Number two

Tongzhimen shubingmen he pengyoumen, nimen hao!
Dorogiye tovarshchi soldaty i druzhya!
Prolettarii vsekh Stran, Soyedinites!

This issue looks at an experimental light tank, an improved model of the Model 62 light tank, the unsuccessful Chinese attempt to produce the T-10 heavy tank, and the PLZ-45 155mm self-propelled gun system.

High Altitude Combat in 1904

As China claims and occupies Tibet, the highest reported combat in China occurred on 18 July 1904 at Karo-La. There, soldiers from the 8th Gurhka Regiment climbed to over 18,000 feet to outflank of the Tibetans at Karo-La who had established a stone wall and a number of sangars in a narrow pass to prevent the Younghusband Mission from advancing to Lhasa.


Model 88 5.8 x 42mm round

The standard 4.8 g projectile has a velocity of 890 m/sec, falling to 734m/sec at 200m, 595m/sec at 400m, 471 m/sec at 600m and 367 m/sec at 800m.

New 9 x 19mm round

There is a new Chinese 9 x 19mm low impact and wounding round which uses an 11.6g projectile with a muzzle velocity of 378 m/sec. The cartridge is 29.9mm long overall and weighs 11.6g
with the projectile weighing 7g. Haven’t got much more info as yet on the projectile design so stay tuned.

Butchering a Classic Design – The New Police Revolver and Ammunition

The new Chinese police revolver being introduced into the Public Security Bureau is a butchered copy of the Smith and Wesson (S&W) Military and Police/Model 10 revolver. The major differences are an enclosed ejector rod, ramp front side and a rear sight, which the S&W Model 19, an improved version of the Mode1 10 incorporated. Unloaded, it weighs 700g and has an overall length of 180mm. The major difference is that Chinese engineers have added a safety catch above the cylinder release.

There two types of service ammunition identified and the best description would be 9 x 19mm rimmed and replicate the old.38 Smith and Wesson cartridge. The first is a duplex rubber round which looks the same size and shape as the old 38/200 and designed for internal security use during riots. This is 30mm long and weighs in at 12.6g.The rubber projectiles will be low velocity otherwise they would foul the rifling. The second cartridge is a copper jacketed semi-wad cutter round – the blunt nose adding to its ‘man-stopping’ ability. Both have a heavy roll crimp at the mouth of the case.

The old Smith and Wesson Model 10 in 38/200 I used to shoot in my early air force days had better ergonomics and a more powerful round than this piece of crap. The safety catch shows that other than special units, the lack of weapons proficiency of Public Security Bureau officers.

Another Heavy Calibre Sniping Rifle

Bingqi Zhishi 2/2006 has the details on another anti-materiel rifle – AMR-2. Of conventional design, this bolt action rifle is in 12.7 x 108mm and uses a five round magazine. It has an empty weight of 9.8kg with a loaded magazine adding just less than 4kg. It has an overall length of 1420mm and with the buffered stock folded 1230mm, with an 820mm barrel. It can be equipped with a suppressor.

New Thermobaric rocket launcher

In 2000 the PLA introduced the 93mm PF 97A thermobaric rocket launcher which uses a larger version of the 80mm PF 89 rocket launcher with a licence produced version of the Russian 93mm Schmel thermobaric rocket. The article was quite proud of China’s ability to produce the B695 fuse.

Mechanised Infantry Weapons and Their Ammunition Times of Flight

Appendix One is from an article on how mechanised infantry shoot from vehicles and gives the times of flight for their primary weapons – the Model 81 assault rifle, the Model 81 squad automatic weapon and the Model 69 RPG.

The article reveals that the 5.8mm family of weapons are not used in mechanised infantry units nor the Model 67 and Model 80 7.62 x 54mm machine guns – the 12.7 mm machine gun mounted in the vehicle turret and tracked mortar carriers providing fire support.

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Appendix One


PLA Mechanised Infantry Weapons Times of Flight (seconds)

100m 200m 300m 400m 500m

Model 81 AR 0.15 0.33 0.53 0.78 1.07
(7.62 x 39 mm)
Model 81 SAW 0.15 0.31 0.51 0.74 1.02
(7.62 x 39 mm)
Model 69 RPG 0.512 0.854 1.185 1.625 2.163