The PLZ-89 is a Tier 7 progression Self-Propelled Gun under Zhang Feng's dealership.
History[ | ]
Class: Self-Propelled Howitzer
Developed: 1985-1989
Service: 1989+
Vehicles Built: cca 100-300 (sources vary)
Operators: China
Much like all the major military powers of the world, China was relatively quick to recognize the importance of self-propelled artillery. Its early designs were either direct copies of or at least heavily influenced by the Soviets. Soviet self-propelled guns like the 2S1 Gvozdika and the 2S3 Akatsiya have proven to be rugged and successful and it's therefore no wonder that China wanted such a vehicle of its own.
The simplest approach was, of course, to use an existing gun along with an existing chassis and mate the two together. The PLZ-89 SPH was developed in the 1980s as an attempt to provide the same capabilities of the Soviet 2S1 Gvozdika by using existing components, specifically the modified Type 77 APC chassis (which was developed from the Type 62 Light Tank) and the 122mm Type 86 howitzer. The howitzer was almost an exact copy of the old Soviet D-30 from the 1960s – it could even fire Soviet ammunition.
As its name suggest, the vehicle had likely entered official service in 1989, although it was not shown to the public until a decade later. PLZ-89 wasn’t exported and is only currently in use by the Chinese military, both by the land forces and marines. It is not known how many of these vehicles were built since 1989, estimates range from several hundred to just over a hundred vehicles. By now, it is somewhat obsolete and will certainly be replaced by more modern vehicles in the future.
Vehicle Traits[ | ]
- Artillery: This vehicle is capable of indirect fire across large distances but is very vulnerable in close combat.
- Heavy Weapon: This vehicle carries one of the largest weapons around with significantly increased damage per shot.
- HESH Rounds: This vehicle can fire special Squash Head rounds. These are extremely effective against angled armor that is typical for Soviet tanks.
- Powerful HE Rounds: This vehicle can fire powerful HE rounds that deal tremendous damage.
Ammunition[ | ]
Ammo Name |
Ammo Type |
XP Cost | Damage | Penetration | Velocity | Reload Time |
More Info | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
122mm D30 HE | HE | Stock | 800[note 1] | 55 mm | 400 m/s | 5.00 s | ||
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122mm BEE2 BB/RA HE | HESH | 66,263 | 700 | 450 mm | 600 m/s | 5.00 s | ||
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Smoke Round | Smoke | Stock | N/A | N/A | 1000 m/s | 5.00 s | ||
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WP Round | WP | Stock | 20 per sec | N/A | 1000 m/s | 5.00 s | ||
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7.62mm AP | AP | Stock | 8 | 18[note 2] mm | 855 m/s | 5.00 s | ||
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Upgrades[ | ]
Armor[ | ]
XP Cost | Credit Cost | Hull Armor |
Hull Composition |
Turret Armor |
Turret Composition |
ERA Name | ERA Penetration Reduction |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stock | Stock | 35 mm (vs AP) 40 mm (vs HEAT) |
Steel | 40 mm (vs AP) 45 mm (vs HEAT) |
Steel | N/A | N/A vs AP N/A vs HEAT |
This vehicle's light armor offers basic protection from autocannons and machineguns. |
Weapon[ | ]
Name | XP Cost | Credit Cost | Aim Time | Reload Time | More Info | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
122mm Type 83 Howitzer | Stock | Stock | 2.40 s | 5.00 s | ||
Stats:
Ammo:
122mm D30 HE 122mm BEE2 BB/RA HE Smoke Round WP Round 7.62mm AP |
Engine[ | ]
Name | XP Cost | Credit Cost | Max Speed | Reverse Speed | Forward Acceleration |
Hull Traverse | Fire Chance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NORINCO 12V150L-12 450 hp Diesel Engine | Stock | Stock | 65 km/h | 15 km/h | 4.70 s (0 to 32 km/h) 22.01 s (0 to Max Speed) |
40.01° | 6 % |
Parts[ | ]
Other unlocks[ | ]
Footnotes[]
Self-Propelled Guns | |
---|---|
Zhang Feng |
Gvozdika • Msta-S • Akatsiya • Centauro 155 • Abbot • Abbot VE • AS90 • M108 • M109 • Paladin • Palmaria • PzH 2000 • PLZ-05 • PLZ-89 |