The PLL05 (or Type 05) 120mm self-propelled mortar-howitzer system is one of the wheeled APC-mounted light artillery systems fielded by the PLA in recent years. The artillery system was initially introduced in mid-2001 for the export market, but failed to attract any buyer. A modified variant was later adopted by the PLA under the designation PLL05, and entered service with the 127th Light Mechanised Infantry Division of the 54th Group Army in the Jinan Military Region in early 2008.
The artillery system features a 120mm gun, which combines the features of the mortar and the howitzer. The artillery fires projectiles at both short-range, high-arcing ballistic trajectories (maximum 80°) and longer-range, less steep ballistic trajectories for indirect fire. The mortar-howitzer concept was first developed by the Soviet Union on the 2S9 NONA-S 120mm tracked SP artillery system introduced in 1981, and was later adopted by the 2S23 NONA-SVK based on a wheeled 8X8 chassis. In 1997, the Washington Post reported that the PRC was to take delivery of about 100 examples of the 2S23, but this cannot be confirmed.
The PLL05’s main armament is a 120mm gun,, which has an elevation range of -4°~+80°, and an azimuth range of 360° (in contrast to the +/-35° of the 2S23). The artillery system has a maximum range of 8.8km when firing the howitzer projectile, and 7.1km when firing the mortar projectile. The artillery could also fire the rocket-assisted mortar projectile, which has a maximum range of 12.8km. While the 2S23 is manually loaded, the PLL05 is equipped with a semi-automatic loader, which gives a rate of fire of 6~8 rounds/minute (howitzer projectile), 10 rounds/minute (mortar projectile), and 4~6 rounds/minute (HE-AT projectile). The turret is fitted with a cylinder-shape electro-optical device, which may allows the use of smart ammunitions like the Russian KBP Gran laser-guided mortar round. The vehicle carries 36 rounds inside the turret and hull.
Fire accuracy is attained by a fire-control system, which allows three aiming methods: automatic, semi-automatic, and manual. Secondary weapon includes a Type 85 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the commander copula. There are two sets of smoke grenade launchers in group of three, with one fitted on each side of the turret. A crew of four (commander, driver, gunner, and loader) are protected inside the hull with collective NBC protection system.
The PLL05 uses a 6X6 wheeled chassis derived from the ZSL92/WZ551 armoured personnel carrier (APC). The combat weight is 16.5 tonnes, enabling the vehicle to be airlifted by a Y-8-sized transport aircraft. The vehicle is powered by a BF8L413F 4-stroke, 8-cylinder, turbo-charged, air-cooled diesel engine, which produces a standard power of 235kW (320hp) at 2,500rpm. The vehicle is capable of a maximum speed of 85km/h on paved road and 8km/h when afloat. Two propellers are fitted at the rear of the vehicle for swimming.
