Grenade launchers and anti-tank missile systems of the Chinese Marine Corps
The PLA Marine Corps is armed with a significant amount of heavy equipment and weapons: floating Tanks, amphibious infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, as well as various towed and self-propelled artillery systems. However, given the specifics of the actions, there is a high probability that a small unit of marines, landed on the enemy coast without the support of armored vehicles and artillery, may encounter superior enemy forces. In this case, the standard infantry fire weapons of the platoon, company and battalion level, which can be carried by personnel, are of particular importance: automatic and rocket-propelled grenade launchers, as well as anti-tank systems with guided missiles rockets.
Automatic grenade launchers
Automatic grenade launchers are primarily designed to defeat enemy manpower and unarmored vehicles. But in the case of using cumulative ammunition, they are able to successfully combat armored vehicles with bulletproof protection. An important quality of automatic grenade launchers is the ability to conduct overhead fire, which allows you to destroy targets hidden in the folds of the terrain.
The Chinese Armed Forces received their functional analogue of the AGS-17 much later than the Soviet Army. It was only in the late 1980s that Norinco mastered the production of the 35-mm automatic grenade launcher QLZ87, which is also known as the Type 87.
35mm QLZ87 grenade launchers on a tripod and bipod
Chinese engineers, having become familiar with the American 40-mm Mk 19 and the Soviet 30-mm AGS-17, preferred to create a model with a free-bolt automatic mechanism, albeit inferior to foreign mounted grenade launchers in practical rate of fire, but with less weight and dimensions, which in turn allowed for maintenance weapons by one fighter. For this reason, the belt feed was abandoned in favor of a magazine. Ammunition is fed from below from drum magazines with a capacity of 6 or 15 shots. 6-round drums are usually used when shooting from a bipod, 15-round drums - from a machine or equipment.
The grenade launcher, equipped with a bipod, weighs 12 kg, on a tripod - 20 kg. The sighting range is 600 m, the maximum is 1750 m. The rate of fire is up to 500 rounds per minute. The combat rate of fire is up to 80 rounds per minute. The weapon is equipped with a low-power optical sight with an illuminated reticle. The sight is located to the left of the barrel to ensure convenient shooting at high elevation angles. The ammunition includes unitary rounds with a fragmentation or cumulative grenade. The total weight of the round is about 250 g, the muzzle velocity of the grenade is 190-200 m/s. The fragmentation grenade provides reliable destruction of a full-length target within a radius of 5 m. It is also possible to fire incendiary and smoke grenades. The cumulative grenade is capable of penetrating 80 mm of armor at normal range, which, combined with the high rate of fire, allows for confident combat against lightly armored vehicles.
The QLZ87B grenade launcher was created on the basis of the QLZ-20 about 87 years ago, using the same ammunition. The widespread use of light alloys in the design of the weapon allowed to reduce the weight to 9,1 kg. The grenade launcher is equipped with a folding bipod, attachment to the machine is not provided.
A shooter with a 35mm QLZ87B grenade launcher
Sighting devices include a front sight and a rear sight, and it is also possible to install optical or night sights. The weapon is fed from detachable drum magazines with a capacity of 4 or 6 shots, the fire mode is single shots only.
Almost simultaneously with the QLZ87B, the QLZ04 belt-fed mounted automatic grenade launcher entered service, which also fires 35x32SR rounds.
35mm QLZ04 Mounted Grenade Launcher
The QLZ04 grenade launcher is a weapon using a free-bolt mechanism. Shooting is done from an open bolt. The trigger mechanism is designed for firing both automatic fire and single shots. The weapon is fed with ammunition from a metal belt. The standard capacity of the belt, placed in a removable metal box, is 30 shots.
Crew with 35mm QLZ04 grenade launcher
The weight of the grenade launcher on the tripod without ammunition is 24 kg. The rate of fire is 350-400 rounds per minute. Although the effective range remains the same as previous models, which use the same ammunition, the QLZ04 grenade launcher has higher efficiency due to better accuracy and rate of fire. Since this weapon weighs more than 35-mm automatic grenade launchers with magazine feeding, the QLZ04 is usually installed on vehicles and landing helicopters; this grenade launcher is also part of the armament of hovercraft and is used to provide fire support to marines during landings on the shore.
In 2011, the PLA Marine Corps was equipped with the QLU35 11mm sniper grenade launcher, developed and manufactured by Norinco.
35 mm QLU11 grenade launcher
The automatic system uses the recoil of the barrel during its long stroke. The QLU-11 grenade launcher is equipped with a standard electronic-optical sight with a laser rangefinder, a ballistic computer. Shooting is carried out with 35-mm shots of increased accuracy with an initial velocity increased to 320 m/s.
It is stated that at a distance of 600 m the dispersion radius does not exceed 1 m. Programmable air-burst grenades provide improved efficiency when shooting at manpower, which reduces the consumption of ammunition. The fire mode is single shots only, both from the folding bipod and from the tripod. The weight of the weapon on the bipod is 12,9 kg, on the tripod - 23 kg. Ammunition is fed from detachable drum magazines with a capacity of 3 to 15 shots. To reduce recoil, a high-efficiency muzzle brake and a buffer mechanism inside the butt are used.
Anti-tank rocket launchers
By the end of the Cold War, the Chinese Marine Corps was armed with Type 80 anti-tank hand grenades (an improved version of the RKG-3E), Type 69 anti-tank rocket launchers (a Chinese copy of the RPG-7), and Type 82 78mm recoilless rifles (based on the Soviet B-10 recoilless rifle).
But already at the time of its adoption in 1980, the hand-thrown cumulative Type 80 grenade was an anachronism. By that time, the US and USSR had adopted light disposable hand-held grenade launchers as an individual anti-tank weapon for infantrymen.
In the late 1980s, Norinco specialists created and brought to serial production a disposable 80-mm RPG PF89, which could destroy medium tanks with homogeneous armor. Mass deliveries to the troops began in 1993.
Grenade launcher PF89
A fiberglass container is used to transport and launch the rocket grenade. It is closed on both sides with rubber caps that prevent foreign objects from getting inside and also secure the grenade. The grenade launcher has a carrying handle on the top, a primitive optical sight on the left side, a belt on the right side, and a trigger mechanism at the bottom. The pistol grip is rotary, in the combat position it cocks the trigger mechanism and releases the trigger. The rocket grenade with a cumulative warhead is equipped with a piezoelectric fuse, after leaving the launch container it is stabilized on the trajectory by eight folding blades.
The weight of the loaded grenade launcher is 3,7 kg, the length is 900 mm. It is stated that the cumulative 80-mm grenade weighing 1,84 kg is capable of penetrating homogeneous armor more than 400 mm thick at normal. The initial velocity of the grenade is 147 m/s. The effective firing range is no more than 250 m. The maximum sighting range is 400 m.
The PF89 grenade launcher was originally designed to combat armored targets, but can also be used to destroy cover, fire points, and enemy personnel. In terms of capabilities, this weapon is comparable to later modifications of the American M72 LAW disposable grenade launcher or the Soviet RPG-26 grenade launcher.
According to information published in Chinese sources, the PLA Marine Corps assault platoon must have at least 10 disposable grenade launchers distributed among the fighters.
The PF89A grenade launcher with a fragmentation-cumulative grenade is designed to counter light armored vehicles and defeat enemy infantry.
The armor penetration of homogeneous armor by normal is 200 mm, but at the same time the high-explosive fragmentation effect is increased, which allows the grenade launcher to be used as an assault weapon. The PF-89A grenade uses an adaptive fuse, which allows it to penetrate soft obstacles (sandbags or earthen parapet) or penetrate fragile obstacles (thin walls or window glass) without detonating the charge. This makes it possible to effectively defeat enemy manpower located in light shelters.
A tandem cumulative grenade has been created for the PF89B grenade launcher, designed to combat tanks with dynamic protection.
The armor penetration of the PF89B after penetrating dynamic protection when hitting at a right angle is stated to be 500 mm.
In 2008, the 80mm disposable assault grenade launcher DZJ08 with a cumulative high-explosive grenade entered service.
The main purpose is to destroy field fortifications, but in addition to this, the DZJ08 can be successfully used to combat vehicles protected by armor up to 100 mm thick. The grenade launcher weighs 7,6 kg, length - 971 mm. The initial velocity of the grenade weighing 1,67 kg is 172 m / s. The aiming range of fire is up to 300 m.
When an 80-mm bunker-busting cumulative high-explosive grenade explodes, the spread of lethal fragments does not exceed 7 m, which facilitates its use by assault units. The DZJ08 grenade launcher provides guaranteed penetration of a concrete wall up to 500 mm thick. For safe firing in a confined space, the grenade launcher uses a counterweight that compensates for recoil and reduces the impact of the jet stream. A safe launch requires a room measuring 2,5 x 2,5 x 2,5 m, which makes the grenade launcher convenient for combat in urban areas. The grenade fuse is armed 10 m after leaving the barrel, but the minimum safe firing distance is at least 25 m.
Chinese light 80mm grenade launchers have good characteristics compared to foreign analogues. However, for reliable penetration of the frontal armor of modern tanks, a heavier tandem cumulative grenade of increased caliber is required.
In 2000, the troops began to receive 120 mm PF-98 grenade launchers, which allowed the 105 mm Type 75 recoilless rifles (a copy of the American M40) to be decommissioned.
The PF-98 grenade launcher is designed for use in battalion and company units. The weight of the grenade launcher, mounted on a tripod, in the combat position is 29 kg. Length - 1191 mm. The fiberglass barrel has a service life of at least 200 shots. The combat rate of fire is up to 6 rounds / min. The crew is 3 people. If necessary, one soldier can service the grenade launcher, but in this case the rate of fire is reduced to 2 rounds / min.
120 mm grenade launcher PF-98 on a tripod machine
Grenade launchers used in the battalion link are mounted on a tripod and equipped with a laser rangefinder and a ballistic computer, the information from which is displayed on a small display. For targeting, an optical 4x sight with a night channel is used, ensuring the detection of a tank in the dark at a distance of up to 500 m.
Company level grenade launchers are equipped with simplified night optics with a range of 300 m, lack a ballistic computer and laser rangefinder. Company grenade launchers are fired from the shoulder, for better stability a front monopod support is usually used.
The ammunition set includes tandem cumulative and universal cumulative-fragmentation rounds. The tandem cumulative grenade weighing 7,5 kg has an initial velocity of 310 m/s and can hit a stationary target at a distance of up to 800 m, the effective firing range at moving targets is no more than 400 m. After overcoming dynamic protection, the anti-tank grenade, when hitting at a right angle, is capable of penetrating 700 mm of homogeneous armor. The cumulative-fragmentation grenade, weighing 6,3 kg, has a firing range at area targets of up to 2000 m. The universal grenade is equipped with steel balls, which ensures the defeat of manpower within a radius of 25 m from the point of explosion. When meeting at a right angle, up to 400 mm of armor is penetrated. In 2018, mass deliveries of the lightweight 120mm PF-98A grenade launcher began. This grenade launcher is 1250mm long, weighs about 7kg, and uses ammunition from an earlier model.
Anti-tank missile systems
Currently, the PLA has quite modern and effective anti-tank missile systems. However, according to reference data, the anti-tank units of the Chinese Marine Corps still use the HJ-73C ATGM.
Launch of the HJ-73S ATGM
The HJ-73S ATGM is an improved version of the Soviet 9K11 Malyutka system and has a semi-automatic control system. To aim the ATGM at a target, the operator only needs to hold it in the sighting visor. The introduction of a thermal direction finder on a new element base has improved the accuracy of the missile. A nickel-cadmium battery with a voltage of 30 volts is used to supply energy to the system, which can launch more than 30 missiles on a single charge. Thanks to the use of an improved fuel formula in the engines, the firing range reaches 3500 m. The missile is equipped with a new tandem warhead, the armor penetration of which, according to Chinese sources, is 700 mm. A high-explosive fragmentation warhead can also be installed. Based on operating experience, in case of failure of the contact fuse, the missile is equipped with a self-destruction mechanism.
Although the characteristics of the HJ-73C ATGM have improved significantly compared to the Soviet prototype, this system is still outdated. The missile's flight speed does not exceed 120 m/s. When the missile is launched, a clearly visible cloud of dust and smoke is formed, giving away the position. Deploying the ATGM and reloading the launchers takes too much time. The guidance system is highly vulnerable to illumination by an infrared searchlight and optical-electronic countermeasure systems. Nevertheless, despite all these shortcomings, the HJ-73B/S ATGM, due to its relative cheapness and mass production, continues to be in service with the marines and coastal defense units of the PLA.
In the mid-1970s, the PRC began designing the second-generation HJ-8 ATGM. Chinese designers did not have access to the new Soviet systems, and after relations with the United States improved, the Franco-German Milan ATGM was taken as a model to follow, from which they borrowed the control equipment and part of the missile design. The formal adoption of the HJ-8 ATGM into service took place in 1984, but mass production of the system began only in 1987.
ATGM HJ-8
The HJ-8 system includes a tripod launcher on which an optical sight, an infrared receiver, a computer, and a transport and launch container with a missile are mounted. There is also auxiliary equipment for servicing the control system and checking the serviceability of the wire-guided ATGM. As in other second-generation anti-tank missile systems, to guide the missile, the operator only had to hold the target in the crosshairs of the sight.
The first version of the HJ-8 ATGM could hit targets at a range of 100 to 3000 m. The 120 mm guided anti-tank missile is launched from a 1566 mm long TPK, the mass of which in the equipped state is 23 kg. The missile itself weighs about 11 kg. The maximum flight speed of the missile is 220 m/s. The weight of the tripod launcher with the sighting and control unit is about 25 kg. The first modification of the HJ-8 ATGM was equipped with a cumulative warhead, capable of penetrating 500 mm of homogeneous armor when hitting at a right angle.
The HJ-8 was produced on a very large scale, with various modifications of the systems being manufactured in a portable version and installed on transport vehicles and armored vehicles. The HJ-8 ATGM was used by anti-tank units of the Ground and Airborne Forces, the Marine Corps, and the Coastal Defense.
The improved HJ-8A ATGM is equipped with a more reliable fuse and a warhead with armor penetration of up to 600 mm. Due to the increased weight of the warhead and the fuel charge in the jet engine, the launch weight of later modifications of the missiles is 12-14 kg.
Since the mid-1990s, the HJ-8C missiles with a tandem cumulative warhead capable of penetrating dynamic protection and 800 mm of homogeneous armor have been produced. On the HJ-8D modification, the firing range was increased to 4000 m. The HJ-8E ATGM received a newly designed digital control system with improved firing accuracy and a PTI-32 night sight.
The HJ-8C and HJ-8A missiles were upgraded to the HJ-8F and HJ-8AE level to improve their combat performance. After the upgrade, the launch range was increased to 4000 m and armor penetration was increased. The HJ-8N ATGM uses a more compact filling, which made it possible to increase the warhead and increase armor penetration to 1000 mm of homogeneous armor. A number of sources say that the ATGM ammunition includes a missile with a HJ-8S thermobaric warhead.
As of today, the PRC industry has produced about 250 HJ-000 guided missiles of various modifications. HJ-8 ATGMs are very common in the PLA, used in a portable version and mounted on various chassis.
Currently, the Ground Forces are conducting experimental operation of the third-generation anti-tank system HJ-12, which is considered to be the Chinese analogue of the FGM-148 Javelin ATGM.
The Chinese ATGM is also equipped with an IR seeker, to which information from the thermal imaging sight is sent, after which the target is captured and launched. The seeker design uses solutions aimed at increasing the efficiency of target capture and tracking, which is contrasting in the IR range against the background of natural and artificial interference. The maximum firing range is up to 4000 m.
However, it is currently unknown whether the Chinese Marine Corps has HJ-12 systems in service. It is possible that the PLA Marine Corps Command is waiting for the results of large-scale testing of the new ATGM in the Ground Forces and the elimination of the "teething problems" inherent in technologically complex models.
To be continued ...
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