User:Sakaban_Sharkigu

Myself

A Chinese-Macau citizen who is now studying in a certain city somewhere on the shore of Taiwan Strait, speaking both Cantonese and Mandarin, as well as fluent English and some Japanese and German; mains on US,DE,RU,UK,JP,CN tech trees; a 8 year player of this game. Enthusiastic on IKEA's Blahaj the shark doll.

PLA naming system

As we might know, PLAGF- People's Liberation Army Ground Forces has a "fax-machine like" naming system, according to PhlyDaily's title of his ZTZ96 video, but there is actually a pattern and standards. Known as the 《全军武器装备命名规则》(Naming Regulations for Military Equipment) since 1987 and the later 《中国人民解放军装备命名规定》(PLA's Regulations on Equipment Naming) from 2012, instead of the very political naming in the early 1960s and the well-known Type XX of certain vehicle (as far as I can dig up from known documentations).

WZ-numbers means WuZhuang 武装 (Armed) code from factory issued by Central Military Commission 中央军委, such as WZ123 in ZTZ99 case.

The following table will give you a speculation of (usual) vehicles naming and how it works, capitalized character is the first letter of its pinyin.

1st Letter	2nd Letter	3rd Letter	Number	Example
Z-Zhuangjia 装甲 Armored	B-Bubing 步兵 Infantry	D-lüDai 履带 Tracked L-Lunshi 轮式 Wheeled	1900-2099	ZBD86
	G-Gongcheng 工程（保障车） Engineering vehicle	Q-jiaQiao 架桥 Bridge layer L-sao(bu)Lei 扫（布）雷 Mine sweeping/laying G-Gongcheng 工程（作业车）Engineering operation		ZGG84 ZGQ84 (based on ZTZ79)
	S-Shusong 输送 Transport	D-lüDai 履带 Tracked L-Lunshi 轮式 Wheeled		ZSL92 (WZ551)
	T-Tanke/*Tuji 坦克/突击 Tank/Assault	D-lüDai 履带 Tracked L-Liangqi 两栖 Amphibious Q-Qingxing 轻型 Light Z-Zhuzhan 主战 Main Battle S-Shusong 输送 Transport		ZTQ62 **ZTS63 ZTZ99 ZTD05 ZTL11
	Z-Zhihui 指挥 Command	Z-Zhihui 指挥 Commanding C-zhenCha 侦察 Scoution T-Tongxin 通信 Communication D-Dianziduikang 电子对抗 ECM M-Miyaojiazhu 密匙加注 "password processor" F-Fangbao 防爆车- Anti-explosives X-zongheXinxi 综合信息 Intergraded information (of battlefield)		N/A
P-Pao 炮 Artillery	G-Gaoshe 高射炮 AA gun	L-Lunshi 轮式 Wheeled Z-Zizou 自走 Self-Propelled		PGZ04A PGZ09
	H-Huojiandan 火箭弹 Rocket			PHZ89 PHL03
	***L-Liudan 榴弹炮 Howitzer			PLL05 PLZ05
	T-Tuji 突击炮 Assault gun			PTL97 PTL02

*Note: In early 2000s wheeled assault guns were counted as artillery, while after 2016 they were for heavy composite armored brigades. 

** The only ZTS among all PLA equipment

***Gun-mortars (迫榴炮) and howitzers are both counted as 榴彈砲 in this case.