2-1st Jinan Regiment of the former 91st Motorized Rifle Division [reorganized into the 91st Airborne Assault Brigade] completed the upgrade of its logistics. Using the example of this rearmament, one can assess the ongoing reconstruction of the army in China..
Previously, the regiment was equipped with 122 mm PL-96 towed howitzers., armored personnel carriers Type 63 and amphibious tanks Type 63A.
PL-96 is a Chinese copy of the Soviet 122mm D-30 gun., adopted by the SA in 1960 year. Currently, the howitzer is found in the Russian troops mainly in the Airborne Forces, but still widely represented in the PLA ranks. To replace it, the specified regiment received a 122-mm self-propelled gun mount PLZ07B based on the ZBD-97 BMP, which was first shown to the general public in 2009 year (PLZ07 - basic version, PLZ07B - amphibious modification).
PL-96 (left) and PLZ07B (case)
БТР Type 63 was not based on Soviet prototypes and became the first self-developed armored personnel carrier in the PRC. It was serially produced since the late 1960s and managed to take part in the battles of the Vietnam War.. In the 2nd regiment, it was replaced by the ZBD05 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle., which has been operated by the Chinese troops since 2006 of the year.
Type 63 (left) и ZBD05 (case)
Type 63A is an upgrade of the Type amphibious tank 63 (not to be confused with an armored personnel carrier with a similar designation), which, in turn, was created on the basis of the Soviet PT-76 and was in operation with 1963 of the year. Instead, the Jinan Regiment received a light amphibious tank ZTD05 (in a number of sources also referred to as an assault cannon), who started his service in 2005 year.
Type 63A (left) and ZTD05 (case)
used photos:http://www.military-today.com/
