- Yes
- No
Welcome to the suggestion for the ZLT05! More commonly called ZTD05, this is a Chinese amphibious assault vehicle armed with a 105 mm ZPL98A. This turret is similar if not the same as the one found on the ZLT11 in-game, meaning it can fire the most modern Chinese APFSDS ammunition, and has high quality thermals. While in War Thunder it would primarily be used on land, the ZLT05 is also fairly fast in water, capable of speeds of around 25 km/h. Let’s find out a bit more!
History
ZTS63As during the early 2000s.
In 2000, the People’s Liberation Army required a new generation of amphibious armored vehicle. At the time, its primary amphibious armored vehicle was the ZTS63A, a modernized version of a design dating back to the 1960s. Part of the requirements were for the vehicle to be faster in water and be capable of being modified for a variety of roles. It would also have to be able to be deployed from assault ships, thereafter landing on a beach on its own propulsion. During this time, the United States was still working on the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle, and this spurred development, which was undertaken by Jianglu Machinery Group, based out of Hunan, under designer Chen Pengfei began development. One of the primary purposes of the new vehicle was to replace the ZTS63A, and as such an assault gun variant took center stage for design. A prototype was shipped for testing in March 2001, and would see amphibious capabilities testing in 2002.
There were a few problems, one of which was that the maximum speed in water was only 20 km/h, while the PLA wanted a speed of 25 km/h. An incident occurred on April 22nd, 2002 while testing was being carried out in the Yangtze River. After attempting a turn, the vehicle tipped over into the water and sunk 7 meters. A few days later, the vehicle was salvaged from the river, with Chen Pengfei, then in Beijing, rushing to nearby Chongqing. No casualties resulted from this incident, and morale certainly took a hit within the design team, but it was decided to continue testing regardless after the sinking was deemed to be due to user error, and not a design flaw. By this point, the vehicle’s speed still hadn’t reached the 25 km/h desired by the PLA, and it was even considered at one point to reduce the requirement to 23 km/h, but the following year, after testing the vehicle’s stability when firing in water, the design team modified the vehicle further and finally achieved the desired 25 km/h. After this, the vehicle was on a fast track to seeing service, and in December of 2004, it received approval from the People’s Liberation Army General Armaments Department, and the assault gun version was designated ZLT05.
The ZLT05 prototype during testing in the Yangtze River, 2002.
In Beijing’s 2009 military parade celebrating the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, the ZLT05 was shown to the public for the first time, crewed by troops of the 1st Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division from the 72nd Group Army.
The ZLT05 uses a turret mounting a 105 mm ZPL98A, capable of firing a variety of ammunition, including some of the latest APFSDS rounds produced by NORINCO, such as DTC02-105, as well as the DTP1A HEAT-FS round. It is also capable of firing the GP105 gun-launched anti-tank guided missile. Its hull is flat, with a large bow and trim vane. The ZLT05 is propelled by two water jets on the rear side of the hull, as well as by its engine, capable of generating 1475 hp in water. The armor is light in order to make the vehicle as lightweight as possible, and is composed of a welded aluminum alloy.
Since entering service, the ZLT05 has been produced in increasingly large numbers, and is in service with the People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces, and the People’s Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps. An export variant, the VN16, is in service with the Royal Thai Marine Corps and Venezuelan Marine Corps.
A ZLT05 from the PLA Navy Marine Corps landing ashore during a mock beach raid in the western part of Guangdong, August 17th, 2019.
Specifications
- Crew: 4
- Mass: 28 t
- Length: 13.2 m
- Width: 3.3 m
- Height: 3.6 m
- Main armament: 105 mm ZPL98A
- Main armament ammunition: ~38 rounds
- Secondary armament: 5.8 mm QJT88 machine gun & 12.7 mm QJC88 machine gun
- Maximum speed: 65 km/h on land, around 25 km/h on water
- Engine: 550 hp diesel engine, 1475 hp in water
- Maximum range: 500 km on land, 90 km on water
