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 (11,000 kg) |
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) |
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').
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.
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]
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]
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 back hoes can be automatically lowered to increase stability.[2]
In April 2020, at least 6 PCL-171s were deployed in a training exercise in an unknown location.[3]