PCL-181

The PCL-181 is a Chinese truck-mounted, 155 mm self-propelled howitzer used by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF).[1] The designation "PCL" is an acronym derived from pinyin (Chinese: 炮车榴弹炮; pinyin: Pào Chē Liúdànpào; lit. 'Gun Vehicle Howitzer').

PCL-181
TypeSelf-propelled howitzer
Place of originChina
Service history
In service2019–present
Used bySee § Operators
Production history
DesignerNanjing University of Science and Technology
ManufacturerNorinco
Specifications
Mass25 t (25 long tons; 28 short tons)[1]
Length6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) (SH-15)[2]
Width2.66 m (8 ft 9 in) (SH-15)[2]
Height<3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)
Crew6
Caliber155 mm (6.1 in)
Barrels52 caliber
BreechSemi-automatic vertical wedge type breech block
ElevationAround 20° to 70° (except for front due to cab)
Traverse360°
Rate of fire4–6 rounds/min (SH-15)
Effective firing range40 km (25 mi) (conventional projectile)
Maximum firing range72 km (45 mi) (rocket-assisted projectile)
Main
armament
PLL-01 155 mm howitzer gun
Drive6×6
Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph)

Development

The PCL-181 made its first public appearance during the 70th Chinese National Day Parade on 1 October 2019.[3]

It was designed to replace the 152 mm PL-66 towed gun-howitzer and the 130 mm Type 59-1 towed field guns used by the PLAGF and will complement the PLZ-05, and improve upon its functionality in many ways.

Design

Armament

The gun has a 52-caliber barrel and is exactly the same as that of the PLZ-05 self-propelled howitzer.[4] It has a maximum firing range of up to 40 km (25 mi) with conventional ammunition and 72 km (45 mi) with extended range ammunition. The gun can also fire laser-guided munition which is capable of all-weather operation.[5] Each vehicle can carry 27 rounds of ammunition.[2]

The vehicle features semi-automatic ammo reload, where the operator places the shell on the loading arm and the loading arm loads the round into the breech.[3]

The PCL-181 is equipped with an automatic fire-control system.[1] Following the operator's input of a target's azimuth data, the vehicle-mounted computer can calculate the trajectory of the artillery, and automatically lay the gun.[1]

Mobility

The PCL-181 is based on Taian GM's 6×6 truck chassis.[4]

Due to its comparatively lighter weight of 25 tons, the PCL-181 can also be transported in a Shaanxi Y-9.[1]

Variants
PCL-181
PLA designation
SH-15
Export designation

Deployment

According to state media reports, most of the country's five military jurisdictions, known as theater commands, have been equipped with PCL-181 155 mm vehicle-mounted howitzers.[6]

In June 2020, it was reported that the PCL-181 had been deployed in the Tibet Autonomous Region amid tensions with India.[6]

In February 2021, it was reported that at least 18 PCL-181s had been inducted into the PLAGF's Xinjiang Military Command.[7]

Operators

In China's PLAGF, each group army commands one artillery brigade which doctrinally includes two self-propelled or towed artillery (122 mm, 152 mm, or 155 mm) battalions, each of which comprises three batteries of four to six howitzers each.[8]

Current operators

Official induction took place on 15 March 2021. As per sources, Pakistan has acquired around 300 units with TOT to further build these self-propelled howitzers locally at Heavy Industries Taxila.[11]

Satellite imagery confirms the arrival of at least 32 SH-15 self-propelled howitzers.[12]

References
  1. Wang, Xinjuan, ed. (7 May 2020). "PCL-181 brings great improvement for PLA artillery troops". China Military. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  2. "Analysis: Top most modern 6x6 wheeled self-propelled howitzers". Army Recognition. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  3. "Chinese PLA Commissions PCL-181 Vehicle-mounted Howitzer in Southern Border with India". DefenseWorld.net. 11 June 2020. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  4. "PCL-181 155mm self-propelled howitzer". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  5. "最强卡车炮"实射激光末制导炮弹画面曝光，行驶中的靶标被一发打爆 [The "strongest truck gun" live-fired laser terminal-guided projectiles were exposed, and the moving target was blown up in one shot]. Sohu (in Chinese). 12 August 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  6. Liu, Zhen (29 June 2020). "The cheap, light howitzer China is rolling out in Tibet". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  7. Dominguez, Gabriel; Cazalet, Mark (11 May 2021). "Norinco's PCL-181 SPH in service with PLAGF's 80th Group Army". Janes. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  8. Chinese Tactics (PDF). Arlington, VA: Headquarters, Department of the Army. 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  9. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2023). Hackett, James (ed.). The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-032-50895-5.
  10. "SH-15 155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer". Military-Today.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  11. PTV News [@PTVNewsOfficial] (15 March 2022). "آرمی چیف جنرل قمر جاوید باجوہ کا دورہ لاہور ۔آرمی چیف کی کور آف آرٹلری میں SH-15 آرٹلری گنز کی شمولیت کی تقریب میں شرکت۔آرمی چیف کا مستقبل میں جنگ کے چیلنجوں سے نمٹنے کے لیے اس جدید ترین ہتھیاروں کے نظام کی شمولیت پر اظہار اطمینان" [Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa's visit to Lahore. Army Chief's participation in induction ceremony of SH-15 Artillery Guns in Corps of Artillery. Expression of satisfaction] (Tweet) (in Urdu). Retrieved 27 March 2023 – via Twitter.
  12. Gerjon (21 January 2023). "Chinese SH-15 howitzers for Ethiopia". Gerjon's Aircraft Finds. Retrieved 27 March 2023 – via Substack.

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