Type 05 AFV

China (2005), in production. +2,500 all versions.

Development

The Type 05 amphibious armored vehicle is not a single vehicle but a whole family of amphibious tracked armored fighting vehicles. They were developed by Norinco for the People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps, as a main combat vehicle. Two were developed, the ZBD-05 infantry fighting vehicle and the ZTD-05 assault vehicle, plus support variants, all based on the ZBD-05. The ancient name for the concept was the type ZBD-2000. The Type 05 was designed to be launched at sea from an amphibious assault ship. They had an hydroplane a bit like the cancelled US. Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) and are remarkable as the world's fastest amphibious combat vehicle.

The Type 05 indeed offers a groundbreaking high water speed (HWS) capability that was unique and emphasizes fast landing operations. China was the only country that developed that high-speed amphibious fighting capability. Neither the US, or any other country possesses that capability. Its development went a long way. Until then, the Chinese had already a limited park of amphibious combat vehicles, namely with the Type 63A derived from the PT-76 amphibious light tank, and Type 86 IFV (chinese copy of the BMP-1) used by the Chinese PLAN Marines. One variant of the Type 63 APC was also developed as an amphibian, the type 63C for the Marines.

But in all these cases, the basic design was limited in its landing speed. Thus, the Chinese military after studying WW2 landings and the Inchon landing in Korea (Operation Chromite) deduced that an high water speed (HWS) capability with organic firepower in order to provide adequate support to the infantry on the beach were ideal to breach enemy shore defences. They were seen as essential for the success of landing operations. The PLA tasked China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) as well as the China State Shipbuilding Corporation to cooperate on a family of amphibious vehicles capable of cross-sea landing operations, under Project 212 in the 1990s, a project led by chief designer Chen Pengfei.

Chinese engineers were caught in the vicious cycle of power-to-weight ratio, since a high engine output made for an heavier engine and thus heavier vehicle, whereas a buoyancy reserve was necessary. The design team created a planing hull with retractable tracks to reduce drag when swimming as much as possible, and a powerful water jet propulsion, as well as buoyancy-inducing materials like aluminum alloy for the chassis. To deal with the surf, they had a newly designed and innovative composed, dynamically adjustable trim vane as well as stern flaps that could change the vehicle's optimal angle and generate lift while further reducing drag.

The Project 212 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles were thus designed with the objective of an unheard of water speed of 28 km/h (15 kn), whereas usually 10 knots was considered good enough. This was quite an improvement over the US AAV7A1 amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) for example. The United States's Marines saw the AAV was obsolete and knew about that Chinese development, and started working on the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV), but the project was evaluated and failed, leading to cancellation and leaving China the only country wiich such a vehicle in its inventory.

The Project 212 went through a long development cycle in 2000-2004 and was approved for production as Type 05, in 2005, its yer of acceptation. The project was initially thought to be declined into two variants in the family, and infantry fighting variant called ZBD-05 and assault gun/light tank variant called the ZTD-05. The ZBD-05 was first showcased in the 2009 and 2015 parade. They started to be showcased in many exercises and started to replace the obsolete Type 63A amphibious tank of the 1990s. The ZBD-05 became a concern for Western, and especially US intel as revealing the will of the PLA to be able yto lead fast amphibious assaults, a likely scenario concerning Taiwan.

Design

Army digital camo for this ZTL-05 (pinterest)

Hull and general design

The Type 05 was designed with a prismatic hull, flat below, with an extendable bow and rear flap, in order to create pontoon-like ends. The front is an articulated trim vane that could add to the lenght of the vehicle and surf on water at full speed. The drivetrain comprises otherwise six retractable road wheels on either side plus front and rear rollers. The design allowed to reduced drag in the water, and both the bow-mounted trim vane and rear flap could adaptively change their angles according to displacement speedometer to negate fluid resistance, reduced to the optimal level. This is done by automatic control system for simplified operation and could be adapted also to the wave height and sea state in general.

Hull length is normally of 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in) but when the bow is extended it could reach up to 13.24 m (43 ft 5 in) for a width of 3.36 m (11 ft) and height of 3.04 m (10 ft). For the crew is comprises three men for the IFV and four in the Light Tank configuration, and could carry up to 8 troops in the rear compartment. The driver is on the front-left forward of the turret, and is the only one located in the hull forward, while the commander and gunner are located in the turret. The all has access to persicopes with IR vision and macgnification scope for the gunner.

Protection

The Type 05 had a Welded aluminum alloy and steel construction, with composite armor plates. It has additional steel glacis plates to resist like gun or heavy MG rounds. This aluminum alloy reduces weight while still providing protection against small arms rounds, shrapnel, and over the steel plates forward, 12.7mm rounds. The turret is made in all-welded steel with composite plates, for an all-around protection against 12.7mm rounds. The front face is proof against 25mm AP rounds at 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). The upper suspension has armor plates to protect against RPGs. The vehicle also has a halon type fire suppression system in the engine compartment, combat compartment, plus a collective NBC protection system. For active protection it has two banks of four smoke projectors, wether its the IFV or assault gun variants.

Propulsion & Mobility

The ZBD-05 reall unique as its diesel engine is capable of 1,475 hp in water, but restricted to 550 hp when switching on land operations. The suspension is hydropneumatic and has fully retractable suspension units in order to not cause any drag when swimming. This the vehicle being fully amphibious, is propelled by two large water jets on the rear of the hull. The output and all measures taken to streamline the hull resulsts in a road speed of 65 km/h, but 30 km/h when swimming. Top cruising range is 500 km. The vehicle was shown able to negotiate a gradient of 60 % and side slope of 30%, cross a vertical obstacle of 0.7 meters and trench of 2 meters.

Armament

This depends on the variants. The base ZBD-05 Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle has a two-man turret housing a ZPT-99 30mm cannon, with a 7.62mm Type 86 coaxial machine gun and an optional HJ-73C ATGM to deal with tanks at longer ranges. The ZBD-05, is built to land and support infantry on the beach. Its HJ-73C ATGM is still capable of penetrating more than 800mm RHA after ERA. It couldland a fully equipped squad of 7-8 infantry from its rear ramp at the end of its rear passenger compartment.

The Assault Vehicle ZTD-05, is given a much larger 3-manned turret, with a fully stabilized ZPL-98A 105mm rifled gun as its centerpiece. It thus has a crew of four, now with a dedicated loader. The gun could deal with armour thanks to its baseline APFSDS round, the DTC02-105 armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot derived from the BTA-2 105mm APFSDS. It could defeat 600mm RHA at 2,000 meters. The gun could also fire a laser guided beam-riding missile. To support infantry it could also fire illumination and HE rounds. It is loaded manually, fire rate is between 6 and 8 rounds per minute. There are 36 rounds of ammunitions in reserve with half ready in the turret. The turret has a similar layout to the ZTL-11 assault vehicle's one. On the roof there is enough space for a QJC-88 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun near the loader.

Other variants might have a turreted QJC-88 12.7mm heavy machine gun and /or a Type 86 7.62 mm LMG depending on the case (see below).

Variants:

ZTD-05/ZLT-05 Amphibious Assault Vehicle (assault gun variant).
ZBD-05 Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle: ZPT-99 30mm, 7.62mm coax, HJ-73C ATGM.
ZSD-05 Amphibious Armored personnel carrier with a 12.7mm HMG turret
Type 05 Amphibious Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle
Type 05 Amphibious Armored Command Vehicle
Type armoured recovery vehicle variant
Assault Breach Vehicle
05 Amphibious Armored Ambulance
Air Defense Vehicle
VN16: Modified export variants of the ZTD-05
VN18: Modified export variants of the ZBD-05.
VS25: Modified export variants of the Armored Recovery Vehicle.

ZLT-05

The Type 05 Amphibious Assault Vehicle, is the assault gun variant featuring a a ZPL98A 105mm low-recoil rifled gun, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and QJC-88 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun. An improved variant, designated ZLT-05A, has an upgraded computer system and digital terminals that can be accessible by the driver, gunner, and commander at any time.

Amphibious Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle

It is given a telescopic mast with electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) system, laser-range finder, and X-band radar, protected by a turreted 12.7 mm heavy machine gun.

Type 05 Amphibious Armored Command Vehicle

The mobile command and control variant with field communication and battle management system.

Type 05 assault armoured recovery vehicle

The AARV is equipped with a crane, hydraulic winch for emergency vehicle recovery. Additional handrail is installed on the top for ease of operation in the water.

Type 05 (GSL132) Assault Breach Vehicle

The Type 05 (GSL132) Assault Breach Vehicle is a mine clearance assault vehicle variant equipped with a mine plow, a mine detection device, Clear Lane Marking system, and eight tube obstacle clearing rockets, working as rocket-projected mine clearing line charge (MICLIC).

Type 05 Amphibious Armored Ambulance

This Armored ambulance variant based on Type 05 command vehicle chassis with a taller roof, is a frontline medical support and evacuation for the Chinese Marines. It features an emergency ventilator, air conditioning, monitoring, and shock-absorbing double bunk beds.

Type 05 Air Defense Vehicle

The air defense variant. Eight HQ-13 missiles mounted on the Type 05 amphibious chassis. The vehicle also features an integrated radar and optics mast for search and tracking.

Operators

PLA Ground Force 1,500+ in service 2022. 750 ZBD-05, 750 ZTD-05. PLA Navy Marine Corps: 320+ 2021, 240 ZBD-05, 80 ZTD-05.

Venezuela: VN16, VN18, VS25: Venezuelan Marine Corps.

Thailand: 3 ordered in June 2020 for the Royal Thai Marine Corps, delivered May 2021.

Type 05 specifications
Dimensions	9.5 x 3.36 x 3.04 mm (31 ft 2 in x 11 ft x 10 ft)
Total weight	26.5 t (29.2 short tons; 26.1 long tons)
Crew	3 (IFV), 4 (Light Tank), 8 passengers
Propulsion	Diesel 550 hp (land), 1475 hp (water)
Suspension	Hydropneumatic, retractable suspension
Speed	65 km/h (40 mph) on landn 28–30 km/h (15–16 kn)
Range	500 km (310 mi)
Armament	ZPT-99/ZPL-98A 105mm rifled, HJ-73C ATGM, QJC-88 AAMG, QJT-88 coaxial LMG
Armor	Welded aluminum alloy/steel construction, composite plating
Total production	Est. 2500+ with variants

*bow extended 13.24 m (43 ft 5 in)

Illustrations

ZBD 2000 in parade colours, Bejing 2006.

ZBD 05 light tank in marine digital camouflage - @AK-Interactive profile

ZBD 05 light tank in marine camouflage

ZBD 05 IF (2014) with a coastal or inland digital type camouflage, showing its trim vane fully extended for amphibious ops.