Trumpeter 02330 PLA PL96 122mm Howitzer

The PLA-96 howitzer (another designation: Type 96 or PL-96) is a Chinese 122 mm towed gun from the post-war and modern times. The initial speed of the high-explosive shell from this gun is approx. 690 m / s, with the maximum range of a standard shell of approx. 18,000 meters. The rate of fire of the weapon, with a well-trained crew, reached 6-8 rounds per minute. The PLA-96 howitzer is a development of the PLA-86 howitzer, which in turn is a license version of the Soviet 2A18 howitzer (another designation: D-30), the first copies of which entered the line in the Soviet Army in the mid-1960s. The PLA-96 howitzer probably entered service in 1996. Compared to its predecessor, the PLA-86 howitzer, it differs mainly in slightly improved range and reinforced structure. It can also fire various types of missiles, including missiles assisted by rockets and missiles aimed at the laser beam. It is assumed that the transition time from the marching position to the combat position takes from 90 to 150 seconds. Currently, the Dongfeng EQ2012 and Shaanxi SX2150 trucks are most often used to tow PLA-96 howitzers.