PTL02 Wheeled Tank Destroyer

CNGC developed the Type 87 wheeled tank destroyer in the mid-1980s. The weapon system was based on the 100mm smoothbore gun of the Type 86 towed anti-tank gun, mounted on a WZ551 6X6 wheeled armoured vehicle. The Type 87 only saw very limited production. However, in the early 2000s, an improved variant designated PTL02 was fielded by the PLA in its light mechanised infantry troops, along with the ZSL92 family of wheeled armoured fighting vehicles.

The PTL02 was designed to engaged armoured vehicles, bunkers, fortifications, and other stationary or moving targets, but is unable to destroyer a heavily armed main battle tank (MBT). The tank destroyer was based on many mature technologies to reduce development costs and simplify logistic supply. The chassis of the tank destroyer is almost identical to the ZSL92 wheeled IFV, with most of their parts exchangeable. The 100mm smoothbore gun fires the armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) round with tungsten core originally developed for the Type 86 towed anti-tank gun. Its fire-control and observation systems were borrowed from the Type 88 MBT.

The wheeled chassis of the PTL02 allows the tank destroyer to be deployed quickly. The vehicle has a maximum road speed of  80km/h. With a combat weight of 19 tonnes, it can also be fitted into a medium-size transport aircraft. A Y-8 may carry two of such vehicles and an IL-76MD may carry three. The PTL02 can be found in the artillery regiment organic to a mechanised infantry division. Each artillery regiment has a subordinated anti-tank battalion, which is equipped with 18 units of the tank destroyer.

Design

The PTL02 is based on a ZSL92 6X6 wheeled chassis, with the driver compartment in front, powerpack in middle, and turret/combat compartment at rear. The tank destroyer has a crew of five.  The vehicle’s armour is capable of protecting its crew against 12.7mm calibre weapon. Collective NBC protection and automatic fire suppressing are provided as standard.

The vehicle is powered by a German-designed BF8L413F 4-stroke, 8-cylinder, turbo-charged, air-cooled diesel engine with a standard power of 235kW (320hp) at 2,500r/min. The vehicle uses a mechanical gear box, with 9 forward and 1 reverse gears. Power assisted steering, independent suspension, and central inflating system are fitted as standard. However, the PTL02 lacks the two rear propellers found on the ZSL92, which suggests that the weapon system is not amphibious.

The main armament is a 100mm high-pressure, low-recoil smoothbore gun developed from the Type 86 towed anti-tank gun. The gun can fire armour piercing fin stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) with tungsten core, as well as HEAT and HE rounds, with 30 rounds carried onboard the vehicle. Fire accuracy is attained by a primitive Type 37A light-spot fire control system with night vision and laser rangefinder input.

China imported the Russian 9K116 Bastion (NATO reporting name: AT-10 Stabber) 100mm laser beam-riding anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) and its associated fire-control system in the late 1990s. An indigenous copy of the 9K116 has been produced locally under license. The PTL02 can fire the missile via its 100mm main gun. Six missiles are carried onboard the vehicle.

Auxiliary weapons include one 12.7mm/50-calibre anti-aircraft machinegun mounted on the command cupola, with a maximum fire-range of 2,000m and 480 rounds, and a 7.62mm co-axial machinegun with 800 rounds. A four-barrel smoke grenade launcher is mounted on each side of the turret.

Specifications

Crew: 5
Combat weight: 19t
Dimension: (Length) ?; (width) 6.70m; (height without AAMG) 2.90m
Anti-NBC: Collective
Fire-Suppression System: Yes
Maximum Speed: (Road) 80km/h
Calibre: 100mm
Muzzle Velocity: 1,610m/s
Firing Range: 1.8 ~ 13.705km
Rate of Fire: 8~10 rounds/min
Loading system: Manual
Fire Control: Type 37A light-spot, with night vision and laser rangefinder
Second Weapon: 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun; 7.62mm co-axial machine gun
Smoke Grenade: 2 sets of 4-barrel launchers
Onboard Ammunition Load: (100mm) 30; (12.7mm) 480; (7.62mm) 800

Last update: 20 February 2009