Engineering:WZ-523

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WZ-523
M1984
WZ523-Ghana1.PNG
WZ-523s of the Ghana Army
TypeArmored personnel carrier
Place of originPeople's Republic of China
Service history
In service1984-Present
Used bySee Operators
Specifications
Mass11,700 kg (25,800 lb)
Length6.02 m (19 ft 9 in)
Width2.55 m (8 ft 4 in)
Height2.73 m (8 ft 11 in) (including machine gun)
Crew2 + 10 passengers
Armourwelded steel

20 mm front 14 mm sides

6 mm rear
Main
armament
12.7 mm heavy machine gun
EngineWater-cooled petrol engine
123 kilowatts (165 hp)
SuspensionWheeled 6x6
Operational
range
600 km (370 mi)
Speed85 km/h (53 mph) (road speed)
7 km/h (4.3 mph) (water speed)

The WZ-523 (NATO reporting name M1984) is a six-wheeled China armored personnel carrier designed to be amphibious. Built on the chassis of the Hanyang HY472 truck, it can carry a crew of three and seat up to eight additional passengers. Two primary models were produced—one with a roof-mounted 12.7mm heavy machine gun, and the other with a small turret armed with a 35mm grenade launcher and a 7.62mm co-axial general purpose machine gun. An export model that entered service in 2008 as a fire support vehicle was also marketed successfully to the Namibian Army; this is armed with a 73mm 2A28 Grom smoothbore cannon using the same turret as the Soviet BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle.[1]

The WZ-523 was unveiled at a military parade in Beijing in October 1984, gaining the NATO designation M1984,[2] although it was destined for export and did not enter large scale service with the People's Liberation Army (PLA).[3] An internal security vehicle based on the WZ-523, the ZFB-91, which has a turret armed with a 35 mm grenade launcher and a 7.62 mm machine gun replacing the roof mounted 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun of the WZ-523, is in service with PLA units in Hong Kong and Macau.[3]

Development and history

The WZ-523 is based on the domestic Dongfeng EQ245 truck platform, with a new chassis. It was developed in parallel with the competing project WZ-551.[4] Due to utilizing old technologies, WZ-523 was developed much faster with initial production starting in 1983. It first appeared on the 35th National Day parade in 1984. However, it WZ-523 chassis eventually lost its bid due to having worse performance than WZ-551.[4][5] WZ-523 project was then refocused for export effort and did not enter large scale service with the People's Liberation Army (PLA).[6][7]

When the WZ-523 was first exhibited publicly, there were many observations by international defence analysts regarding its design origins. Although the hull design resembled that of the South Africa n Sandock-Austral Ratel infantry fighting vehicle, subsequent studies have found that while there may have been some South African influence, the WZ-523 has many unique characteristics in overall dimensions and technical features.[8] For example, its driving compartment is somewhat reminiscent of the BTR-60, with a single passenger seated next to the driver.[8] The location of the turret ring is also similar that of the BTR-60 series rather than the Ratel, being located near the hull center.[8]

The People's Liberation Army has deployed the WZ-523 primarily for reconnaissance purposes, and for specialized tasks involving artillery and combat support units.[9] Despite being designed as an armored personnel carrier, it was not adopted by Chinese mechanized or motorized infantry forces.[9]

Outside of China, Sudan's Military Industry Corporation also produces the WZ-523 under license.[10]

Specifications

WZ-523s have relatively good range and payload, and may seat up to ten passengers who enter and debus from a single door in the rear hull.[8] The vehicle has a long, boat-shaped hull with a trim vane mounted on the glacis plate.[2] It is fully amphibious once this vane is raised, being propelled at speeds of up to 7 km by two water jets at the rear.[8] A two-piece windscreen is provided for the driver and a passenger seated to his right. During combat, the windscreen may be covered by hinged armored shutters.[2]

Export models of the WZ-523 are offered with a variety of turreted armament options, including a 12.7mm machine gun and a one-man conical turret incorporating a single 7.62mm general-purpose machine gun to the right and a heavier armament of the customer's choice to the left.[11]

WZ-523s in Nigerien and Gabonese service have been re-engined with German Deutz BF6 diesel motors.[12]

Variants

WZ-523 Type 05P3 in Namibian service.
WZ-523
Armored Personnel Carrier armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun.
ZFB-91
Internal Security Vehicle based on the WZ-523.

Operators

WZ-523s in UN peacekeeping colors.
  •  China: 60 in service, not including ZFB91 variant.[13]
  •  Chad: 10[14]
  •  Ethiopia: 20[12]
  •  Gabon: 3[12]
  •  Ghana: 58 delivered in 2009–2010;[15] 4 ambulance version delivered in 2012 and 24 others in 2013.[12]
  •  Namibia: 21;[12] export model incorporating the BMP-1 turret.[1]
  •  Niger: 2[12]
  •  Sudan: produced under license as the Shareef 2.[10]

See also

Vehicles of comparable role, performance, and era

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Namiba fields a new Chinese APCs". http://www.dmilt.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6138:namiba-fields-a-new-chinese-apcs&catid=36:africa&Itemid=55. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Christopher F. Foss (2000). Jane's Tanks and Combat Vehicles Recognition Guide (2000 ed.). Harper Collins Publishers. p. 352. ISBN 978-0-00-472452-2. https://archive.org/details/janestankcombatv00foss/page/352. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "WZ523 Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier" . Sinodefence.com. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "解放军轮式战车典范-92步战车族及改型" (in Chinese). 9 September 2012. https://chejiahao.autohome.com.cn/info/1008430. 
  5. ↑ "卡車心戰車命-簡評ZSL92輪式裝甲車". 22 June 2019. https://twgreatdaily.com/PG5apWwBvvf6VcSZDhix.html. 
  6. ↑ "WZ523 Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier". 20 February 2009. http://www.sinodefence.com/army/armour/wz523.asp. 
  7. ↑ "NORINCO Type 90 / Type 92 (WZ551)". https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.php?armor_id=580. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 O'Malley, T.J. (1996). Fighting Vehicles: Armoured Personnel Carriers & Infantry Fighting Vehicles. Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books. pp. 322–342. ISBN 978-1853672118. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cordesman, Anthony; Kleiber, Martin (1997). Chinese Military Modernization: Force Development and Strategic Capabilities. Washington D.C.: Center For Strategic and International Studies. pp. 93–94. ISBN 978-0-89206-496-0. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Product Details". 8 July 2016. http://www.mic.sd/pages/en/product/productDetails/36. 
  11. ↑ Jane's Armour and Artillery, 2002, Volume 23 p. 439-440.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. 
  13. ↑ "China 2004". http://orbat.com/site/almanac/2004/China2004.pdf. 
  14. ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance. p. 457. ISBN 9781032012278. 
  15. ↑ "Ghana Armed Forces". http://www.ghanaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/PDF-copy-of-the-State-of-Ghana-Military-Forces.pdf. 
  • Foss, Christopher F. Jane's Tanks and Combat Vehicles Recognition Guide. London: HarperCollins, 2002. ISBN:0-00-712759-6.



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