PCL-171

The PCL-171 is an assault-vehicle-mounted, 122 mm self-propelled howitzer used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Ground Force.[1] The designation "PCL" is an acronym derived from pinyin (Chinese: 炮车榴弹炮; pinyin: Pào Chē Liúdànpào; lit. 'Gun Vehicle Howitzer').

Development

The PCL-171 made its first public appearance during a CCTV report of an exercise in December 2020. According to the report, it entered service in the second half of 2020.[citation needed]

It was designed as an even more mobile and lightweight platform to complement the PCL-161, which is based on a larger truck chassis but also equipped with a 122 mm howitzer.

Design

Each battery consists of 6 PCL-171 guns, command vehicles, ammunition vehicles, reconnaissance vehicles and other equipment.[2] Some of the non-gun vehicles are based on Dongfeng Mengshi CTL181A 4×4 armoured vehicles, with at least two variants in service. The command vehicle has communications equipment mounted on the vehicle while the reconnaissance vehicle is fitted with a counter-battery radar system, including a radar antenna and an opto-electronic sight mounted on an elevating mast.[3]

Gun

The howitzer has a maximum firing range of 18–22 km (11–14 mi) with conventional ammunition and up to 27–40 km (17–25 mi) with extended range ammunition.[4] Each vehicle can carry 28 rounds of 122 mm rounds, for a total of 168 rounds of rounds for a battery of 6 guns.[2]

Vehicle

The PCL-171 is based on Dongfeng Mengshi 6×6 assault vehicle chassis, specifically the CTL181A variant.[5]

After the gun enters its firing position, 2 front hydraulic jacks and 2 backhoes can be automatically lowered to increase stability.[2] PCL-171 is fitted with hydropneumatic suspension, allowing better gun depression when direct firing.[6]

Deployment

In April 2020, at least 6 PCL-171s were deployed in a training exercise in an unknown location.[3]

Operators

References

  1. ^ Dominguez, Gabriel (14 May 2021). "PCL-171 SPH in service with PLAGF's 75th Group Army". Janes. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "The small and powerful PCL171 ultra-light self-propelled howitzer is a big killer for our army's rapid reaction forces". min.news. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b Dominguez, Gabriel; Cazalet, Mark (26 April 2021). "PLAGF's 72nd Group Army conducts live-fire drills with new light 122 mm 6×6 SPH". Janes. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  4. ^ "PCL-171 122mm Truck Cannon (SPH)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  5. ^ Miller, Stephen W. (11 January 2021). "China's New High Mobility Truck Artillery". Asian Military Review. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  6. ^ 宋楠 (3 November 2021). "宋楠：从珠海航展研判东风汽车的军事核心技术领域大创新！". Sohu News.
  7. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2023). Hackett, James (ed.). The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-032-50895-5.