Type 66 howitzer
| Type 66 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Gun-howitzer |
| Place of origin | China |
| Service history | |
| In service | |
| Used by | See operators |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Norinco |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 5,720 kg (12,610 lb) |
| Length | 8.69 m (28.5 ft) |
| Width | 2.42 m (7 ft 11 in) |
| Height | 2.52 m (8 ft 3 in) |
| Crew | 12 |
| Caliber | 152.4 mm (6.00 in) |
| Action | Vertical sliding block |
| Carriage | Split trail |
| Elevation | +45°/-5° |
| Traverse | 58° |
| Rate of fire | 8 rpm |
| Maximum firing range | 17,230 m (18,840 yd) |
| Sights | Panoramic, telescopic |
| References | [1] |
The Type 66 is a 152 mm towed howitzer used by the People's Liberation Army of China. The gun system is developed from the Soviet D-20 towed artillery. In addition to conventional shells the gun is capable of firing Type MP-152 rocket-assisted projectiles.[2] In some cases a gun-shield is fitted but this is not universal.[2]
Design
The Type 66 152 mm (6.0 in) gun-howitzer is a Chinese copy of the Soviet D-20 gun-howitzer built by Norinco, with a few minor differences in appearance.[1] It has a distinctive thick, stocky barrel with a large muzzle brake.[3]
The Type 66 is usually towed by a 6×6 truck at speeds at up to 60 km/h (37 mph). The split trail carriage features a Type 58 panoramic sight with a ×3.7 magnification power and a 10° field of view, a Type 58 collimator, and a Type 66 telescopic sight with a magnification power of ×5.5 and an 11° field of view. The carriage also have a castor wheel mounted on each trail to help the crew deploy the gun. When in firing position, these castor wheels rest on top of each trail, while a circular firing jack and two spades (one on each trail leg) provide support for the gun.[4]
The Type 66 can fire High-explosive (HE), Smoke, and Illuminating shells using a variable six-charge bag propellant system. It can also fire the Type MP-152 rocket-assisted projectile (RAP) shell to provide extended range. The Chinese claim that the RAP round accuracy is the same of conventional projectiles.[5] It can also fire precision-guided munitions, though their availability is limited.[6]
While the Type 66 is somewhat obsolete compared to modern artillery, it is a simple and robust system capable of operating under severe conditions with minimal maintenance support, and when "employed competently and in mass, it can still deliver decisive firepower", according to the United States Army sources.[7]
Versions
- Type 83 SPH − Tracked self-propelled gun-howitzer based on the Type 66.[8] According to US Army sources, it's a Type 66 mated to a generic Soviet armoured fighting vehicle chassis.[6]
Operators
Current
Former
Albania − 18 in service in 2011[10]
Bolivia − 18 delivered in 1992[11]
Iraq − Used during the Gulf War[2]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam − 9[12]
Gallery
In Sri Lanka military service.
A Type 66 at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum.
References
- ^ a b Foss 2011, p. 935.
- ^ a b c "Gun - 152 mm, Chinese Gun Howitzer Type 66 (1970-1990)". Collections. Royal Armouries. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ Blasko 2006, p. 130.
- ^ Foss 2011, pp. 935−936.
- ^ Foss 2011, p. 936.
- ^ a b Department of the Army 2021, p. B-2.
- ^ Department of the Army 2021, p. B-3.
- ^ Foss 2011, pp. 799−801.
- ^ a b IISS 2024, p. 256.
- ^ Foss 2011, p. 974.
- ^ Foss 2011, p. 973.
- ^ Humanitarian Operation Factual Analysis July 2006 – May 2009 (PDF). Ministry Of Defence Democratic Socialist Republic Of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
Bibliography
- Blasko, Dennis J. (2006). The Chinese Army Today: Tradition and Transformation for the 21st Century. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-98877-7. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- Department of the Army, Headquarters (2021). ATP 7-100.3 Chinese Tactics (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Army Publishing Directorate.
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (12 February 2024). "Chapter Five: Asia". The Military Balance. 124 (1): 218–327. doi:10.1080/04597222.2024.2298593. ISSN 0459-7222. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- Foss, Christopher F, ed. (2011). Jane's Armour and Artillery 2011-2012. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2960-9.