PLL05 120mm Self - Propelled Mortar - Howitzer The PLL05 ( or Type 05 ) is the self - propelled mortar - howitzer system based on a WZ551 6X6 wheeled chassis . The system combines features of the conventional mortar and the howitzer , firing projectiles at both short - range , high - arcing ballistic trajectories and longer - range , less steep ballistic trajectories for indirect fire . The PLL05 has been equipped by the 127th Light Mechanised Infantry Division of the 54th Group Army since 2008 . A track - based version of the system is currently in development . Programme . The concept of mortar - howitzer was first developed by Russia on the 2S9 NONA - S 120mm tracked SP artillery system , which entered service with the Russian Army in 1981 . The same artillery system was later adopted by the 8X8 wheel - based 2S23 NONA - SVK . Although neither system has been exported , China may have managed to obtained an example from a third country in the 1980s and developed its own mortar - howitzer system based on the Russian design . The PLL05 was said to be superior to the 2S9 / 2S23 in range . The Chinese - designed mortar - howitzer system was first revealed by the NORINCO for the export market in 2001 , but the system did not receive any order . An improved variant with a redesigned turret was adopted by the PLA under the designation PLL05 . The artillery system can be found in the artillery regiment organic to a light ( wheel - based ) mechanised infantry division , with 18 vehicles organised into a mortar - howitzer battalion . Design . The PLL05 uses a 6X6 wheeled chassis derived from the ZSL92 / WZ551 armoured personnel carrier ( APC ) with steeled hull . The combat weight is 16 . 5 tonnes , enabling the vehicle to be airlifted by a Y - 8 - sized transport aircraft . A crew of four ( commander , driver , gunner , and loader ) are protected inside the hull with collective NBC protection system . Armaments . The main armament is a 120mm rifled gun , with no muzzle break or fume extractor . The gun has an elevation range of - 4° ~ + 80° , and an azimuth range of 360° ( in contrast to the + / - 35° azimuth range of the 2S23 ) . The maximum range is 9 . 5 km when firing the howitzer projectile , 8 . 5 km when firing the mortar projectile , and 1 . 2 km when firing the HEAT projectile . The artillery could also fire the rocket - assisted mortar projectile , which has a maximum range of 12 . 8 km . The artillery is capable of both in - direct and direct firing . Fire accuracy is attained by a fire - control system , which allows three aiming methods : automatic , semi - automatic , and manual . While the 2S9 / 2S23 is manually loaded , the PLL05 is equipped with a semi - automatic loader , which gives a rate of fire of 6 ~ 8 rounds / minute ( howitzer projectile ) , 10 rounds / minute ( mortar projectile ) , and 4 ~ 6 rounds / minute ( HE - AT projectile ) . The turret is fitted with a cylinder - shape electro - optical device , which may allows the use of smart ammunitions like the Russian KBP Gran laser - guided mortar round . 36 rounds are carried inside the turret and hull . Secondary weapon includes a Type 85 12 . 7mm anti - aircraft machine gun mounted on the commander copula . There are two sets of smoke grenade launchers in group of three , with one fitted on each side of the turret . Propulsion . The vehicle is powered by a BF8L413F 4 - stroke , 8 - cylinder , turbo - charged , air - cooled diesel engine , which produces a standard power of 235 kW ( 320 hp ) at 2 , 500rpm . The vehicle is capable of a maximum speed of 85 km / h on paved road and 8 km / h when afloat . Two propellers are fitted at the rear of the vehicle for swimming .