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Welcome to the suggestion for the VN22B! This is a fairly new export Chinese wheeled assault gun on the VN22 chassis. It is equipped with a 105 mm gun in a turret used by the WMA301 and a few other Chinese export vehicles, however this turret may be changed soon, due to a recent picture of the VN22B with a new turret. This may be for showcase at next month’s Zhuhai Airshow, and may warrant another suggestion. Regardless, the VN22B would make an excellent, nimble, and powerful wheeled assault gun, being one of many options for the Chinese tree.
I’m aware this vehicle is a rather recent one, in fact the most action this vehicle has seen so far is being involved in an accident that crushed some poor person’s car. Despite that, if you have anything not in the post or see anything incorrect, feel free to leave a comment. Feel free to also discuss the VN22B in general!
Overview
The VN22 equipped with a 30 mm autocannon and QN502C anti-tank missiles.
In September and October of 2021, Norinco displayed its latest family of wheeled vehicles. Designated the VN22, the basic version showcased was an infantry fighting vehicle variant, equipped with a 30 mm autocannon and a pair of QN502C fire-and-forget missiles. Divided into three parts, the VN22 has a compartment for the driver (and a subcompartment for the engine), turret crew, and eight to nine dismounts in the rear respectively. The vehicle’s hydropneumatic suspension is fully adjustable, and reportedly allows the vehicle to reach speeds of up to 115 km/h on roads. With appliqué armor equipped, the VN22 can resist 14.5 mm rounds on all sides, while the hull itself can protect against mines due to a V-shaped hull.
An Ivorian VN22B.
As has become a trend with many military vehicles, the VN22 can be fitted with a variety of armaments or be retailored for different purposes. Alongside the basic IFV variant, the VN22 has been seen in ambulance and armored recovery vehicle variants. The Iraqi produced VN22 even has a 12.7 mm CS/LM5 rotary machine gun, capable of up to 2,000 rounds per minute.
Perhaps the most notable subvariant so far of the VN22 is the VN22B, equipped with a large turret housing a 105 mm rifled gun, as found on a number of other vehicles developed by Norinco, notably the WMA301 and ST1 wheeled assault guns. The 105 mm gun can fire all NATO standard 105 mm tank rounds, including Norinco’s own APFSDS, HE, HEAT-FS, SAP, and GLATGM ammunition.
Since its unveiling, the VN22 has seen been bought by a few nations, Iraq, the Ivory Coast, and Senegal. While Iraq intends to locally produce the VN22, the Ivory Coast has thus far bought six VN22Bs, while Senegal has bought three, along with an ambulance variant and armored recovery vehicle variant. In October 2024, a VN22B was seen in public with a new turret, seemingly having rid itself of the older turret, and equipped with a newer and more modern looking one, with what seems to be a CITV.
An updated VN22B appearing in public in October, 2024.
Specifications
Crew: 4
Mass: ~28 t
Main armament: 105 mm rifled gun
Main armament stowage: 13 rounds in the turret and an unknown number in the hull
Secondary armament: 7.62 mm Type 86 & 12.7 mm QJC88A
Engine: 800 hp
Maximum speed: ~110 km/h
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