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		<updated>2026-05-08T17:47:21Z</updated>
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	<entry>
		<id>https://old-wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=PLZ83&amp;diff=178106</id>
		<title>PLZ83</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://old-wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=PLZ83&amp;diff=178106"/>
				<updated>2023-12-10T12:56:44Z</updated>
		
		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;U125263168: /* History */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Specs-Card&lt;br /&gt;
|code=cn_plz_83&lt;br /&gt;
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Description ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (PLZ83式152毫米自行加榴炮) was the very first self-propelled howitzer of PLAGF from 1980s as the key equipment of army mechanization. Due to the lag in development of general-purpose tracked platforms and the demand for replacement SPHs for the fleet of WWII Soviet tank destroyers, the PLAGF had already attempted to modify the [[ZSD63|ZSD63 chassis]] into the Type 70-I SPH with an obsolete 122 mm WWII era howitzer, with almost non-existent protection and reliability. Soon after the approval of economic reform and military modernization in 1978, the PLAGF issued the mission to vehicle factories for a domestic 152 mm SPH; thanks to the joint efforts of the three factories involved, the prototype was soon built in 1980 and two more were produced in 1981, using the new WZ321 tracked platform specifically for heavy guns. The vehicle, now named Type 83 (PLZ83 after 1987) was certified in November 1983 and was publicly shown in the 35th National Day parade. With new guided 152 mm shells and integration into the PLAGF's datalink network, both PLZ83 and PLZ83A are still one of the cornerstones of the PLAGF artillery corps until the more advanced 155 mm PLC181 and PLZ05 series replace the remaining 152 mm calibre towed guns and SPH.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Introduced in [[Update &amp;quot;Kings of Battle&amp;quot;]] as the first domestic SPH of the Chinese ground tech tree, players will see similarities with the [[2S3M]], as both of them were based on the same D-20 (PL66) 152 mm howitzer; although having devastating calibre, due to the lack of more powerful 152 mm shells for last-ditch direct fire, players will have to exercise extra caution when utilising the howitzer - always aim for the most unprotected part of enemy vehicles to achieve one-hit kills as it might not have the chance to reload again and finish off the target.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== General info ==&lt;br /&gt;
=== Survivability and armour ===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Some similarities can be found between the PLZ83 and later [[PTZ89]] - they are both based on the WZ321 tracked platform developed in the 1980s. Although it is not as protected as its Soviet counterpart, the [[2S3M]], the PLZ83 still has sufficient protection to stop .50 calibre rounds up front at point-blank range (aside from the LFP); for an SPH, this is certainly good news as enemies have to utilize their autocannons or larger calibre cannons to destroy the vehicle, although it is wise to avoid the frontline at all as this will vastly increase its risk of being destroyed. As an SPH, the PLZ83 has a relatively tall profile to house its 152 mm howitzer, meaning that it will give itself away quickly without foliage or indestructible cover; so be sure to hide the vehicle from the sight of enemy vehicles. Being hit in the hull or the turret can bring completely different outcomes - while the hull can sometimes survive oncoming shots thanks to the engine block or the driver, 26 rounds are stowed in the turret behind the 3 turret crew, so any penetrated shots from APCBC with explosive filler can send the turret flying.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Armour type:''' &amp;lt;!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- Example: * Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Hull roof)&lt;br /&gt;
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Hull || ___ mm || ___ mm ''Top'' &amp;lt;br&amp;gt; ___ mm ''Bottom'' || ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Turret || ___ - ___ mm ''Turret front'' &amp;lt;br&amp;gt; ___ mm ''Gun mantlet'' || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Cupola || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Notes:''' &amp;lt;!-- Any additional notes which the user needs to be aware of --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- Example: * Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, tracks are 30 mm thick, and torsion bars are 60 mm thick. --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Mobility ===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
For maximum compatibility (and also due to the limit of technology) to Chinese tracked vehicles, all vehicles based on the WZ321 tracked chassis used the same 12V150L engine from the [[Type 59]] and a revised planetary transmission for its workload, and PLZ83 is no exception; thus the mobility of the vehicle feels like a lighter Type 59 and shares identical speeds at different gears. Be sure not to over-extend, as it doesn't have sufficient reverse to retreat to cover.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=739|rbMinHp=460}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Modifications and economy ===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Specs-Economy}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Armaments ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}&lt;br /&gt;
=== Main armament ===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: &amp;lt;code&amp;gt;&amp;lt;nowiki&amp;gt;{{main|Name of the weapon}}&amp;lt;/nowiki&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt;. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
{{main|PL66 Gai (152 mm)}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
To accommodate such a huge 152 mm howitzer onto the WZ321 chassis, Chinese engineers revised the hydraulic recoil absorbers design and placed them under the barrel, as well as an assisted mechanical loader (the proposed autoloader was flawed and eventually ditched). The PLZ83 is tied with the 2S3M in terms of gun traverse speed and slower than the M109 series in various tech trees, so plan ahead and turn the turret accordingly for any situations.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;text-align:center&amp;quot; width=&amp;quot;100%&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! colspan=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot; | [[PL66 Gai (152 mm)|152 mm PL66 Gai]] || colspan=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot; | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot; | Reloading rate (seconds)&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer&lt;br /&gt;
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced&lt;br /&gt;
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! ''Arcade''&lt;br /&gt;
| rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | 30 || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | -5°/+65° || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | ±180° || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | - || 8.8 || 12.2 || 14.8 || 16.4 || 17.4 || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | 17.29 || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | 15.30 || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | 14.10 || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | 13.30&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! ''Realistic''&lt;br /&gt;
| 5.9 || 7.0 || 8.5 || 9.4 || 10.0&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==== Ammunition ====&lt;br /&gt;
{{:PL66 Gai (152 mm)/Ammunition|DDB1/PL66, DDB1/PL66 (VT)}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Although the gun was certified in 1966, due to the lack of plans for more powerful shells until the late 1980s, both shells, DDB1 and its VT variant, are equivalent of the already obsolete OF-540 shell in Soviet service, thus it needs more careful aiming for maximum efficiency as enemies can sometimes survive a direct hit and fire back upon PLZ83.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''DDB1/PL66, Stock''' - the DDB1 shell is identical to the OF-540 used in Soviet Army since the 1940s on the ISU-152 and 2S3M. Although the calibre sounds fearsome and it does extensive damage to enemy targets once hit, due to the insufficient explosive filler in DDB1 (the 3OF25 has almost twice the TNT equivalent), players should always aim for weak spots i.e. optics, top of vehicle etc. to achieve a one-hit knock-out. If the gun on the enemy vehicle survives the hit and remains operational, chances are this will be a death sentence to the PLZ83.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''DDB1/PL66 (VT), Tier III''' - the researchable DDB1/PL66 (VT) is identical to its stock counterpart with the addition of an MD81 radio fuse; while this enables the gun to be used as a huge anti-aircraft cannon, the shell should only be considered if enemy aircraft are coming straight at PLZ83 without any manoeuvres, considering the 3 m trigger radius of the MD81 fuse and its relatively high trajectory. Remember to switch back to the stock DDB1/PL66 before hitting ground targets as the trigger radius is very unlikely to do any damage to armoured targets.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- '''Last updated:''' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;text-align:center&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! Full&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;ammo&lt;br /&gt;
! 1st&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;rack empty&lt;br /&gt;
! 2nd&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;rack empty&lt;br /&gt;
! 3rd&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;rack empty&lt;br /&gt;
! 4th&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;rack empty&lt;br /&gt;
! 5th&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;rack empty&lt;br /&gt;
! 6th&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;rack empty&lt;br /&gt;
! Visual&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;discrepancy&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| '''30''' || __&amp;amp;nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&amp;amp;nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&amp;amp;nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&amp;amp;nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&amp;amp;nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&amp;amp;nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Machine guns ===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
{{main|QJC88A (12.7 mm)}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The PLZ83 is armed with the later QJC88A 12.7x108 mm machine gun on the commander side (right from the vehicle's PoV) of the turret, it has a larger ammo pool than the Soviet DShK/Chinese Type 54 HMG at 100 rounds per ammo box. The QJC88A still has sufficient firepower to gun down light vehicles or oncoming aircraft if they are set ablaze or have their pilot knocked out.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;text-align:center&amp;quot; width=&amp;quot;50%&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! colspan=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot; | [[QJC88A (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm QJC88A]]&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Pintle || 600 (150) || 600 || -6°/+85° || -161°/+156°&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Usage in battles ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a &amp;quot;guide&amp;quot; - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
As the very first enclosed SPH of PLAGF, PLZ83 does have some flaws since its introduction, but with careful planning and only firing when players are certain of a knock-out or fatal blow to enemy vehicles, the PLZ83 can still play like its counterparts at its tier with extra caution.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A key to using SPHs is to never taking them as a frontline vehicle - SPHs are designed to strike enemies from the rear, direct fire is only for last-ditch options against oncoming enemy vehicles. This rule also applies to PLZ83, but to make the situation worse, there is no 152 mm HEAT shell for extreme penetration; the HE shell is also an early WWII make, making it less effective than its Soviet counterpart or NATO M109 series. Players will need to be extra careful about where they hit enemies and when to fire the shot, due to the relatively light explosive content. Aim for weak spots with likelihood of overpressure i.e. optics, hatches, tops or bottom of vehicles; although players can knock out the barrel of enemy vehicles with its sheer calibre, it is always better to take out enemies with one shot to eliminate any chance of them fighting back - a necessity for any manually-loaded SPH as they take at least 15 seconds to reload.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Enemy vehicles will have no problem penetrating the vehicle from all distance with their main cannon, if their shots land on the turret front, the last thing players can hear is the huge explosion caused by the detonation of at most 26 shells in the turret; bringing less shells can mitigate this slightly, but unless players are well-used to the ballistics and where to hit, it is always better to bring more spares for follow-up shots but no more than 18 shots for maximum safety.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
To utilize the maximum efficiency of the PLZ83, it is a good idea to be the second-line fire support vehicle for the team, as over-extending the vehicle can quickly end its career. As HE shells are not affected by range, any well-calculated shots on the weak spots can certainly finish off enemies with relative ease. Due to the lack of HEAT shells, taking it as a turreted ISU-152 is not really a good idea; sneaking up at corners in urban maps can sometimes achieve great results as long as players are ready for any oncoming vehicles and turn the turret beforehand; at close distance without any ballistic drop, whoever shoots and damages the enemy first wins. In case of any flying objects on the skies or light vehicles behind terrain/cover, the PLZ83 also has a VT shell for this mission; just be sure to bring a mix of both conventional HE and HE-VT shells for flexibility.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Overall, although there are major flaws in terms of firepower without more powerful HE shells, the PLZ83 gives the chance to blast enemy players with its huge shell while maintaining sufficient efficiency; just wait for the chance to deliver the fatal blow.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Pros and cons ===&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as &amp;quot;bad&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;good&amp;quot; and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as &amp;quot;inadequate&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;effective&amp;quot;.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Pros:'''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Slightly more generous ammo pool for the gun (albeit vastly less than [[2S3M]])&lt;br /&gt;
* Sufficient power/weight ratio thanks to T-54/Type 59 equivalent powerplant&lt;br /&gt;
* Devastating 152 mm shell with options for VT fuse&lt;br /&gt;
* Turret without fire-arc limits&lt;br /&gt;
* Relatively fast gun vertical traverse (tied with higher tier [[Bkan 1C]])&lt;br /&gt;
* Somewhat better gun depression than its counterparts (-3° for M109 series and -4° for 2S3M)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Cons:'''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Inferior explosive mass for both shells and lacks HEAT/APHEBC shell&lt;br /&gt;
* HMG rated protection, anything larger can cause extensive damage to the vehicle&lt;br /&gt;
* Rather slow reverse speed&lt;br /&gt;
* Long reload time even with mechanized assist loader&lt;br /&gt;
* Huge turret with likelihood of detonation once penetrated&lt;br /&gt;
* Slow gun horizontal traverse (almost a degree slower than M109 series)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== History ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block &amp;quot;/History&amp;quot; (example: &amp;lt;nowiki&amp;gt;https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History&amp;lt;/nowiki&amp;gt;) and add a link to it here using the &amp;lt;code&amp;gt;main&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt; template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using &amp;lt;code&amp;gt;&amp;lt;nowiki&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/nowiki&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt;, as well as adding them at the end of the article with &amp;lt;code&amp;gt;&amp;lt;nowiki&amp;gt;&amp;lt;references /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/nowiki&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt;. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under &amp;lt;code&amp;gt;&amp;lt;nowiki&amp;gt;=== In-game description ===&amp;lt;/nowiki&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt;, also if applicable).'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
The Type 83 is a 152 mm self-propelled howitzer used by the People's Liberation Army of China.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This self-propelled gun system was developed by Factory 674 (Harbin First Machinery Building Group Ltd) and based on a tracked chassis. The project's development started in the late 1970s and the prototype was completed in February 1980, followed by a second in 1981. Production was authorized in 1983 under the designation Type 83. The first production run started in May 1983 and the first public display was on 1 October 1984. This self-propelled gun is similar to the 2S3, with a modified version of the Type 66 gun and a Type 321 utility tracked chassis and is the first modern self-propelled gun in service with the People's Liberation Army. Production ended in 1990, after only 78 examples were built. Manufacturing also involved factory 5318, 298, 754 and 843.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_83_SPH&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Media ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== See also ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''&lt;br /&gt;
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''&lt;br /&gt;
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''&lt;br /&gt;
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== External links ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''&lt;br /&gt;
* ''topic on the official game forum;''&lt;br /&gt;
* ''other literature.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* ''topic on the official game forum;''&lt;br /&gt;
* ''other literature.''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{TankManufacturer Norinco}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{China tank destroyers}}&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>U125263168</name></author>	</entry>

	<entry>
		<id>https://old-wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=PLZ83&amp;diff=178103</id>
		<title>PLZ83</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://old-wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=PLZ83&amp;diff=178103"/>
				<updated>2023-12-10T11:37:55Z</updated>
		
		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;U125263168: /* History */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Specs-Card&lt;br /&gt;
|code=cn_plz_83&lt;br /&gt;
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Description ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (PLZ83式152毫米自行加榴炮) was the very first self-propelled howitzer of PLAGF from 1980s as the key equipment of army mechanization. Due to the lag in development of general-purpose tracked platforms and the demand for replacement SPHs for the fleet of WWII Soviet tank destroyers, the PLAGF had already attempted to modify the [[ZSD63|ZSD63 chassis]] into the Type 70-I SPH with an obsolete 122 mm WWII era howitzer, with almost non-existent protection and reliability. Soon after the approval of economic reform and military modernization in 1978, the PLAGF issued the mission to vehicle factories for a domestic 152 mm SPH; thanks to the joint efforts of the three factories involved, the prototype was soon built in 1980 and two more were produced in 1981, using the new WZ321 tracked platform specifically for heavy guns. The vehicle, now named Type 83 (PLZ83 after 1987) was certified in November 1983 and was publicly shown in the 35th National Day parade. With new guided 152 mm shells and integration into the PLAGF's datalink network, both PLZ83 and PLZ83A are still one of the cornerstones of the PLAGF artillery corps until the more advanced 155 mm PLC181 and PLZ05 series replace the remaining 152 mm calibre towed guns and SPH.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Introduced in [[Update &amp;quot;Kings of Battle&amp;quot;]] as the first domestic SPH of the Chinese ground tech tree, players will see similarities with the [[2S3M]], as both of them were based on the same D-20 (PL66) 152 mm howitzer; although having devastating calibre, due to the lack of more powerful 152 mm shells for last-ditch direct fire, players will have to exercise extra caution when utilising the howitzer - always aim for the most unprotected part of enemy vehicles to achieve one-hit kills as it might not have the chance to reload again and finish off the target.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== General info ==&lt;br /&gt;
=== Survivability and armour ===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Some similarities can be found between the PLZ83 and later [[PTZ89]] - they are both based on the WZ321 tracked platform developed in the 1980s. Although it is not as protected as its Soviet counterpart, the [[2S3M]], the PLZ83 still has sufficient protection to stop .50 calibre rounds up front at point-blank range (aside from the LFP); for an SPH, this is certainly good news as enemies have to utilize their autocannons or larger calibre cannons to destroy the vehicle, although it is wise to avoid the frontline at all as this will vastly increase its risk of being destroyed. As an SPH, the PLZ83 has a relatively tall profile to house its 152 mm howitzer, meaning that it will give itself away quickly without foliage or indestructible cover; so be sure to hide the vehicle from the sight of enemy vehicles. Being hit in the hull or the turret can bring completely different outcomes - while the hull can sometimes survive oncoming shots thanks to the engine block or the driver, 26 rounds are stowed in the turret behind the 3 turret crew, so any penetrated shots from APCBC with explosive filler can send the turret flying.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Armour type:''' &amp;lt;!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- Example: * Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Hull roof)&lt;br /&gt;
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Hull || ___ mm || ___ mm ''Top'' &amp;lt;br&amp;gt; ___ mm ''Bottom'' || ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Turret || ___ - ___ mm ''Turret front'' &amp;lt;br&amp;gt; ___ mm ''Gun mantlet'' || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Cupola || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Notes:''' &amp;lt;!-- Any additional notes which the user needs to be aware of --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- Example: * Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, tracks are 30 mm thick, and torsion bars are 60 mm thick. --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Mobility ===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
For maximum compatibility (and also due to the limit of technology) to Chinese tracked vehicles, all vehicles based on the WZ321 tracked chassis used the same 12V150L engine from the [[Type 59]] and a revised planetary transmission for its workload, and PLZ83 is no exception; thus the mobility of the vehicle feels like a lighter Type 59 and shares identical speeds at different gears. Be sure not to over-extend, as it doesn't have sufficient reverse to retreat to cover.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=739|rbMinHp=460}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Modifications and economy ===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Specs-Economy}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Armaments ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}&lt;br /&gt;
=== Main armament ===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: &amp;lt;code&amp;gt;&amp;lt;nowiki&amp;gt;{{main|Name of the weapon}}&amp;lt;/nowiki&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt;. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
{{main|PL66 Gai (152 mm)}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
To accommodate such a huge 152 mm howitzer onto the WZ321 chassis, Chinese engineers revised the hydraulic recoil absorbers design and placed them under the barrel, as well as an assisted mechanical loader (the proposed autoloader was flawed and eventually ditched). The PLZ83 is tied with the 2S3M in terms of gun traverse speed and slower than the M109 series in various tech trees, so plan ahead and turn the turret accordingly for any situations.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;text-align:center&amp;quot; width=&amp;quot;100%&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! colspan=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot; | [[PL66 Gai (152 mm)|152 mm PL66 Gai]] || colspan=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot; | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot; | Reloading rate (seconds)&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer&lt;br /&gt;
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced&lt;br /&gt;
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! ''Arcade''&lt;br /&gt;
| rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | 30 || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | -5°/+65° || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | ±180° || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | - || 8.8 || 12.2 || 14.8 || 16.4 || 17.4 || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | 17.29 || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | 15.30 || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | 14.10 || rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | 13.30&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! ''Realistic''&lt;br /&gt;
| 5.9 || 7.0 || 8.5 || 9.4 || 10.0&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==== Ammunition ====&lt;br /&gt;
{{:PL66 Gai (152 mm)/Ammunition|DDB1/PL66, DDB1/PL66 (VT)}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Although the gun was certified in 1966, due to the lack of plans for more powerful shells until the late 1980s, both shells, DDB1 and its VT variant, are equivalent of the already obsolete OF-540 shell in Soviet service, thus it needs more careful aiming for maximum efficiency as enemies can sometimes survive a direct hit and fire back upon PLZ83.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''DDB1/PL66, Stock''' - the DDB1 shell is identical to the OF-540 used in Soviet Army since the 1940s on the ISU-152 and 2S3M. Although the calibre sounds fearsome and it does extensive damage to enemy targets once hit, due to the insufficient explosive filler in DDB1 (the 3OF25 has almost twice the TNT equivalent), players should always aim for weak spots i.e. optics, top of vehicle etc. to achieve a one-hit knock-out. If the gun on the enemy vehicle survives the hit and remains operational, chances are this will be a death sentence to the PLZ83.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''DDB1/PL66 (VT), Tier III''' - the researchable DDB1/PL66 (VT) is identical to its stock counterpart with the addition of an MD81 radio fuse; while this enables the gun to be used as a huge anti-aircraft cannon, the shell should only be considered if enemy aircraft are coming straight at PLZ83 without any manoeuvres, considering the 3 m trigger radius of the MD81 fuse and its relatively high trajectory. Remember to switch back to the stock DDB1/PL66 before hitting ground targets as the trigger radius is very unlikely to do any damage to armoured targets.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- '''Last updated:''' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;text-align:center&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! Full&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;ammo&lt;br /&gt;
! 1st&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;rack empty&lt;br /&gt;
! 2nd&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;rack empty&lt;br /&gt;
! 3rd&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;rack empty&lt;br /&gt;
! 4th&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;rack empty&lt;br /&gt;
! 5th&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;rack empty&lt;br /&gt;
! 6th&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;rack empty&lt;br /&gt;
! Visual&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;discrepancy&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| '''30''' || __&amp;amp;nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&amp;amp;nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&amp;amp;nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&amp;amp;nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&amp;amp;nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&amp;amp;nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Machine guns ===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
{{main|QJC88A (12.7 mm)}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The PLZ83 is armed with the later QJC88A 12.7x108 mm machine gun on the commander side (right from the vehicle's PoV) of the turret, it has a larger ammo pool than the Soviet DShK/Chinese Type 54 HMG at 100 rounds per ammo box. The QJC88A still has sufficient firepower to gun down light vehicles or oncoming aircraft if they are set ablaze or have their pilot knocked out.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;text-align:center&amp;quot; width=&amp;quot;50%&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! colspan=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot; | [[QJC88A (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm QJC88A]]&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Pintle || 600 (150) || 600 || -6°/+85° || -161°/+156°&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Usage in battles ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a &amp;quot;guide&amp;quot; - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
As the very first enclosed SPH of PLAGF, PLZ83 does have some flaws since its introduction, but with careful planning and only firing when players are certain of a knock-out or fatal blow to enemy vehicles, the PLZ83 can still play like its counterparts at its tier with extra caution.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A key to using SPHs is to never taking them as a frontline vehicle - SPHs are designed to strike enemies from the rear, direct fire is only for last-ditch options against oncoming enemy vehicles. This rule also applies to PLZ83, but to make the situation worse, there is no 152 mm HEAT shell for extreme penetration; the HE shell is also an early WWII make, making it less effective than its Soviet counterpart or NATO M109 series. Players will need to be extra careful about where they hit enemies and when to fire the shot, due to the relatively light explosive content. Aim for weak spots with likelihood of overpressure i.e. optics, hatches, tops or bottom of vehicles; although players can knock out the barrel of enemy vehicles with its sheer calibre, it is always better to take out enemies with one shot to eliminate any chance of them fighting back - a necessity for any manually-loaded SPH as they take at least 15 seconds to reload.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Enemy vehicles will have no problem penetrating the vehicle from all distance with their main cannon, if their shots land on the turret front, the last thing players can hear is the huge explosion caused by the detonation of at most 26 shells in the turret; bringing less shells can mitigate this slightly, but unless players are well-used to the ballistics and where to hit, it is always better to bring more spares for follow-up shots but no more than 18 shots for maximum safety.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
To utilize the maximum efficiency of the PLZ83, it is a good idea to be the second-line fire support vehicle for the team, as over-extending the vehicle can quickly end its career. As HE shells are not affected by range, any well-calculated shots on the weak spots can certainly finish off enemies with relative ease. Due to the lack of HEAT shells, taking it as a turreted ISU-152 is not really a good idea; sneaking up at corners in urban maps can sometimes achieve great results as long as players are ready for any oncoming vehicles and turn the turret beforehand; at close distance without any ballistic drop, whoever shoots and damages the enemy first wins. In case of any flying objects on the skies or light vehicles behind terrain/cover, the PLZ83 also has a VT shell for this mission; just be sure to bring a mix of both conventional HE and HE-VT shells for flexibility.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Overall, although there are major flaws in terms of firepower without more powerful HE shells, the PLZ83 gives the chance to blast enemy players with its huge shell while maintaining sufficient efficiency; just wait for the chance to deliver the fatal blow.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Pros and cons ===&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as &amp;quot;bad&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;good&amp;quot; and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as &amp;quot;inadequate&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;effective&amp;quot;.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Pros:'''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Slightly more generous ammo pool for the gun (albeit vastly less than [[2S3M]])&lt;br /&gt;
* Sufficient power/weight ratio thanks to T-54/Type 59 equivalent powerplant&lt;br /&gt;
* Devastating 152 mm shell with options for VT fuse&lt;br /&gt;
* Turret without fire-arc limits&lt;br /&gt;
* Relatively fast gun vertical traverse (tied with higher tier [[Bkan 1C]])&lt;br /&gt;
* Somewhat better gun depression than its counterparts (-3° for M109 series and -4° for 2S3M)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Cons:'''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Inferior explosive mass for both shells and lacks HEAT/APHEBC shell&lt;br /&gt;
* HMG rated protection, anything larger can cause extensive damage to the vehicle&lt;br /&gt;
* Rather slow reverse speed&lt;br /&gt;
* Long reload time even with mechanized assist loader&lt;br /&gt;
* Huge turret with likelihood of detonation once penetrated&lt;br /&gt;
* Slow gun horizontal traverse (almost a degree slower than M109 series)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== History ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block &amp;quot;/History&amp;quot; (example: &amp;lt;nowiki&amp;gt;https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History&amp;lt;/nowiki&amp;gt;) and add a link to it here using the &amp;lt;code&amp;gt;main&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt; template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using &amp;lt;code&amp;gt;&amp;lt;nowiki&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/nowiki&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt;, as well as adding them at the end of the article with &amp;lt;code&amp;gt;&amp;lt;nowiki&amp;gt;&amp;lt;references /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/nowiki&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt;. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under &amp;lt;code&amp;gt;&amp;lt;nowiki&amp;gt;=== In-game description ===&amp;lt;/nowiki&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/code&amp;gt;, also if applicable).'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
The Type 83 is a 152 mm self-propelled howitzer used by the People's Liberation Army of China.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This self-propelled gun system was developed by Factory 674 (Harbin First Machinery Building Group Ltd) and based on a tracked chassis. The project's development started in the late 1970s and the prototype was completed in February 1980, followed by a second in 1981. Production was authorized in 1983 under the designation Type 83. The first production run started in May 1983 and the first public display was on 1 October 1984. This self-propelled gun is similar to the 2S3, with a modified version of the Type 66 gun and a Type 321 utility tracked chassis and is the first modern self-propelled gun in service with the People's Liberation Army. Production ended in 1990, after only 78 examples were built. Manufacturing also involved factory 5318 (artillery), 298 (aiming), 754 and 843.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Unlike the U.S. M109 howitzer, this self-propelled gun is made from steel and not aluminum alloy. It has six wheels on each side with the engine is in the forward hull. There is stowage for 30 shells, included a Chinese version of the Krasnopol laser ammunition. The elevation is 0-62° giving a range of 17 km. There is also base-bleed ammunition with improved range, cluster and fragmentation projectiles. A secondary weapon, a 12.7 mm machine gun, is also mounted on the turret. The engine is a 520 hp (382 kW) WR4B-12V150LB four-stroke, liquid-cooled diesel engine. The maximum speed is 55 km/h and range 450 km.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_83_SPH&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Media ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== See also ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''&lt;br /&gt;
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''&lt;br /&gt;
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''&lt;br /&gt;
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== External links ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''&lt;br /&gt;
* ''topic on the official game forum;''&lt;br /&gt;
* ''other literature.'' --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* ''topic on the official game forum;''&lt;br /&gt;
* ''other literature.''&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{TankManufacturer Norinco}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{China tank destroyers}}&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>U125263168</name></author>	</entry>

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