{
  "id": "pl-96",
  "name": "PL-96 (Type 96)",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "122mm towed howitzer",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1996,
  "operators": [
    "BGD",
    "CHN"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 2,
  "summary": "The PL-96 (Type 96) Chinese 122mm Towed Howitzer is a copy of the Soviet D-30 howitzer. It is also referred as Type 96.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 5,
      "src": [
        "weg-pl-96"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Displacement time",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "1.5 - 2.5 minutes",
      "src": [
        "weg-pl-96"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Emplacement time",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "1.5 - 2.5 minutes",
      "src": [
        "weg-pl-96"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Maximum range of fire",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "18 - 27 km",
      "src": [
        "weg-pl-96"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 0,
      "src": [
        "weg-pl-96"
      ],
      "conf": "low",
      "note": "Automated check: outside the expected range for this type; verify against the source."
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "Projectile",
      "role": "122 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-pl-96"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Armor penetration": "Around 450-500 mm of steel armor"
      },
      "qty": "INA"
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Type 89",
      "text": "Type 89 is a tracked 122 mm artillery system with the 122 mm ordnance. Actually it uses ordnance of the older Type 86 howitzer. Since the late 1970s a number of 122 mm self-propelled howitzers were developed in China to ",
      "src": [
        "weg-pl-96"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "SH-3",
      "text": "SH-3 is a tracked artillery system. It is an improved version of the Type 89, developed mainly for export. It can be seen as a China's newly-built equivalent to the Soviet 2S1 Gvosdika. It offers greater mobility, improv",
      "src": [
        "weg-pl-96"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "PLZ-07",
      "text": "PLZ-07 is a version of the SH-3, adopted by the Chinese army. It is a successor to the Type 89 self-propelled howitzer. It was adopted in the late 2000s and first publicly revealed in 2009. The PLZ-07 is being fielded by",
      "src": [
        "weg-pl-96"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "PLZ-07B",
      "text": "PLZ-07B is an amphibious self-propelled howitzer, used by China's marine corps. This artillery system is fully amphibious. It has a boat-like hull for improved floatation and is fitted with a trim vane and two waterjets.",
      "src": [
        "weg-pl-96"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "SH-2",
      "text": "SH-2 is another truck-mounted howitzer. It is based on a 6x6 light utility truck chassis and uses ordnance of the PL-96. This artillery system was first publicly revealed in 2007. It was aimed mainly at export customers.",
      "src": [
        "weg-pl-96"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "PCL-09",
      "text": "PCL-09 is a truck-mounted howitzer. It is based on a Shaanxi 6x6 military truck and uses ordnance of the PL-96. This artillery system was adopted in around 2009 and is widely used by Chinese army.",
      "src": [
        "weg-pl-96"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "generic",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/pl-96.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-pl-96": {
      "title": "PL-96 (Type 96) Chinese 122mm Towed Howitzer",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/PL-96_Type_96_Chinese_122mm_Towed_Howitzer",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}