Type 54-1

Notes: This Chinese howitzer is basically an updated version of the old World War 2 Russian M-30 howitzer. It was the first large caliber weapon to be produced by the People's Republic, as early as 1953. It is the same gun as on the Type 54-1 self-propelled howitzer. It has been exported to various Chinese allies and former allies.

Gun

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Gun Shield

Price

122mm L/23 Bloc Howitzer

8

4 minutes

2.5 tons

1

$11,500 (R/S)

Type 59-1

Notes: This is an upgraded version of the Type 59 gun, which is a copy of the Russian M-46. It uses lighter components and a smaller gun shield than the Type 59, and does not require a limber for towing. It's lighter weight means that it is more easily manhandled for large changes in deflection. This gun is in use by China, Albania, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, UAE, Vietnam, and the Congo.

Gun

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Gun Shield

Price

130mm L/58 Gun/Howitzer

8

7 minutes

6.3 tons

2

$28,900 (R/S)

Type 83

Notes: This is a Chinese 152mm gun/howitzer also supplied to Iraq and Iran. It replaced the Type 66 (D-20) gun/howitzer in production in China. The weapon has an AV2 gun shield to the front; this shield is small and only protects the gunner and loader 50% of the time. When firing, the limber wheels are removed and the carriage wheels are jacked off the ground on a pivot platform. The gun includes a telescopic gunsight for direct fire shots (+1).

Twilight 2000 Notes: A number of these weapons were captured from Iraq during Desert Storm; these weapons later showed up in use by US units in the American southwest, using locally manufactured ammunition.

Gun

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Gun Shield

Price

152mm L/34 Gun/Howitzer

8

6 minutes

10.5 tons

2

$48,200 (-/S)

Type 86

Notes: This Chinese weapon is primarily an antitank gun, but it has limited use as an indirect fire weapon. Unlike a normal 100mm gun, however, indirect fire range is limited to 13,650 meters due to limited elevation range of the weapon. The Type 86 has an AV2 gun shield in front of the weapon. This weapon has a telescopic gun sight (+1) and can be fitted with night vision devices.

Gun

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Gun Shield

Price

100mm Gun

8

5 minutes

3.66 tons

2

$16,800 (-/S)

Type 97

Notes: This Chinese towed howitzer is based on the howitzer mounted on the US M-110 self-propelled howitzer. When the gun is fired, a baseplate is jacked into position between the carriage wheels, raising the wheels off the ground.

Twilight 2000 Notes: Volume production of this weapon had just begun at the time of the Twilight War and few had been built by the time of that war.

Gun

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Gun Shield

Price

203mm NATO Howitzer

12

6 minutes

16.4 tons

None

$74,500 (-/-)

Type GM-45

Notes: This is a conversion of the Type 59-1 or Type 66 guns to the 155mm ordinance of the WA-021. The weapon is fired with its traveling wheels on the ground and a flick rammer is used to ease loading.

Gun

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Gun Shield

Price

155mm L/45 NATO Howitzer

8

5 minutes

8.8 tons

2

$40,400 (-/R)

Type WA-021

Notes: This is one of the newest towed howitzers in Chinese service, and is also used by Iran. It fires NATO-compatible ammunition, and may also fire Western-made ammunition. The carriage uses a pivot for firing so the weapon can be quickly relaid by its crew.

Gun

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Gun Shield

Price

155mm L/45 NATO Howitzer

8

5 minutes

9.5 tons

None

$43,600 (-/R)

Type XP-52

Notes: This is a newer version of the WA-021. It is basically the same as the WA-021, but uses a longer barrel for extended range.

Twilight 2000 Notes: Very few of these guns were available for service in the Twilight War.

Gun

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Gun Shield

Price

155mm L/52 NATO Howitzer

8

5 minutes

10.5 tons

None

$48,200 (-/-)