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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. 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.

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. 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.

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. Each vehicle can carry 28 rounds of 122 mm rounds, for a total of 168 rounds of rounds for a battery of 6 guns.

Vehicle

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

After the gun enters its firing position, 2 front hydraulic jacks and 2 backhoes can be automatically lowered to increase stability. PCL-171 is fitted with hydropneumatic suspension, allowing better gun depression when direct firing.

Deployment

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

Operators

•  China: People's Liberation Army Ground Force – 120 units as of 2022.

References

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

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

v t e Chinese modern armoured fighting vehicles
Main battle tank and Light tanks	Domestic Type 59 Type 62 Type 69/79 Type 80/88 Type 96 Type 99 Type 15 Export Type 59G(BD) Durjoy Type 85 Type 90 MBT2000 VT1A VT2 VT4 VT5
Amphibious tanks and fighting vehicles	Type 63 Type 63A ZTD-05 VN16
Infantry fighting vehicles	Domestic ZBD-86/A ZSL-92/B ZBD-03 ZBD-04 ZBD-05 ZBL-08 ZBL-19 Export YW-307 YW-501 Type 91 VN2 CS/VN9 VN1 CS/AA5 VN11 VN12 VN17 VN18 VN20 VN22 VN23 CS/AA5 Type 59 HIFV
Armoured personnel carriers	Domestic Type 63 Type 77 ZSD-89/A ZFB-91 ZSL-92 ZFB-05 ZSL-10 Export YW531 Type 85/YW531H Type 89/YW534 Type 90/YW535 WZ-523 WZ-551 CS/VN9
Armored car and MRAPs	NJ2045/2046 EQ2050 MV3 CSK-131 CSK-141 CSK-181 Lynx ATV VP11 VP22
Self-propelled howitzers and mortars	Domestic Type 70 SPG Type 83 SPH PLZ-89 PCP-001 PLL-05 PLZ-05 PLZ-07 PLL-09 PLZ-10 PCL-09 PCL-171 PCL-161 PCL-181 Export Type 85 SPG SH-3 SH-11 SH16A PLZ-45 PLZ-52 PLZ-04 CS/SM4 SH5
Tank destroyer/ATMC and Assault guns	Domestic PTZ-89 ZDF-89 BJ2020 ATMC PTL-97 PTL-02 WZ-550 ATMC ZBD-04A ATMC ZTL-11 Type 19 CTM-133 ATMC CTL-181A ATMC CSK-181 ATMC Export WMA301 ST1 ST3 VN22B VN23 VN-1 ATMC
SPAAGs	Domestic FK-1000 FK-2000 Type 63 Type 80 Type 92 Yitian PGZ-88 PGZ-95 PGZ-09 PGL-12 PGL-625 LD-2000 LD-3000 Yitian 2 Export CS/SA5 SWS2 Type 625E JRVG-1A
MRLs	Domestic Type 63 Type 70 Type 82 PHL-81 / PHZ-89 / PHL-90 PHL-11 / PHZ-11 PHL-03 PHL-16 Export Type 83 (WM-40) / WM-80 Type 90 SR-4 / SR-5 / SR-7 A-100E AR-3 WS-1 WS-2 WS-3 WS-6 WS-15 WS-22 / PR50 WS-32 WS-33 WS-35 WS-43 WS-63 WS-64 WS-64 WS-600L A200 A300 SY300 SY400
Prototypes	WZ-111 WZ-132 WZ-122 59-16 NFV-1 Type 80 Type 98
Note: = retired from service or has ceased development

• 122 mm artillery
• Military vehicles introduced in the 2020s
• Self-propelled artillery of the People's Republic of China
• Six-wheeled vehicles
• Wheeled self-propelled howitzers