PCL-181 | |
---|---|
Type | Self-propelled howitzer |
Place of origin | China |
Service history | |
In service | 2019–present |
Used by | See § Operators |
Production history | |
Designer | Nanjing University of Science and Technology |
Manufacturer | Norinco |
Specifications | |
Mass | 25 t (25 long tons; 28 short tons) [1] |
Length | 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) (SH-15) [2] |
Width | 2.66 m (8 ft 9 in) (SH-15) [2] |
Height | <3.6 m (11 ft 10 in) |
Crew | 6 |
Caliber | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
Barrels | 52 caliber |
Breech | Semi-automatic vertical wedge type breech block |
Elevation | Around 20° to 70° (except for front due to cab) |
Traverse | 360° |
Rate of fire | 4–6 rounds/min (SH-15) [3] |
Effective firing range | 20 km (12 mi) (conventional projectile) [4] |
Maximum firing range | 53 km (33 mi) ( rocket-assisted projectile) [4] |
Main armament | PLL-01 155 mm howitzer gun |
Engine | diesel |
Drive | 6×6 |
Maximum speed | 90 km/h (56 mph) [3] |
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').
The PCL-181 made its first public appearance during the 70th Chinese National Day Parade on 1 October 2019. [5]
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.
The gun has a 52-caliber barrel and is exactly the same as that of the PLZ-05 self-propelled howitzer. [6] 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. [7] 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. [5]
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]
The PCL-181 is based on Taian GM's 6×6 truck chassis. [6]
Due to its comparatively lighter weight of 25 tons, the PCL-181 can also be transported in a Shaanxi Y-9. [1]
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. [8]
In June 2020, it was reported that the PCL-181 had been deployed in the Tibet Autonomous Region amid tensions with India. [8]
In February 2021, it was reported that at least 18 PCL-181s had been inducted into the PLAGF's Xinjiang Military Command. [9]
In 2019, Pakistan signed a contract for 236 SH-15s. [3] Deliveries started in January 2022, and the SH-15s participated in the Pakistan Day parade on March 23, 2022. [3] As per sources, Pakistan may have acquired TOT to further build these self-propelled howitzers locally at Heavy Industries Taxila. [10] Pakistan acquired it in response to India's acquisition of the K9 thunder self-propelled howitzer. [4]
The SH-15s are Pakistan Army's first 155 mm/52-caliber gun. [11] It is capable of firing VLAP rounds that have a range of 50km. For example, Pakistan ordered 1,332 VLAP in 2017, and acquired ToT to produce further VLAP shells domestically. [12] It can also fire laser-homing, satellite-guided, and top-attack projectiles. [11] These guided shells are cheaper than the guided rockets in Pakistan's inventory. Finally, it can also reportedly fire nuclear artillery. [4] The SH-15's chassis reportedly performs well off-road, but not in more demanding terrain. [11]
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. [13]
PCL-181 | |
---|---|
Type | Self-propelled howitzer |
Place of origin | China |
Service history | |
In service | 2019–present |
Used by | See § Operators |
Production history | |
Designer | Nanjing University of Science and Technology |
Manufacturer | Norinco |
Specifications | |
Mass | 25 t (25 long tons; 28 short tons) [1] |
Length | 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) (SH-15) [2] |
Width | 2.66 m (8 ft 9 in) (SH-15) [2] |
Height | <3.6 m (11 ft 10 in) |
Crew | 6 |
Caliber | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
Barrels | 52 caliber |
Breech | Semi-automatic vertical wedge type breech block |
Elevation | Around 20° to 70° (except for front due to cab) |
Traverse | 360° |
Rate of fire | 4–6 rounds/min (SH-15) [3] |
Effective firing range | 20 km (12 mi) (conventional projectile) [4] |
Maximum firing range | 53 km (33 mi) ( rocket-assisted projectile) [4] |
Main armament | PLL-01 155 mm howitzer gun |
Engine | diesel |
Drive | 6×6 |
Maximum speed | 90 km/h (56 mph) [3] |
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').
The PCL-181 made its first public appearance during the 70th Chinese National Day Parade on 1 October 2019. [5]
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.
The gun has a 52-caliber barrel and is exactly the same as that of the PLZ-05 self-propelled howitzer. [6] 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. [7] 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. [5]
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]
The PCL-181 is based on Taian GM's 6×6 truck chassis. [6]
Due to its comparatively lighter weight of 25 tons, the PCL-181 can also be transported in a Shaanxi Y-9. [1]
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. [8]
In June 2020, it was reported that the PCL-181 had been deployed in the Tibet Autonomous Region amid tensions with India. [8]
In February 2021, it was reported that at least 18 PCL-181s had been inducted into the PLAGF's Xinjiang Military Command. [9]
In 2019, Pakistan signed a contract for 236 SH-15s. [3] Deliveries started in January 2022, and the SH-15s participated in the Pakistan Day parade on March 23, 2022. [3] As per sources, Pakistan may have acquired TOT to further build these self-propelled howitzers locally at Heavy Industries Taxila. [10] Pakistan acquired it in response to India's acquisition of the K9 thunder self-propelled howitzer. [4]
The SH-15s are Pakistan Army's first 155 mm/52-caliber gun. [11] It is capable of firing VLAP rounds that have a range of 50km. For example, Pakistan ordered 1,332 VLAP in 2017, and acquired ToT to produce further VLAP shells domestically. [12] It can also fire laser-homing, satellite-guided, and top-attack projectiles. [11] These guided shells are cheaper than the guided rockets in Pakistan's inventory. Finally, it can also reportedly fire nuclear artillery. [4] The SH-15's chassis reportedly performs well off-road, but not in more demanding terrain. [11]
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. [13]