23mm Type 80
Notes:
This appears to be a reverse-engineered version of the Russian ZU-23-2.
The differences between it and the Russian weapon are few and mostly to
suit local manufacturing methods and materials.
The sight is 3.5x instead of the 2.5x of the ZU-23-2.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Crew |
Set Up Time |
Weight |
Price |
Type 80 |
23mm ZU-23 |
3 |
2 Minutes |
950 kg |
$86209 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Magazine |
Range |
Round |
Damage |
Penetration |
Type 80 |
20 |
50 Belt (x2) |
550 |
API |
5 |
3/3/3/2 |
|
20 |
50 Belt (x2) |
410 |
HE |
C1
B5 |
-4C |
|
20 |
50 Belt (x2) |
660 |
HVAPI |
5 |
4/4/3/2 |
|
20 |
50 Belt (x2) |
550 |
HVHE |
C1
B5 |
-4C |
25mm Type 85
Notes:
This is basically a ZU-23-2 with the 23mm autocannons replaced with 25mm
autocannons of local manufacture.
The Type 85 is externally very similar to the Type 80 23mm AAA gun and can be
easily mistaken for it at first glance.
This was originally an export-only weapon, but in the 2000s, the Chinese
decided to start replacing their 23mm guns with 25mm guns, including those of
new-design SP antiaircraft guns, such as the Type 95 and Type 04 series.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Crew |
Set Up Time |
Weight |
Price |
Type 85 |
25mm KBA |
3 |
3 Minutes |
1500 kg |
$91329 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Magazine |
Range |
Round |
Damage |
Penetration |
Type 85 |
10 |
50 Belt (x2) |
420 |
AA |
C1
B8 |
-4C |
|
10 |
50 Belt (x2) |
560 |
APFSDSDU |
6 |
14/12/10/7 |
|
10 |
50 Belt (x2) |
560 |
API |
6 |
5/4/3/2 |
|
10 |
50 Belt (x2) |
420 |
HE |
C1
B5 |
-3C |
25mm Type PGB87
25mmx183mm is
the standard AAA base gun caliber that the PLA is changing to; Norinco is also
eyeing export sales. The basic gun
is a twin-barreled design borrowed from the Australian Oerlikon KBA, and
actually differs little from that design other than manufacturing and materiel
particulars. This includes the long
2.173-meter barrels, but in the Chinese version, they are tipped with long,
slotted flash suppressors. The
barrels normally feed from separate 150-round drums containing belted
ammunition, but a 300-round drum is available, and it can also feed from loose
belts if alert loaders are available to keep the belt from hanging up on a part
of the gun platform. A telescopic
optical sight of 4x, an IR viewer for the telescopic sight, and an image
intensifier are standard for this setup.
The guns and their electro-optical sights are mounted on a sturdy
four-wheeled towed mount in which the four trails are spread from the corners
before firing, and the gun is traversed and elevated electrically using a small
0.5kW APU under the gunner’s sea and fed from a 50-gallon fuel tank.
The PGB87 fires
all Western KBA-compatible ammunition, and a couple of others designed
specifically for this gun.
One and
three-barreled versions of this gun exist; adjust the stats accordingly.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Crew |
Set Up Time |
Weight |
Price |
PGB87 |
25mm KBA |
4 |
4 Minutes |
1.27 tons |
$158399 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Magazine |
Range |
Round |
Damage |
Penetration |
PGB87 |
10 |
2x150B |
410 |
AA |
C1
B8 |
-4C |
|
10 |
2x150B |
550 |
APDS |
6 |
10/9/7/5 |
|
10 |
2x150B |
550 |
APFSDS |
6 |
14/12/10/7 |
|
10 |
2x150B |
550 |
APFSDSDU |
6 |
17/16/13/8 |
|
10 |
2x150B |
550 |
API |
6 |
5/4/3/2 |
|
10 |
2x150B |
550 |
FAPDS |
C1
B3 |
7/6/5/4 |
|
10 |
2x150B |
410 |
HEI |
C1
B5 |
-3C |
|
10 |
2x150B |
410 |
PFPF |
C2
B8 |
8/7/5/4 |
|
10 |
2x150B |
410 |
SAPHEI |
C1
B3 |
7/6/4/2 |
30mm Type 730B
Notes:
Originally a shipboard CIWS missile defense system like the same sort of systems
on US and several Western Navies, the Type 730 has morphed into a ground-based
and vehicle-based system, primarily for use against low-flying UAVs and attack
helicopters, as well as some ground targets (and it is certainly devastating
against infantry in the open). The ground-based system differs from the
shipboard system in having a FLIR viewer instead of the advanced electro-optical
secondary guidance system of the shipboard model.(Vehicle-based systems have
their own tracking systems, as detailed in their entries on the Chinese SP
antiaircraft pages.) Known land-based uses for the Type 730 include the BK-1070
and LD-2000, but there is also a wheeled mount, and that is what is covered here
(though the figures on the gun are the same for both systems).
The system generally uses its surveillance/tracking radar and FLIR
together, using the FLIR to track the first target designated, and the radar to
track the second most immediate target, to the radar can immediately hand off
the target it is tracking to the FLIR after the most immediate target has been
destroyed, The gun then swivels
automatically to the new target, with the gunner providing fine tuning and the
actually fire switch. Once the gun is fine-tuned by the gunner, the gun system
keeps aimed on the target automatically, making adjustments to elevation and
traverse as necessary. The
surveillance radar is capable of keeping track of 48 targets; the most immediate
threat is automatically handed off to the radar, and the surveillance radar
picks up another target. The
tracking radar has a range of 6 kilometers; the surveillance radar has a
tracking range of 15 kilometers. The Type 730B has a special fire control
computer that gives the gunner a +2 bonus when firing, and has an AV3 gun
shield. Power is provided by an onboard 12 kW APU, power by diesel fuel. The gun
used appears to be based on the US GAU-8/A cannon mounted on the A-10, though it
is much more compact and has less range and power.
Though the set-up time is listed as 10 minutes, this is with both the
crew and a 5-man secondary crew working. (after they set up the gun, they become
ammo bearers, with ammo and the secondary crew carried on an accompanying medium
or heavy truck). Though the maximum
ROF is 70, this wears out the gun and barrels quickly; ROF is normally limited
to 40.
A variant of the
Type 730B, the Type 730C, is being tested; this has boxes on the side of the
guns carrying three FL-2000N SAMs on each side, to engage longer-ranged targets.
When these are used, the radar and FLIR are slaved to the missiles via a
special fire control computer.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Crew |
Set Up Time |
Weight |
Price |
Type 730B |
30mm Type 730 |
4 |
10 minutes |
3.79 tons |
$510211 |
Type 730C |
30mm Type 730 |
4 |
12 minutes |
4.45 tons |
$683260 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Magazine |
Range |
Round |
Damage |
Penetration |
Type 730 |
70 |
500 Belt (x2) |
390 |
AA |
C1
B13 |
-4C |
|
70 |
500 Belt (x2) |
520 |
APDS |
7 |
10/9/7/5 |
|
70 |
500 Belt (x2) |
520 |
FAPDS |
C2
B6 |
8/7/5/3 |
|
70 |
500 Belt (x2) |
390 |
HEI |
C2
B10 |
-3C |
|
70 |
500 Belt (x2) |
390 |
PFPF |
C2
B12 |
8/7/5/3 |
35mm PG99
A development of
unnamed autocannon designs (but probably some iteration of an Oerlikon
autocannon), the PG99 uses twin 35mm L/90 autocannons which can fire at up to
110 rpm. The Chinese have developed
several types of ammunition specifically for the PG99, though several of these
merely duplicate Western rounds.
The autocannons feed from two 112-round autocannons, with another 126 rounds on
the gun for replenishment of the guns; it only takes 7.5 seconds to reload a
full drum on a gun, using two loaders.
The PG-99 is usually towed by a medium truck that also carries further
ammunition. The gun barrels are tipped by long slotted flash suppressors similar
to those of the PGB87 above. The gun is mounted on a four-wheeled
cradle/carriage that minimizes vibration and rocking when the guns are fired and
men are climbing on it, and the carriage uses electrical actuators to fold the
wheels, drive spikes into the ground, and set the flat-bottomed carriage on the
ground. Rotation and elevation are
also handled electrically, and the entire affair is powered by a 0.5kW APU under
the gunner’s seat. The gunner has
an AV2 gun shield ahead of him. He
aims by using a telescopic optical sight of 4x, an IR viewer for the telescopic
sight, and an image intensifier.
The gun also has a small targeting computer and laser rangefinder which does the
precision aiming for the gun once it is laid on target, giving the gunner a
bonus of +2 to hit.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Crew |
Set Up Time |
Weight |
Price |
PG99 |
35mm PG99 |
5 |
5 minutes |
6.8 tons |
$214693 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Magazine |
Range |
Round |
Damage |
Penetration |
PG99 |
20 |
112 Belt (x2) |
570 |
APDS |
8 |
12/10/9/6 |
|
20 |
112 Belt (x2) |
430 |
HEI |
C2
B10 |
-2C |
|
20 |
112 Belt (x2) |
420 |
HEI-T |
C2
B8 |
-3C |
|
20 |
112 Belt (x2) |
430 |
PFPF |
C3
B13 |
9/7/5/4 |
|
20 |
112 Belt (x2) |
570 |
SAPHEI |
C1
B4 |
8/6/5/4 |
35mm PG-99-1
Notes: This gun was
specifically designed for the BK-1060, and so far has seen no other use, such as
a ground mount. It fires the same
ammunition as the PG99, and electro/optical systems and radar is provided by the
BK-1060 upon which it mounted, as is mechanisms to lay on target and track
targets. The PG99-1 has somewhat longer barrels than the PG99, but is otherwise
the same as the PG99.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Crew |
Set Up Time |
Weight |
Price |
PG99-1 |
35mm PG99 |
3 |
N/A |
355 kg |
$95975 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Magazine |
Range |
Round |
Damage |
Penetration |
PG99-1 |
10 |
600 Belt |
590 |
APDS |
8 |
12/10/9/6 |
|
10 |
600 Belt |
440 |
HEI |
C2
B10 |
-2C |
|
10 |
600 Belt |
430 |
HEI-T |
C2
B8 |
-3C |
|
10 |
600 Belt |
440 |
PFPF |
C3
B13 |
9/7/5/4 |
|
10 |
600 Belt |
590 |
SAPHEI |
C1
B4 |
8/6/5/4 |
37mm Type 55/65/74/74SD/P793
Notes:
The genesis of these designs is the Russian M-1939 37mm antiaircraft gun.
The Type 55 is, in fact, little more than a Chinese copy of the
single-barreled M-1939, while the Type 65 is a copy of the twin 37mm version of
the M-1939. Type 74 has the ability
to be hooked into an existing antiaircraft system and placed under its radar
control, has a slightly higher rate of fire (no effect in game terms), and a
telescopic sight. The Type 74SD
replaces hydraulic manual controls with electrical servos.
The P793 can be equipped with standard or long barrels; the rate of fire
is further increased; the unit has its own 5.22 kW generator; the telescopic
sight’s magnification is increased to 5x; and an image intensifier is supplied.
Ammunition |
Crew |
Set Up Time |
Weight |
Price |
|
Type 55 |
37mm M-1939 |
3 |
3
Minutes |
2100 kg |
$131299 |
Type 65 |
37mm M-1939 |
5 |
4 Minutes |
2699 kg |
$241929 |
Type 74 |
37mm M-1939 |
5 |
4 Minutes |
2835 kg |
$240817 |
Type 74SD |
37mm M-1939 |
4 |
4 Minutes |
2693 kg |
$246837 |
Type P793 (Standard) |
37mm M-1939 |
4 |
3 Minutes |
3100 kg |
$247137 |
Type P793 (Long Guns) |
37mm M-1939 |
4 |
3 Minutes |
3300 kg |
$263449 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Magazine |
Range |
Round |
Damage |
Penetration |
Type 55 |
3 |
5 Clip |
490 |
API |
8 |
6/5/4/3 |
|
3 |
5 Clip |
370 |
FRAG-HE |
C2
B15 |
-1C |
|
3 |
5 Clip |
490 |
HVAP |
8 |
7/7/6/4 |
Type 65/74/74SD |
6 |
5 Clip (x2) |
490 |
API |
8 |
7/6/5/3 |
|
6 |
5 Clip (x2) |
370 |
FRAG-HE |
C2
B15 |
-1C |
|
6 |
5 Clip (x2) |
490 |
HVAP |
8 |
9/8/7/4 |
Type P793 (Standard Guns) |
10 |
5 Clip (x2) |
490 |
API |
8 |
7/6/5/3 |
|
10 |
5 Clip (x2) |
370 |
FRAG-HE |
C2
B15 |
-1C |
|
10 |
5 Clip (x2) |
490 |
HVAP |
8 |
9/8/7/4 |
Type P793 (Long Guns) |
10 |
5 Clip (x2) |
510 |
API |
8 |
7/6/5/3 |
|
10 |
5 Clip (x2) |
380 |
FRAG-HE |
C2
B15 |
-1C |
|
10 |
5 Clip (x2) |
510 |
HVAP |
8 |
9/8/7/4 |
57mm Type 59
Notes:
This weapon is a close copy of the Russian S-60 and differs from that
weapon in only minor respects. Most
of these differences are concessions to local manufacturing methods.
However, the ammunition used by the Type 59 normally uses steel cases
instead of the copper cases used by the Russians.
The Type 59 is normally radar-directed by rotating bar-type radar known
as the GW-03.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Crew |
Set Up Time |
Weight |
Price |
Type 59 |
57mm S-60 |
8 |
2 Minutes |
4780 kg |
$428765 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Magazine |
Range |
Round |
Damage |
Penetration |
Type 59 |
3 |
4 Clip |
510 |
APFSDS |
13 |
41/36/31/20 |
|
3 |
4 Clip |
510 |
APHE |
C3
B10 |
17/15/13/8 |
|
3 |
4 Clip |
390 |
HE |
C5
B15 |
2C |
Norinco Giant Bow AAA System
Notes: While
this may seem like a simple ZU-23-2 with power movement and computer control,
you need to zoom out and see the big picture.
The ace up the sleeve of the Giant Bow is that truck (could be one of
several models) parked up to 50 meters away is the Battery Optoelectronic
Commander’s Vehicle. Up to six
Giant Bows may be wired in to the BOCV, and the BOCV can be used to detect and
to an extent, help the gunners aim the guns and feed computer coordinates of
aircraft to the Giant Bow’s computer.
In of itself, the Giant Bow has a fire control computer an image
intensifier, and an optronic rangefinder; the BOCV adds a FLIR, 2nd
generation image intensifier, advanced computers that can track, aim, and
predict target tracks. A laser
rangefinder and a TV camera with 6x magnification complete the sensors.
The BOCV has a crew of four.
The images from the BOCV’s FLIR and image intensifier can be fed to the Giant
Bow’s viewfinder, and fire coordinates fed to the gun’s computer.
Of course, while
the BOCV is a nice perk of the system, the Giant Bow does not have any need for
the BOCV to be an effective weapon.
The BOCV simply allows for more accurate, coordinated fire.
The Giant Bow is basically a ZU-23-2, with a widened crew platform to
allow for a gunner and observer/computer operator, and techy enhancements are
added that gives it accuracy and abilities that a standard ZU-23-2 doesn’t have.
It otherwise is a two-wheeled trailer with a folding undercarriage and a
heavy-duty articulated tow bar.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Crew |
Set Up Time |
Weight |
Price |
Giant Bow |
23mm ZU-23 |
2 |
4 Minutes |
1.25 tons |
$51581 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Magazine |
Range |
Round |
Damage |
Penetration |
ZU-23 |
20 |
2x50B |
550 |
APDS-T |
5 |
8/7/6/4 |
|
20 |
2x50B |
550 |
API |
5 |
5/4/3/2 |
|
20 |
2x50B |
410 |
HE |
C1
B5 |
-4C |
|
20 |
2x50B |
550 |
HVAPI |
5 |
6/5/4/3 |
|
20 |
2x50B |
550 |
HVHE |
C1
B5 |
-4C |