Engineering:PHL-81

From HandWiki
Short description: Chinese self-propelled rocket launcher
Type 81 rocket launcher[1]
GunsmithMaster2019-05.jpg
TypeSelf-propelled rocket launcher
Rocket artillery
Place of originChina
Production history
Designed1987
Produced1989 – present
Specifications
Mass18 to 30 tons
Length9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
Width3.24 m (10 ft 8 in)
Height3.50 m (11 ft 6 in) with AAMG
Crew5
Calibre122 mm (4.8 in) (missiles)
Barrels40
Traverse360°
Main
armament
122 mm rockets
Secondary
armament
12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun
EngineWR4B-12V150LB 12-cyl diesel
520 hp (382 kW)
Suspensiontorsion bar
Operational
range
450 km (280 mi)
Speed55 km/h (35 mph)

The PHL-81 is a truck-mounted self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher (SPMRL) produced by the People's Republic of China for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force.[2]

The PHL-81 is being replaced by the modernised version PHL-11.

Design and development

Rear view of Type 81 MLRS (SX250 chassis)

It is a variant of the Soviet BM-21 Grad.[3] The Type 81 was the first in a family of Chinese self-propelled 122 mm rocket launchers.[2]

The system forms the backbone of People's Liberation Army Ground Force's combined arms brigade. Type 81 went through different iterations of modernization to improve the combat effectiveness.[4]

The spin-stabilized rocket fired by the Type 81 may be armed with a high explosive warhead or a steel fragmentation warhead.[2]

Variants

Type 81
Designation: PHL-81. The Type 81 mounts a 40-round launcher on an Hongyan CQ261 6X6 truck chassis. The truck was later changed to a Shaanxi SX250 in 1975.[5][2]
Type 83
Improved variant of Type 81. The Type 83 mounts a 24-round launcher on a 6x6 truck chassis.[2]
Type 89
Designation PHZ-89. This is an improved variant of the original Type 81 MRL system. It was adopted by the PLA in 1989. The Type 89 mounts a new type of 40-round box launcher on the armored tracked chassis of the Type 83 self-propelled gun. The rockets may be fired in 20 seconds. The launcher is mounted at the rear with a reload pack in front.[2]
Type 90
Designation PHL-90. The Type 90 shares the 40-round launcher with PHZ-89, but the rockets are mounted on a Tiema SC2030 6X6 truck. The truck also carries a reload pack of 40 additional rockets; the launcher to be reloaded within 3 minutes.[2]
Type 90A
Designation PHL-90A. The Type 90A is an upgrade of the Type 90. The 40-round launcher is mounted on a Tiema XC2200 6×6 truck, has improved fire control, and a battery may be remotely controlled by a command vehicle. It is manufactured by Norinco.[6]
Type 90B
The Type 90B is an upgrade of the Type 90A. The 40-round launchers are mounted on a Beifang Benchi 2629 6×6 trucks. The system adds WZ551 reconnaissance vehicles, and the command vehicle has improved command and fire control systems.[7]

Operators

Type-81 MLRS of Myanmar Army.
 Chad
  • Chadian Ground Forces - 5 units in service as of 2021[8]
 China
  • People's Liberation Army Ground Force - 550 units of PHL-81/PHL-90; 350 unit of PHL-11; 375 units of PHZ-89; 700 units of PHL-81 in storage.[9]
 Gabon
  • Gabonese Army - 4 units of Type 90 were delivered in 2004[10]
 Ghana
  • Ghana Army - 3 units in service as of 2021[11]
 Indonesia
  • Indonesian Marine Corps - At least 4 units of Type 90b purchased in 2015[12]
 Myanmar
  • Myanmar Army - 20 units of Type-81[13] and 20 units of Type-90[13]
 Namibia
  • Namibian Army- at least 2 Units have been observed in public appearances.
 Pakistan
  • Pakistan Army - 50+ Type 83 produced locally as the "Azar".[13][14]
 Peru
  • Peruvian Army - 27 units of Type 90B purchased in January 2014[12]
 Sudan
  • Sudanese Land Forces - In service as of 2023.[15]

See also

  • PHL-03: Chinese truck-mounted 300 mm multiple rocket launcher.
  • PHL-16: Chinese truck-mounted 370 mm multiple rocket launcher.

References

  1. ↑ "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher". Fas.org. 1999-11-16. http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/type-81-r.htm. Retrieved 2018-05-23. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher". globalsecurity.org. 11 July 2011. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/type-81-r.htm. Retrieved 7 January 2013. 
  3. ↑ "BM-21 122-mm Multiple Rocket Launcher". globalsecurity.org. 11 July 2011. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/bm-21.htm. Retrieved 7 January 2013. 
  4. ↑ "Appraisal of PLA Artillery Modernisation". https://www.claws.in/publication/appraisal-of-pla-artillery-modernisation/. 
  5. ↑ "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher". https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/type-81-r.htm. 
  6. ↑ "CHINA DEVELOPS TYPE 90A 122 MM MULTIPLE SYSTEM, Archived". Jane's. 2009. Archived from the original on 15 Jan 2013. https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:U_QBnYMCknIJ:http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Missiles-And-Rockets-97/CHINA-DEVELOPS-TYPE-90A-122-MM-MULTIPLE-SYSTEM.html%2Bhttp://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Missiles-And-Rockets-97/CHINA-DEVELOPS-TYPE-90A-122-MM-MULTIPLE-SYSTEM.html&aqs=chrome.0.57j0l2j60l2j0.1345&gbv=1&hl=en&ct=clnk. Retrieved 3 March 2013. 
  7. ↑ "NORINCO 122 mm (40-round) Type 90B multiple rocket system (China), Multiple rocket launchers". Jane's. 2009. Archived from the original on 13 Feb 2013. https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:tCMLp5PeE8UJ:http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery/NORINCO-122-mm-40-round-Type-90B-multiple-rocket-system-China.html%2BType+90+rocket+jane&aqs=chrome.0.57j0l2j60l2j0.1345&gbv=1&hl=en&ct=clnk. Retrieved 3 March 2013. 
  8. ↑ The Military Balance 2021, p. 457.
  9. ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance 2021. Routledge. p. 251. ISBN 9781032012278. 
  10. ↑ "Trade Registers". http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. 
  11. ↑ The Military Balance 2021, p. 469.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Indonesian Marine Corps receives four Type 90B Multiple Launch Rocket Systems from China 22912162 | December 2016 Global Defense Security news industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2016 | Archive News year". https://www.armyrecognition.com/december_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/indonesian_marine_corps_receives_four_type_90b_multiple_launch_rocket_systems_from_china_22912162.html. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "SIPRI Trade Register". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. 
  14. ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). The Military Balance 2023 (1st ed.). Routledge. p. 280. ISBN 978-1032508955. 
  15. ↑ https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2023/04/from-conflict-to-conflict-sudans.html
  • International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. 121. Routledge. ISBN 9781032012278. 

External links



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