Chinese Jiefang CA-10 / CA-30 Trucks

[Karnipex]

I was wondering if anyone has information regarding the Chinese, PLA, operating the CA-10 or CA-30 trucks with any sort of guns on, similar to the Americans with M45 quad mounts? I can't seem to find a single image of one of these trucks with weapon systems on, I did find on an old thread this image (which I believe to be a CA-10 in vietnam, on a trailer, with a DShK on the back. I just find it surprising that China never put a 14.5mm on it or anything.

 

[Apophenia]

As a 4x2 design, I can see the CA-10 being used for ad hoc convoy escort on roads (or rail, as shown) but I doubt that it would be very useful anywhere else.

I don't know the answer on the CA-30 but it may relate to available power. In most respects, the Jiefang CA-30 4-ton 6x6 is comparable with the US M39 series 5-ton (and the M45 system itself 'only' weighed 1.2 tons). But the CA-30 had a 95 hp diesel while the M39 was powered by a 175 hp multi-fuel engine.

Still, the PLA had options. Both the 12.7 mm Type 54 and 14.5 Type 58 could have been turned into multiple-mounts for the CA-30. And on the Type 58, both Soviet ZSU-2 and ZSU-4 were actually lighter than the US M45 system. Reverse-engineering those Soviet systems would have done the trick. So, perhaps it simply wasn't a priority for the PLA?

 

[Karnipex]

As a 4x2 design, I can see the CA-10 being used for ad hoc convoy escort on roads (or rail, as shown) but I doubt that it would be very useful anywhere else.

I don't know the answer on the CA-30 but it may relate to available power. In most respects, the Jiefang CA-30 4-ton 6x6 is comparable with the US M39 series 5-ton (and the M45 system itself 'only' weighed 1.2 tons). But the CA-30 had a 95 hp diesel while the M39 was powered by a 175 hp multi-fuel engine.

Still, the PLA had options. Both the 12.7 mm Type 54 and 14.5 Type 58 could have been turned into multiple-mounts for the CA-30. And on the Type 58, both Soviet ZSU-2 and ZSU-4 were actually lighter than the US M45 system. Reverse-engineering those Soviet systems would have done the trick. So, perhaps it simply wasn't a priority for the PLA?

I get that, I just find it weird that with over half a million units being made there isn't a single photograph I can find. The PLA did produce a Katyusha varient of the CA-30, I'm not sure what the weight of the Katyusha system is but I assume it's onpar with a dual 12.7mm Type 54 mount.

 

[Karnipex]

Doing some further research, apparently the PLA produced the BTR-152 and BTR-40 under the license names of Type 56 and Type 55. I assume in actual Chinese the designation of these would be ZSL56 and ZSL55 but I'm not 100% on that.

However, if this is in fact true (I can't find any other sources than Wikipedia) then would it be possible that the PLA produced light anti-aircraft varients of these. Such as a clone of the BTR-40A or BTR-152A/D, all being capable of housing the 14.5mm KPVT - and thus, the Chinese Type 58 by Norinco? Again, I just can't find a single image of either of these two vehicles.

 

[SK2]

Those were probably some crude improvise instead of standard modification, thus it would be hard to find images. You can try to find images of vehicles in Cultural Revolution to see if there are applicable ones