PCL-161

PCL-161
Type	Self-propelled howitzer
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	2020–present
Used by	People's Liberation Army
Specifications
Mass	12–13 tonnes (12–13 long tons; 13–14 short tons)
Caliber	122 mm (4.8 in)
Rate of fire	8 rounds/min
Effective firing range	22 km (14 mi) (conventional projectile)
Maximum firing range	30 km (19 mi) (rocket-assisted projectile)
Main armament	122 mm howitzer gun
Drive	4×4

The PCL-161 is a truck-mounted 122 mm (4.8 in) 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').

Development

The PCL-161 was first unveiled while doing exercises in the Tibet Autonomous Region in October 2020.^[2] It is speculated to be a successor of the 122 mm truck-mounted howitzer PCL-09.^[3]

Design

PCL-161 features a 122 mm howitzer with semi-automatic loader and digital fire-control system.^[4] The range is 22 km (14 mi) with conventional ammunition and 30 km (19 mi) with rocket-assisted projectiles. It features various improvements over the PCL-09, including better firing accuracy, the ability to fire directly in the forward direction of the vehicle.^[2] The PCL-161 features a semi-automatic loading system that is identical to the one found on the PCL-181, where the operator places the shell on the loading arm and the loading arm loads the round into the breech. The fire-control system is also identical to that of the PCL-181, featuring automatic calculation and gun-laying via the vehicle-mounted fire-control computer.^[5]

The truck chassis is based on the FAW MV3 series of tactical trucks, specifically the 4×4 CTM-133 variant. During combat, two front vertical stabilizers and two rear stabilizers are extended and dug into the ground to dampen the recoil.^[5][6]

Operators

•  China: People's Liberation Army Ground Force – 60 units as of 2022.^[7]

References

1. Dominguez, Gabriel; Cazalet, Mark (11 May 2021). "PLAGF's Xinjiang Military Command operating new 122 mm, 4×4 SPH". Janes. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
2. "China's PCL-161 truck-mounted howitzers conduct exercises in Tibet". China-Arms. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
3. Cranny-Evans, Samuel (28 October 2021). "Footage shows PCL-161 SPH in service with PLAGF's 78th Group Army". Janes. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
4. 打印利器，国产新型卡车炮现身青藏高原，机动灵活火力强. Tencent News (in Chinese). 20 August 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
5. "PCL-161 122 mm Truck Cannon (SPH)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
6. "Shallow/nearly deep artillery backbone of the Chinese High Mobility Force: PCL-161 self-propelled artillery". iNews. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
7. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2023). Hackett, James (ed.). The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-032-50895-5.