PLL-01

In 1980s, Chinese military industry acquired the license to produce GHN-45 howitzer from Noricum, subsidiary of the Austrian company Voest-Alpine, whom developed CHN-45 based on the design of the GC-45 howitzer. GHN-45 (Gun, Howitzer, Noricum) featured several improvements to the original GC-45, such as better ammunition and fire control systems. Due to the design improvement, GHN-45 had considerably longer ranges than other 155 mm cannon systems used by NATO and Western countries. This capability initially caused worry for allied forces in the Persian Gulf War.[2] The designer Gerald Bull was contacted by China to develop his work for them, which he agreed. China also purchased extended-range ammunition technology from him.[3]

The Chinese production designation of the GHN-45 is WAC-021 and PLL-01,[4] which entered service in 1987.[5][6] China continue to acquire and develop other technologies for the PLL-01, such as precision guided projectiles GP1. China also mounted the PLL-01 onto an indigenous-designed tracked chassis, resulting in the PLZ-45 (also known as the Type 88) and an ammo-carrier based on the same chassis. The PLZ-45 did not enter service with the People's Liberation Army Ground Force because China still use the doctrine developed for the Soviet-standard 152 mm ammunition at the time. However, two major batches of PLZ-45s were sold to Kuwaiti in 1997 and to Saudi Arabia in 2008.[7][8][9]

The PLL-01/WAC-201 is license-produced variant of the Austrian NORICUM GHN-45 howitzer, thus two systems are compatible in the choice of ordnance. The NORINCO Type WA-021 has an auto-frettaged barrel 45 calibers long, fitted with a multi-baffle muzzle brake, which has an efficiency of 30 percent. A screw-type breech mechanism opening to the right is employed and the chamber volume is 22.95 liters. The rifling employs 48 grooves with a twist of 1 in 20 calibers, and the grooves are understood to be three times deeper than the rifling depths found on comparable Western 155 mm designs.[4] The weapon also accepts locally made Chinese ammunitions and NATO-compatible ammunitions.[10]

The weapon system is used by People's Liberation Army Ground Force and by the Iranian army as towed artillery.[3][10] The PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzer was sold to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Algeria.[7][8][9] It is also used by Iraq.[3]

SH-1 howitzers of the Myanmar Army

WAC-201

Export version, towed

PLL-01

Domestic production, towed

AH-1

Export version based on PLL-01, towed

AH-2

Export version based on AH-1, 52 calibers with longer range, towed

FGT-203

Experimental 203 mm towed howitzer. Based on PLL-01, this artillery system was developed by Norinco in cooperation with Space Research International of Belgium.

W-90

Self-propelled 203 mm howitzer.[11]

PLZ-45

Export, self-propelled version introduced in 1997

PLZ-05

Domestic production, self-propelled version introduced in 2005

SH-1

Export, truck-mounted version introduced in 2002[12]