PCL-181
{{Short description|Chinese 155 mm self-propelled howitzer}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = PCL-181
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| type = Self-propelled howitzer
| origin = China
| is_ranged = yes
| is_artillery = yes
| is_vehicle = yes
| service = 2019–present
| used_by = See {{section link||Operators}}
| wars = * 2025 India-Pakistan standoff
| designer = Nanjing University of Science and Technology
| design_date =
| manufacturer = Norinco
| unit_cost =
| production_date =
| number =
| variants =
| spec_label =
| length = {{cvt|6.5|m|ftin}} (SH-15)
| part_length =
| width = {{cvt|2.66|m|ftin}} (SH-15)
| height = <{{cvt|3.6|m|ftin}}
| diameter =
| crew = 6
| cartridge =
| cartridge_weight =
| caliber = 155 mm caliber
| barrels = 52 caliber
| action =
| rate = 4–6 rounds/min (SH-15)
| velocity =
| range = {{cvt|20|km}} (conventional projectile){{cite news|title=In a first, Pakistan showcases nuclear-capable SH-15 howitzer in national day parade |url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/23-Mar-2022/in-a-first-pakistan-showcases-nuclear-capable-sh-15-howitzer-in-national-day-parade|date=2022-03-23|publisher=Daily Pakistan}}
| max_range = {{cvt|53|km}} (rocket-assisted projectile)
| feed =
| sights =
| breech = Semi-automatic vertical wedge type breech block
| recoil =
| carriage =
| elevation = Around 20° to 70° (except for front due to cab)
| traverse = 360°
| armour =
| primary_armament = PLL-01 155 mm howitzer gun
| secondary_armament =
| engine = diesel
| engine_power =
| pw_ratio =
| payload_capacity =
| drive = 6×6
| transmission =
| suspension = hydropneumatic suspension
| clearance =
| fuel_capacity =
| vehicle_range =
| guidance =
| steering =
| ref =
}}
The PCL-181 is a Chinese truck-mounted, 155 mm self-propelled howitzer used by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF).{{cite web |editor-last=Wang |editor-first=Xinjuan |date=7 May 2020 |title=PCL-181 brings great improvement for PLA artillery troops |url=http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2020-05/07/content_9808544.htm |website=China Military |access-date=2020-06-21}} The designation "PCL" is an acronym derived from pinyin ({{Zh|s=炮车榴弹炮|p=Pào Chē Liúdànpào|l= Artillery, Vehicle, Howitzer}}).
Development
The PCL-181 made its first public appearance during the 70th Chinese National Day Parade on 1 October 2019.{{cite web |date=11 June 2020 |title=Chinese PLA Commissions PCL-181 Vehicle-mounted Howitzer in Southern Border with India |url=https://www.defenseworld.net/news/27183/Chinese_PLA_Commissions_PCL_181_Vehicle_mounted_Howitzer_in_Southern_Border_with_India#.Xu823GgzbIU |website=DefenseWorld.net |access-date=2020-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611223552/https://www.defenseworld.net/news/27183/Chinese_PLA_Commissions_PCL_181_Vehicle_mounted_Howitzer_in_Southern_Border_with_India#.XuKx1HYZu5c |archive-date=11 June 2020 |url-status=dead}}
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. It has a maximum firing range of up to {{cvt|40|km}} with conventional ammunition and {{cvt|72|km}} with extended range ammunition. The gun can also fire laser-guided munition which is capable of all-weather operation.{{cite web |date=12 August 2021 |script-title=zh:"最强卡车炮"实射激光末制导炮弹画面曝光，行驶中的靶标被一发打爆 |trans-title=The "strongest truck gun" live-fired laser terminal-guided projectiles were exposed, and the moving target was blown up in one shot |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/482976194_120823584 |website=Sohu |language=zh |access-date=27 March 2023}} Each vehicle can carry 27 rounds of ammunition.{{cite web |date=8 September 2020 |title=Analysis: Top most modern 6x6 wheeled self-propelled howitzers |url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/analysis_top_most_modern_6x6_wheeled_self-propelled_howitzers.html |website=Army Recognition |access-date=27 March 2023}}
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.
The PCL-181 is equipped with an automatic fire-control system. 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.
= Mobility =
The PCL-181 is based on Taian GM's 6×6 truck chassis.{{cite web |title=PCL-181 155mm self-propelled howitzer |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/pcl-181.htm |website=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=27 March 2023}} The PCL-181 is fitted with hydropneumatic suspension, allowing better gun elevation and depression.{{cite web|url=https://www.sohu.com/a/498864270_117833 |title=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！ |website=Sohu News |date=3 November 2021 |author=宋楠 }}
Due to its comparatively lighter weight of 25 tons, the PCL-181 can also be transported in a Shaanxi Y-9.
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.{{cite news|last=Liu|first=Zhen|date=29 June 2020 |title=The cheap, light howitzer China is rolling out in Tibet |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3090924/cheap-light-howitzer-china-rolling-out-tibet |newspaper=South China Morning Post|access-date=27 March 2023}}
In June 2020, it was reported that the PCL-181 had been deployed in the Tibet Autonomous Region amid tensions with India.
In February 2021, it was reported that at least 18 PCL-181s had been inducted into the PLAGF's Xinjiang Military Command.
=Pakistan=
In 2019, Pakistan signed a contract for 236 SH-15s. Deliveries started in January 2022, and the SH-15s participated in the Pakistan Day parade on March 23, 2022. As per sources, Pakistan may have acquired TOT to further build these self-propelled howitzers locally at Heavy Industries Taxila.{{cite tweet|author=PTV News |author-link=PTV News |user=PTVNewsOfficial |number=1503590781122142210 |date=15 March 2022|title=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|trans-title=Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa's visit to Lahore. Army Chief's participation in induction ceremony of SH-15 Artillery Guns in Corps of Artillery. Expression of satisfaction|language=ur|access-date=27 March 2023}} Pakistan acquired it in response to India's acquisition of the K9 thunder self-propelled howitzer.
The SH-15s are Pakistan Army's first 155 mm/52-caliber gun.{{cite news|title=The Pakistan Army is Evolving its Strike Capabilities|url=https://quwa.org/2022/02/06/the-pakistan-army-is-evolving-its-strike-capabilities/|date=2022-02-06|author=Bilal Khan}} 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.{{cite news|title=Monthly Defense News Recap: January 2022|url=https://quwa.org/2022/01/30/monthly-defense-news-recap-january-2022/}} It can also fire laser-homing, satellite-guided, and top-attack projectiles. These guided shells are cheaper than the guided rockets in Pakistan's inventory. Finally, it can also reportedly fire nuclear artillery. The SH-15's chassis reportedly performs well off-road, but not in more demanding terrain.
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.{{cite book |year=2021 |title=Chinese Tactics |url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN34236-ATP_7-100.3-001-WEB-3.pdf |location=Arlington, VA |publisher=Headquarters, Department of the Army |access-date=27 March 2023}}
=Current operators=
- {{flag|People's Republic of China}}{{cite web |last1=Dominguez |first1=Gabriel |last2=Cazalet |first2=Mark |date=11 May 2021 |title=Norinco's PCL-181 SPH in service with PLAGF's 80th Group Army |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/norincos-pcl-181-sph-in-service-with-plagfs-80th-group-army |website=Janes |access-date=27 March 2023}}
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force: 600 units as of 2024.{{cite book |author=International Institute for Strategic Studies |author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2024 |date=2024-02-13 |publisher= |year=2024 |isbn=9781032780047 |editor-last= |editor-first= |location= |page= |pages=256-257}}
- 71st Artillery Brigade, 71st Group Army
- {{Ill|72nd Artillery Brigade|lt=72nd Artillery Brigade|zh|中国人民解放军陆军炮兵第七十二旅}}(Stationed in Wuxi) - 72nd Group Army
- {{Ill|73rd Artillery Brigade|lt=73rd Artillery Brigade|zh|中国人民解放军陆军炮兵第七十三旅}}(Stationed in Nan'an) - 73rd Group Army
- {{Ill|74th Artillery Brigade|zh|中国人民解放军陆军炮兵第七十四旅}}(Stationed in Shaoguan) - 74th Group Army
- 75th Artillery Brigade - 75th Group Army
- 77th Artillery Brigade - 77th Group Army
- {{Ill|80th Artillery Brigade|zh|中国人民解放军陆军炮兵第八十旅}}(Stationed in Weifang) - 80th Group Army
- 83rd Artillery Brigade - 83rd Group Army
- {{flag|Pakistan}}
- Pakistan Army{{cite web |title=SH-15 155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer |url=http://www.military-today.com/artillery/sh_15.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322175523/https://www.military-today.com/artillery/sh_15.htm |archive-date=2023-03-22 |access-date=27 March 2023 |website=Military-Today.com}}
- Pakistan Army Artillery Corps - ~236 units{{Cite web |date=2023-04-25 |title=China's Norinco delivers SH-15 howitzers to Pakistan |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/chinas-norinco-delivers-sh-15-howitzers-to-pakistan |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Janes.com |language=en}}
- {{flag|Ethiopia}}
- Ethiopian Ground Forces: Satellite imagery confirms the arrival of at least 32 SH-15 self-propelled howitzers.{{cite web |author=Gerjon |date=21 January 2023|title=Chinese SH-15 howitzers for Ethiopia |url=https://gerjon.substack.com/p/chinese-sh-15-howitzers-for-ethiopia |website=Gerjon's Aircraft Finds |access-date=27 March 2023 |via=Substack}}
- {{flag|Myanmar}}
- Myanmar Army: 150{{cite web | url=http://www.asiapacificdefencereporter.com/order-of-battle/myanmar | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129025311/http://www.asiapacificdefencereporter.com/order-of-battle/myanmar | archive-date=29 November 2014 | title=Myanmar | Defence Capability Directory | Asia Pacific Defence Reporter }}
See also
- {{lwc|Archer Artillery System|Archer}}
- {{lwc|ATMOS 2000}}
- {{lwc|A-222 Bereg (artillery system)|A-222 Bereg}}
- {{lwc|2S22 Bohdana}}
- {{lwc|CAESAR self-propelled howitzer|CAESAR}}
- {{lwc|152 mm SpGH DANA}}
- {{lwc|G6 howitzer}}
- {{lwc|ATAGS}}
- {{lwc|AHS Kryl}}
- {{lwc|Nora B-52}}
- {{lwc|PCL-09}}
- {{lwc|PCL-161}}
- {{lwc|Type 08#Variants|PLL-09}}
- {{lwc|155 mm SpGH Zuzana}}
- {{lwc|Type 19 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer}}