means that allow, in a mode approaching real time, and with high accuracy to open objects of enemy groupings and provide target designation data, and also carry out the adjustment of fire. The rocket forces and artillery of the PLA Ground Forces have already begun to enter service with UAVs of various types and purposes.
THOUGHTED ORGSTRUCTURE
The rocket forces and artillery of the PLA Ground Forces have in their composition separate artillery, anti-tank missile brigades, as well as brigades of operational-tactical missiles. Artillery formations (regiments, divisions) are included in mechanized and tank brigades.
The staff structure of the artillery brigade, which is part of the Rapid Reaction Forces, the number of which in the PLA Ground Forces is constantly increasing, includes: four self-propelled artillery and one self-propelled anti-tank artillery divisions (18 Type-89 self-propelled anti-tank guns of 120 mm caliber).
Here, it seems, it will be advisable to give the tactical and technical characteristics of the most massive and fairly modern systems of artillery and missile weapons of the PLA Ground Forces. These include, in particular, the 152-mm self-propelled gun-howitzer Type-83, mounted on a unified tracked platform of national development. In appearance and layout, it is almost identical to the Soviet self-propelled howitzer cannon of the same caliber 2S3 Akatsiya. Ammunition includes shots with high-explosive, including active-reactive, concrete-piercing, armor-piercing tracer, cumulative, chemical and lighting shells. The Type-83 self-propelled cannon-howitzer has bullet-proof (anti-fragmentation) armor, the loading system is semi-automatic.
The most modern of the self-propelled howitzers is the 155mm Type-05 (PLZ-05) gun. It is a copy of the well-proven Russian 2S19 Msta-S howitzer, but differs in a number of Chinese improvements.
New modifications of guns of this type have a higher rate of fire, are equipped with a more effective automated fire control system (FCS), navigation equipment, and are equipped with means of reducing visibility in the radar, thermal and optical ranges.
For 152-mm and 155-mm howitzers, a projectile is used - a Chinese analogue developed in the People's Republic of China on the basis of a licensed Russian 152-mm Krasnopol projectile corrected by means of laser illumination. A projectile of this type can be used to suppress enemy firing points (counter-battery warfare), destroy enemy tanks and other armored vehicles, as well as command posts and light-type fortifications, etc.
THE PRIORITY IS JET ARTILLERY …
Chinese specialists pay special attention to the development of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). In terms of the scientific and technical level of developments and technologies, they have not only caught up with the leading countries - manufacturers of weapons and military equipment, but also surpassed them in many respects.
Among other things, the line of Chinese MLRS includes a unique in its combat capabilities 300-mm 10-barreled heavy multiple launch rocket system Type-03 (PHL-03), developed on the model of the Soviet (Russian) 12-barreled system 9K58 "Smerch". This system includes a launcher and a transport-loading vehicle on the chassis of a heavy cross-country vehicle WS-2400 with an 8x8 wheel arrangement copied from the Soviet MAZ-543 vehicle, as well as a fire control vehicle on the chassis of a three-axle cross-country vehicle equipped with a computerized system and space equipment. navigation and topographic location. Designed for firing rockets stabilized in flight by rotation: anti-tank missiles with cumulative striking elements and high-explosive fragmentation warheads.
For use with these multiple launch rocket systems, China is developing long-range, in-flight corrected missiles. According to the statement of the representative of the company "Norinko", which is the developer of this system, the maximum range of destruction of its latest modification has been increased to 150 km. On the basis of the PHL-03, three more samples of multiple launch rocket systems were created under the designation AR1 and AR1A, having, respectively, eight and ten tube-type guides for 300 and 330-mm missiles, respectively, which, according to information provided in Chinese sources, can hit targets located at a distance of up to 220 km.
… AND ROCKET SHOCK
The most powerful strike weapon in service with the rocket forces and artillery of the PLA Ground Forces are operational-tactical missiles. They are designed to defeat enemy forces, command posts, including in-depth, ballistic missiles, air and missile defense systems, radar positions, airfields, large warehouses, etc.
One of the most advanced in the arsenal of the PLA's rocket forces and artillery is the Dongfeng-11A (DF-11A) solid-propellant mobile ballistic missile on the chassis of a four-axle cross-country vehicle. It has the NATO designation CSS-C-7 Mod2. The launch mass of the rocket is 6, 35 tons, the throw weight is 500-800 kg, the maximum firing range reaches 300 km, and the circular probable deviation (CEP) is 200 m. The warhead of this missile can be equipped with both a nuclear and a high-explosive charge. This type is also in service with the so-called Second Artillery - Strategic Missile Forces of the PLA.
