×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Scale (2024) Special Forces

NORINCO Type 90 / Type 92 (WZ551)


Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) / Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)


China | 1984



"The Chinese WZ551 series of 6x6 armored vehicles has seen considerable interest from overseas parties the world over."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the NORINCO Type 92 (WZ551A) Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) / Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
1 x Deutz V-8 air-cooled, turbocharged diesel-fueled engine developing 256 to 320 horsepower driving conventional four-wheeled arrangement.
Installed Power
53 mph
85 kph
Road Speed
373 miles
600 km
Range
Structure
The physical qualities of the NORINCO Type 92 (WZ551A) Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) / Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
3
(MANNED)
Crew
21.8 ft
6.65 meters
O/A Length
9.2 ft
2.8 meters
O/A Width
9.5 ft
2.89 meters
O/A Height
33,731 lb
15,300 kg | 16.9 tons
Weight
Armament & Ammunition
Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the NORINCO Type 90 / Type 92 (WZ551) Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) / Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
TYPICAL:
1 x 25mm Autocannon in turret.
1 x 7.62mm co-axial machine gun in turret.
1 x 12.7mm Anti-Aircraft (AA) Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) on turret roof (optional).

OTHER:
1 x 105mm main gun OR 1 x 120mm main gun OR 1 x 122mm main gun.
AMMUNITION:
1,000 x 7.62mm ammunition (estimated).
500 x 7.62mm ammunition (estimated, if equipped).
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the NORINCO Type 90 / Type 92 (WZ551) family line.
WZ551 (Type 90) - Base Series Model Designation; model of 1984.
WZ551A (Type 92) - Improved WZ551; model of 1995
WMZ551B (Type 92/ZSL-92) - Improved WZ551A
ZSL-90 - Proposed export model
Type 92/105 - 105mm Assault Gun variant
Type 92/120 - 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar variant.
Type 92/122 - 122mm Self-Propelled Howitzer variant.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/16/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The WZ551 is a designation for a Chinese-originated 6x6 wheeled armored vehicle. The vehicle was developed by NORINCO (China NORth INdustries COrporation) Vehicle Research Institute and produced at theNORINCO Factory 256 plant. Introduced in 1984, the WZ551 has since been produced in numbers of 900-strong across various marks and configurations. Export users have been traditional Chinese military customers and those looking for a budget-conscious solution while staying away from typically more expensive Western and Russian offerings.

The WZ551 serves in both an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) and Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) role. It also has a secondary role as a general armored car.

The WZ551 follows traditional wheeled armored vehicle design qualities including use of six large road wheels (three to a hull side), sloped armor facings, a shallow-profile 360-degree traversable turret and use of a diesel engine. In the latter, the vehicle is powered by an 8-cylinder, air-cooled turbocharged diesel-fueled engine of 320 horsepower output allowing the WZ551 to reach speeds of 85 kmh and ranges out to 800 kilometers. The hull is suspended atop an independent wheel suspension system. Armor protection is of welded steel. The vehicle retains an inherent amphibious capability, able to traverse water sources by way of waterjets fitted to the rear of the hull.

While all WZ551 vehicles feature a standard operating crew of three, the APC version - lacking the turret - sports seating for eleven combat-ready troops while the IFV model - with turret - seats nine in relative comfort. The APC model is outfitted with a sole 12.7mm heavy machine gun, primarily for self-defense, while the IFV variant showcases a combination 1 x 25mm autocannon with a 7.62mm coaxial machine turret. Basic overall weight for the series is in the vicinity of 13.8 tons (short) while dimensions include a running length of 6.6 meters, a width of 2.8 meters and a height of 2.8 meters.

The WZ551 family is further broadened in its tactical battlefield value by other variants that utilize the same chassis - namely an Anti-Tank Guided Missle (ATGM) carrier (with HJ-9 missile launcher), a 105mm Assault Gun system and a 122mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) variant.

The WZ551 family initially appeared in operational form under the designation of "Type 90" during 1984. However, in practice its cross-country performance proved lacking which forced a revision of the design to its new WZ551A form. The WZ551A became the "Type 92" and was adopted in 1995 - differentiated by the original by the spacing seen between the rear set of axles. Still another improved form ultimately emerged and this as the WMZ-551B, improving upon the A-model's mechanical reliability, onboard firepower and general agility.

Beyond the Chinese, the WZ551 series has been adopted by the forces of Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chad, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, Sri Lanka and Sudan in varying numbers.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the NORINCO Type 90 / Type 92 (WZ551). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.

Total Production: 2,500 Units

Contractor(s): China NORth INdustries COmpany (NORINCO) - China
National flag of Algeria National flag of Argentina National flag of Bangladesh National flag of Chad National flag of China National flag of Indonesia National flag of Iran National flag of Oman National flag of Pakistan National flag of Sri Lanka National flag of Sudan

[ Algeria; Argentina; Bangladesh; Bosnia and Herzegonvina; Chad; China; Indonesia; Iran; Kenya; Nepal; Pakistan; Oman; Sri Lanka; Sudan ]
1 / 4
Image of the NORINCO Type 90 / Type 92 (WZ551)
Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense released to the public.
2 / 4
Image of the NORINCO Type 90 / Type 92 (WZ551)
Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense released to the public.
3 / 4
Image of the NORINCO Type 90 / Type 92 (WZ551)
Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense released to the public.
4 / 4
Image of the NORINCO Type 90 / Type 92 (WZ551)
Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense released to the public.

Going Further...
The NORINCO Type 90 / Type 92 (WZ551) Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) / Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) appears in the following collections:
HOME
ARMOR INDEX
ARMOR BY COUNTRY
VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE VEHICLES
VEHICLES BY CONFLICT
VEHICLES BY TYPE
VEHICLES BY DECADE
COLD WAR VEHICLES
MODERN TANKS
MODERN ARTILLERY
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)