PLZ-45

Noricum, the arms division of the Austrian steel company Voestalpine, purchased the design rights to the GC-45 howitzer after Space Research Corporation moved to Brussels. They made a number of detail changes to improve mass production, resulting in the GHN-45 (Gun, Howitzer, Noricum), which was offered in a variety of options like the APU and fire-control systems. Once out of prison, Gerald Bull was soon contacted by China. The PLA also used the Noricum version, producing it as the PLL-01, which entered service in 1987. They also mounted it on a locally designed tracked chassis to produce the PLZ-45 (also known as the Type 88), along with an ammo-carrier based on the same chassis. The PLZ-45 did not enter service with the PLA primarily because their existing artillery was all based on Soviet-standard 152 mm ammunition. However, two major batches of PLZ-45s were sold to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. == Design ==

Armament Operated by a crew of five (commander, gunner, two loaders and a driver), the PLZ-45 is armed with a 155 mm, 45-calibre main gun, with a semi-automatic loader and an electrically controlled and hydraulically operated ram that enables projectile loading to take place at any angle of elevation with the charge being loaded manually. The turret has an elevation of +72 to –3 degrees with 360 degree traverse. Armour and protection The armour of the PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzer protects against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. It is fitted with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems. == Operational history ==

In April 2015, the Saudi Arabian Army used the PLZ-45 for shelling Houthi rebels along the Saudi Arabia–Yemen border during the Saudi Arabian–led intervention in the Yemeni Civil War. This was the first time the PLZ-45 has been used in combat. In late 2015, Kuwait sent an artillery battalion to Saudi Arabia to assist its Saudi ally against the Houthis. ==Operators==

Current operators • : 50 have been delivered. • : Used by the People's Liberation Army. • : 18 delivered in 1999. • : (51) 27 PLZ-45s (to form a training platoon and the first battalion) ordered in 1998 and delivered in 2000–2001. In August 2008, China signed a contract to provide Saudi Arabia with one battalion, i.e. 27 PLZ-45 155 mm self-propelled howitzers. Another contract to supply one more battalion (27 more PLZ-45 self-propelled guns) was signed later in the month. The howitzers were delivered between 2008 and 2009. Potential operators • • ==See also==