WZ-523

The WZ-523 (NATO reporting name M1984) is a six-wheeled Chinese armored personnel carrier designed to be amphibious. Built on the chassis of the Hanyang HY472 truck, it can carry a crew of three and seat up to eight additional passengers. Two primary models were produced—one with a roof-mounted 12.7mm heavy machine gun, and the other with a small turret armed with a 35mm grenade launcher and a 7.62mm co-axial general purpose machine gun. An export model that entered service in 2008 as a fire support vehicle was also marketed successfully to the Namibian Army; this is armed with a 73mm 2A28 Grom smoothbore cannon in exactly the same turret as used on the Soviet BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle.[1]

WZ-523
M1984
WZ-523s of the Ghana Army
TypeArmored personnel carrier
Place of originPeople's Republic of China
Service history
In service1984-Present
Used bySee Operators
Specifications
Mass11,700 kg (25,800 lb)
Length6.02 m (19 ft 9 in)
Width2.55 m (8 ft 4 in)
Height2.73 m (8 ft 11 in) (including machine gun)
Crew2 + 10 passengers
Armorwelded steel

20 mm front 14 mm sides

6 mm rear
Main
armament
12.7 mm heavy machine gun
EngineWater-cooled petrol engine
123 kilowatts (165 hp)
SuspensionWheeled 6x6
Operational
range
600 km (370 mi)
Maximum speed 85 km/h (53 mph) (road speed)
7 km/h (4.3 mph) (water speed)

The WZ-523 was unveiled at a military parade in Beijing in October 1984, gaining the NATO designation M1984,[2] although it was destined for export and did not enter large scale service with the People's Liberation Army (PLA).[3] An internal security vehicle based on the WZ-523, the ZFB-91, which has a turret armed with a 35 mm grenade launcher and a 7.62 mm machine gun replacing the roof mounted 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun of the WZ-523, is in service with PLA units in Hong Kong and Macau.[3]

Development History

When the WZ-523 was first exhibited publicly, there were many observations by international defence analysts regarding its design origins. Although the hull design resembled that of the South African Sandock-Austral Ratel infantry fighting vehicle, subsequent studies have found that while there may have been some South African influence the WZ-523 has many unique characteristics in overall dimensions and technical features.[4] For example, its driving compartment is somewhat reminiscent of the BTR-60, with a single passenger seated next to the driver.[4] The location of the turret ring is also similar that of the BTR-60 series rather than the Ratel, being located near the hull center.[4]

The People's Liberation Army has deployed the WZ-523 primarily for reconnaissance purposes, and for specialized tasks involving artillery and combat support units.[5] Despite being designed as an armored personnel carrier, it was not adopted by Chinese mechanized or motorized infantry forces.[5]

Outside of China, Sudan's Military Industry Corporation also produces the WZ-523 under license.[6]

Specifications

WZ-523s have relatively good range and payload, and may seat up to ten passengers who enter and debus from a single door in the rear hull.[4] The vehicle has a long, boat-shaped hull with a trim vane mounted on the glacis plate.[2] It is fully amphibious once this vane is raised, being propelled at speeds of up to 7 km by two water jets at the rear.[4] A two-piece windscreen is provided for the driver and a passenger seated to his right. During combat, the windscreen may be covered by hinged armored shutters.[2]

Export models of the WZ-523 are offered with a variety of turreted armament options, including a 12.7mm machine gun and a one-man conical turret incorporating a single 7.62mm general-purpose machine gun to the right and a heavier armament of the customer's choice to the left.[7]

WZ-523s in Nigerien and Gabonese service have been re-engined with German Deutz BF6 diesel motors.[8]

Variants
WZ-523
Armored Personnel Carrier armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun.
ZFB-91
Internal Security Vehicle based on the WZ-523.

Operators
WZ-523s in UN peacekeeping colors.

See also

Vehicles of comparable role, performance, and era

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Christopher F. Foss. Jane's Tanks and Combat Vehicles Recognition Guide (2000 ed.). Harper Collins Publishers. p. 352. ISBN 978-0-00-472452-2.
  3. "WZ523 Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier" Archived 12 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Sinodefence.com. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  4. O'Malley, T.J. (1996). Fighting Vehicles: Armoured Personnel Carriers & Infantry Fighting Vehicles. Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books. pp. 322–342. ISBN 978-1853672118.
  5. Cordesman, Anthony; Kleiber, Martin (1997). Chinese Military Modernization: Force Development and Strategic Capabilities. Washington D.C.: Center For Strategic and International Studies. pp. 93–94. ISBN 978-0-89206-496-0.
  6. Shareef 2
  7. Jane's Armour and Artillery, 2002, Volume 23 p. 439-440.
  8. "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  9. China 2004
  10. Ghana Armed Forces
  • Foss, Christopher F. Jane's Tanks and Combat Vehicles Recognition Guide. London: HarperCollins, 2002. ISBN 0-00-712759-6.

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