PCL-171

PCL-171
PCL-171
Type	Self-propelled howitzer
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	2020–present
Used by	People's Liberation Army
Specifications
Mass	11 t (11 long tons; 12 short tons)
Length	6.54–7 m (21.5–23.0 ft)
Width	2.38 m (7 ft 10 in)
Height	2.13 m (7 ft 0 in)
Shell	122 mm (4.8 in)
Breech	Semi-automatic vertical wedge type breech block
Effective firing range	18–22 km (11–14 mi) (conventional projectile)
Maximum firing range	27–40 km (17–25 mi) (extended range projectile)
Main; armament	122 mm howitzer gun
Engine	YC6DV1 V-type six-cylinder water-cooled supercharged inter-cooled diesel engine; 295 hp (220 kW)
Suspension	hydropneumatic suspension
Operational; range	700 km (430 mi)
Maximum speed	120 km/h (75 mph)

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

China: People's Liberation Army Ground Force – 120 units as of 2022.^[7]

References

^ Dominguez, Gabriel (14 May 2021). "PCL-171 SPH in service with PLAGF's 75th Group Army". Janes. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
^ ^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.
^ ^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.
^ "PCL-171 122mm Truck Cannon (SPH)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
^ Miller, Stephen W. (11 January 2021). "China's New High Mobility Truck Artillery". Asian Military Review. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
^ 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.
^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2023). Hackett, James (ed.). The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-032-50895-5.

External links

直击演训场：战力猛增！解放军新型车载榴弹炮实弹射击画面公开三代“猛士” 电子侦察车指挥车罕见同框亮相！| 军迷天下 (in Chinese) – documentary on YouTube featuring PCL-171

[1] Dominguez, Gabriel (14 May 2021). "PCL-171 SPH in service with PLAGF's 75th Group Army". Janes. Retrieved 11 August 2023.

[min.news-2] "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.

[Dominguez&Cazalet-3] 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.

[truck_suspension-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.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]