Engineering:PCL-181
| 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 |
| Calibre | 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 |
| 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; literally: 'Gun Vehicle Howitzer').
Development
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.
Design
Armament
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]
Mobility
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]
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.[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]
Pakistan
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]
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.[13]
Current operators
People's Republic of China[9]
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force: 630 units as of 2022.[14]
- 71st Artillery Brigade
- 72nd Artillery Brigade
- 73rd Artillery Brigade
- 74th Artillery Brigade
- 75th Artillery Brigade
- 77th Artillery Brigade
- 80th Artillery Brigade
- 83rd Artillery Brigade
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force: 630 units as of 2022.[14]
Pakistan
- Pakistan Army[15]
- Pakistan Army Artillery Corps - 300 units
- Pakistan Army[15]
Ethiopia
- Ethiopian Ground Forces: 32
Satellite imagery confirms the arrival of at least 32 SH-15 self-propelled howitzers.[16]
Myanmar
- Myanmar Army: 150[17]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Wang, Xinjuan, ed (7 May 2020). "PCL-181 brings great improvement for PLA artillery troops". http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2020-05/07/content_9808544.htm.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Analysis: Top most modern 6x6 wheeled self-propelled howitzers". 8 September 2020. https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/analysis_top_most_modern_6x6_wheeled_self-propelled_howitzers.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "China's Norinco delivers SH-15 howitzers to Pakistan". https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/chinas-norinco-delivers-sh-15-howitzers-to-pakistan.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "In a first, Pakistan showcases nuclear-capable SH-15 howitzer in national day parade". Daily Pakistan. 2022-03-23. https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/23-Mar-2022/in-a-first-pakistan-showcases-nuclear-capable-sh-15-howitzer-in-national-day-parade.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Chinese PLA Commissions PCL-181 Vehicle-mounted Howitzer in Southern Border with India". 11 June 2020. https://www.defenseworld.net/news/27183/Chinese_PLA_Commissions_PCL_181_Vehicle_mounted_Howitzer_in_Southern_Border_with_India#.Xu823GgzbIU.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "PCL-181 155mm self-propelled howitzer". https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/pcl-181.htm.
- ↑ "Error: no
|title=specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in zh). 12 August 2021. https://www.sohu.com/a/482976194_120823584. - ↑ 8.0 8.1 Liu, Zhen (29 June 2020). "The cheap, light howitzer China is rolling out in Tibet". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3090924/cheap-light-howitzer-china-rolling-out-tibet.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Dominguez, Gabriel; Cazalet, Mark (11 May 2021). "Norinco's PCL-181 SPH in service with PLAGF's 80th Group Army". https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/norincos-pcl-181-sph-in-service-with-plagfs-80th-group-army.
- ↑ 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" (in ur). https://twitter.com/PTVNewsOfficial/status/1503590781122142210.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Bilal Khan (2022-02-06). "The Pakistan Army is Evolving its Strike Capabilities". https://quwa.org/2022/02/06/the-pakistan-army-is-evolving-its-strike-capabilities/.
- ↑ "Monthly Defense News Recap: January 2022". https://quwa.org/2022/01/30/monthly-defense-news-recap-january-2022/.
- ↑ Chinese Tactics. Arlington, VA: Headquarters, Department of the Army. 2021. https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN34236-ATP_7-100.3-001-WEB-3.pdf. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2023). Hackett, James. ed. The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-032-50895-5.
- ↑ "SH-15 155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer". http://www.military-today.com/artillery/sh_15.htm.
- ↑ Gerjon (21 January 2023). "Chinese SH-15 howitzers for Ethiopia". https://gerjon.substack.com/p/chinese-sh-15-howitzers-for-ethiopia.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20141129025311/http://www.asiapacificdefencereporter.com/order-of-battle/myanmar
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