PLZ-89
The Type 89 self-propelled howitzer (military designation PLZ-89) is a 122 mm self-propelled howitzer used by China's People's Liberation Army to replace Type 85 and Type 70 122 mm self-propelled howitzer. The PLZ-89 was first unveiled to the public during the 1999 Chinese National Day Parade.
PLZ-89
- Field
- self-propelled artillery.
- Region
- People's Republic of China.
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Documentary summary
The Type 89 self-propelled howitzer (military designation PLZ-89) is a 122 mm self-propelled howitzer used by China's People's Liberation Army to replace Type 85 and Type 70 122 mm self-propelled howitzer. The PLZ-89 was first unveiled to the public during the 1999 Chinese National Day Parade.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q7119699 · wikipedia · PLZ-89
In this article
Development
Development
Since the late 1970s, a number of 122 mm self-propelled howitzers (SPH) had been developed in China to meet Chinese army requirements. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) required a mobile artillery system to provide medium- to long-range indirect fire support for motorised infantry and armoured troops and capable of keeping pace with them. However, none of them could meet these requirements. The Type 89 self-propelled howitzer, also known as the PLZ-89, was developed in the late 1980s. It was a Chinese attempt to develop an indigenous SPH with similar capabilities to the Soviet 2S1 Gvozdika. The Type 89 is currently in service with the PLA and PLA Navy Marine Corps. Several hundred of these artillery systems were built.
Design
Design
The Type 89 SPH is armed with a 122 mm/L32 howitzer. The main armament is derived from the Type 86 (W-86) 122 mm/32-caliber towed howitzer, which itself is a Chinese licensed copy of the Soviet D-30 122 mm howitzer. The PLZ-89 carries 40 rounds inside the turret. The gun is equipped with semi-automatic loader with a maximum rate of fire of 6–8 rounds/min and fire accuracy is achieved by a digital fire-control system and a roof-mounted electro-optical sighting for day/night operations. This artillery system is compatible with Chinese and Russian 122 mm ammunition. Its maximum range of fire is 18 km (11 mi) using standard HE projectiles and 21 km (13 mi) with extended-range projectiles. The vehicle is fitted with a computerised fire-control system, night vision. The secondary armament consists of a roof-mounted QJC-88 12.7 mm machine gun. For the safety of its crew of five, the vehicle is armoured against small-arms fire and artillery shell splinters, and fitted with NBC protection, fire detection and automatic fire suppression systems. Its tracked chassis, developed from the Type 77 amphibious armoured personnel carrier, is powered by a 450 hp (340 kW) 12V150L12 diesel engine. The Type 89 can also be fitted with a flotation kit for amphibious warfare.
Variants
Variants
PLZ-89 Baseline military version. SH-3 Export-oriented variant featuring an improved chassis, new engine, new transmission.
Operators
Operators
China People's Liberation Army Ground Force – 500 PLZ-89 Rwanda Rwanda Defence Force – 6 SH-3
Chronology
Dated record
Chronology
The full dated record · 1 entries
2000
PLZ-89 is recorded with a height of 2000.
Places
Named by the record
Places
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People's Republic of China.
Country
PLZ-89 is associated with People's Republic of China.
Country
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q7119699: PLZ-89
Unverified · Wikidata
reference work
- “PLZ-89”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Type 89 - 122 mm self-propelled howitzer.
- 2.PLZ-89 / Type 89 122mm howitzer. Army Recognition. 19 November 2017.
- 3.SH-3 - 122 mm self-propelled howitzer.
- 4.Verma, Vivek. Appraisal of PLA Artillery Modernisation. Issue Briefs. Centre for Land Warfare Studies. 220. 2. April 2020.
- 5.International Institute for Strategic Studies. The Military Balance 2023. Routledge. 472. 2023. 978-1-032-50895-5.
References
Citations
References
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authority record
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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