So a few questions.
What is the composition of artillery brigades in GA? I mean in number of 155mm SPH, 122mm MLRS and 300mm/370mm MLRS.
Do PLA actually use 220mm rockets? Isn't it just for export?
Self Propelled Gun/Rocket Launcher
- Thread starter FORBIN
- Start date
So a few questions.
What is the composition of artillery brigades in GA? I mean in number of 155mm SPH, 122mm MLRS and 300mm/370mm MLRS.
Do PLA actually use 220mm rockets? Isn't it just for export?
I don't think there is a HIMARS equivalent in PLAGF. The closest Chinese counterpart to HIMARS is the export only model SR-5 configurated with the 6x220mm pod.
Currently 220mm rockets have no place in PLAGF. PLAGF combined arms brigades emphasize mobility and ease of supply. It favors 122mm artillery over 155mm artillery. As even 155mm shells are considered too unwieldy, 220mm rockets are simply out of question. For GA level artillery brigades, PLAGF favors 300mm+ rockets for longer range. Shorter (<70km) range are covered by guided rocket assisted 155mm artillery munitions.
In terms of accuracy, open source info on China's guided rockets all come from the Fire Dragon series of export rockets. I've only seen Fire Dragon brochures for models with GPS+GLONASS. PLA's own use rockets before mid-2010s would also use GPS+GLONASS, but I'm sure the latest variants have been upgraded or are currently being upgraded with military grade encrypted Beidou signal now Beidou-3 is complete. I'm very interested in what Chinese guided rockets can do with 10cm accuracy military grade Beidou signals.
Does anyone know the reason behind the apparent twin designations (PCL-191/PHL-16)?
Interesting, does capturing Penghu or Orchid island bring non-300 mm MRL battalions into play? I was always working under the assumption that rocket assisted artilleries can only hit a very small portion of West coast from Penghu.
It doesn't sound like 220mm launchers are used all that much.
Delete. Question already asked and answered.
orchid island cannot be used as a forward base like penghu. because to supply it by sea means ferries will have to travel through defender's kill zone.
penghu is the only island worthy of converting into a forward base. but aside from long range artillery it also must house helicopters, supply dump and anti-air. the space on penghu might be a lot more constricted than you think.
Actually space constraint would be the issue with orchid. I think they would capture it more for aerial operations. By then, there wouldn't be much of an air defense left in Taiwan.
Penghu on the other hand, is pretty large. I think it would be a pretty obvious place to put their artillery.
by the time the PLA establishes conditions to capture and utilize orchid as a FOB, there is really not much need for it. the only scenario in which it would be useful is if the war becomes protracted due to US intervention. then Orchid can be used to house anti air assets.
I think us intervention is a guarantee at this point. But back to my original question.
If they do capture penghu in the first week, what additional systems could they use from there? Would they move phl03 there? Would they use something like 155 mm sph there? It would be interesting to understand how pla might proceed.
A PHL-191 (or PHL-16, it goes by many names -- domestic version of the AR3 modular MLRS)
In that image, it is configured with what looks like four 370mm rockets on one side, and a 750mm rocket in a canister on the other side, likely the domestic version of the "Fire Dragon 480".
