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').[2]

PCL-171
TypeSelf-propelled howitzer
Place of originChina
Service history
In service2020 - Present
Used byPeople's Liberation Army
Specifications
Mass11 t (11,000 kg)
Length6.54 - 7 m
Width2.38 m
Height2.13 m
Shell122 mm
Breechsemi-automatic vertical wedge type breech block
Effective firing range18 - 22 km (conventional projectile)
Maximum firing range27 - 40 km (extended range projectile)
Main
armament
122 mm Howitzer gun
EngineYC6DV1 V-type six-cylinder water-cooled supercharged inter-cooled diesel engine
295 hp
Operational
range
700 km
Maximum speed 120 kmh

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.

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.[3] 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.[4]

Gun

The howitzer has a maximum firing range of 18- 22 km with conventional ammunition and up to 27 - 40 km with extended range ammunition.[5] Each vehicle can carry 28 rounds of 122mm rounds, for a total of 168 rounds of rounds for a battery of 6 guns.[3]

Vehicle

The PCL-171 is based on Dongfeng Mengshi 6X6 assault vehicle chassis, specifically the CTL181A variant.[6]

After the gun enters its firing position, 2 front hydraulic jacks and 2 back hoes can be automatically lowered to increase stability.[3]

Deployment

In April 2020, at least 6 PCL-171s were deployed in a training exercise in an unknown location.[4]

Operators

References
  1. Dominguez, Gabriel (14 May 2021). "PCL-171 SPH in service with PLAGF's 75th Group Army". Janes.
  2. "解放军PCL-181火炮的PCL什么意思？" [What does the PCL of the PLA PCL-181 artillery mean?] (in Chinese). 24 July 2020.
  3. "The small and powerful PCL171 ultra-light self-propelled howitzer is a big killer for our army's rapid reaction forces - MINEWS". MP頭條 - 全網資訊一觸即達. 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  4. "PLAGF's 72nd Group Army conducts live-fire drills with new light 122 mm 6×6 SPH". Janes.com.
  5. "PCL-171 122 mm Truck Cannon (SPH)". www.globalsecurity.org.
  6. Miller, Stephen W. (January 11, 2021). "China's New High Mobility Truck Artillery".
  7. "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023. The International Institute for Strategic Studies. London: Routledge. 15 February 2023. doi:10.4324/9781003400226. ISBN 9781003400226.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38VYT_23430 - Documentary featuring PCL-171

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