122mm Type 83
Overview
122mm Type 83
Sri Lankan troops firing their 122mm Type 83 during the Sri Lankan Civil War. Note the barrel at full recoil position.
Source: Unknown author -
© Copyright lies with original owner
Early 1980's (redesign)
PL-83 (new Chinese naming system)
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
Description
Introduction
The Type 83 is a late Cold War era towed howitzer of Chinese origin. It stems from a design project for a light weight long range 122mm howitzer that spans the entire 1970's. This project did yield ordnance and ammunition akin to the Soviet D-30, but failed to meet the 2.5 t maximum weight limit. In the 1980's a batch was produced. This preceded the self-propelled PLZ89 and towed PL96 that were both acquired in much larger numbers. Be aware that there are multiple less common artillery systems called Type 83. A long barrel 152mm towed gun exists and there are 122mm and 273mm multiple rocket launchers called Type 83.
Firepower
The Type 83 has a maximum range of 15.6 km using the Type 83 HE-fragmentation shell. Maximum rate of fire is 7 to 8 rpm. Rocket assisted ammunition has a longer range of 19 km. Direct fire range is quoted a 1 km. This likely refers to a HEAT shell for use against armored vehicles.
Design
The ordnance of the Type 83 is derived from the Soviet D-30. These were possibly acquired via Iraq. It has the same type of multi-slotted muzzle brake as early D-30 models. The carriage is taken from the Type 54-I, a Chinese derivative of the Soviet M-30. A gun shiels of similar design to the D-20 is fitted. The split trail design was chosen to keep the weight down and reduced emplacement time. In the end the Chinese military opted for a near copy of the D-30 as the PL96. The ammunition range with slightly greater range than its Soviet counterpart was retained. The Type 83 can be towed by 4x4 and 6x6 tactical trucks.
Users
China seems to have adopted the Type 83 only in relatively limited numbers. In the early 1990's and early 2000's batches of 20 guns were sold to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh respectively. These are likely ex-Chinese guns refurbished for export sales. The Type 83 was actively used in the Sri Lanka civil war.
Details
Media
122mm Type 83
Sri Lankan troops with 122mm Type 83 towed howitzer during an exercise in 2021.
Source: alt.army.lk
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
122mm Type 83
Six Sri Lankan army 122mm Type 83 howitzer seen in travel configuration in 2021.
Source: alt.army.lk
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
122mm Type 83
Sri Lankan troops firing their 122mm Type 83 towed howitzer using a lanyard during an exercise in 2021.
Source: alt.army.lk
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
122mm Type 83
Sri Lankan troops firing their 122mm Type 83 towed howitzer using a lanyard during an exercise in 2021.
Source: alt.army.lk
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
122mm Type 83
Left side view of 122mm Type 83 towed howitzer in firing position during an exercise in Sri Lanka in 2021.
Source: alt.army.lk
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
122mm Type 83
Sri Lankan army 122mm Type 83 towed howitzer seen on parade in 2012.
Source: Chamal Pathirana
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
Related articles
122mm M-30
The Type 83 is based on the carriage of the older Soviet M-30, produced in a modified version in China as the Type 54-I.
PLZ89
The self-propelled PLZ89 uses a similar ordnance as the Type 83. Since the turret is enclosed a fume extractor is added to the barrel.