Skywatcher
Captain
Wow, seems to have a bigger turret than the PLZ-04 (it seems to take up more of the 7 wheeled chassis than the PLZ-04's turret did for its respective chassis).
Self Propelled Gun/Rocket Launcher
- Thread starter FORBIN
- Start date
Seems to be a modified ZBD-04B chassis. The headlight shape almost fooled me into thinking that it's a modified ZTQ-15 chassis, but after reviewing previous pictures, all signs pointed to modified ZBD-04B chassis (chassis lengthened to 7 road wheels, hull roof lowered) which make sense for commonality and maintainability.
by78
General
I think the chassis is a lengthened version of the existing PLZ05 chassis, which is not based on ZBD04. The chassis was first designed in the 1980s – long before ZBD04 was even on the drawing board – and is also used on PLZ45, PGZ95, and PGZ09.
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It could even be a heavily modified ZTQ-15 chassis. I had just re-reviewed the possibility of modified ZTQ-15 chassis and I looked up VN-17 IFV which is proposed for export because it basically uses ZTQ-15 chassis that's driving backward. Compare its running gear with the new howitzer's and the similarity is uncanny.
The part I focus on is the final drive. VN-17 final drive housing is smooth, just like the new howitzer's. On the other hand, ZBD-04's and PLZ-05's final drive housing have bulges from the lower front hull.
Using a modified tank chassis also make sense, since it's already designed to handle the recoil from a high-velocity gun. A lengthened chassis would be a perfect fit for howitzer mounting if PLA wants to rectify excessive rocking that PLZ-05 might have.
This turret is massive. It goes beyond the chassis itself. Why the need to such a massive turret?
Skywatcher
Captain
Autoloader?
Magazine based autoloader. Turret lowers the used magazine. It gets removed. New magazine is on the ground and gets hoisted in. To do all that, you need an overhang on the rear.
Skywatcher
Captain
Honestly, the overhang looks like its just some machinery or electronics (it only seems to cover the turret sides on the rear), as seen below (though that could be with the magazine removed).