PCL-181

The PCL-181 is a Chinese truck-mounted, 155 mm self-propelled howitzer used by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF). The designation "PCL" is an acronym derived from pinyin ().

Development

The PCL-181 made its first public appearance during the 70th Chinese National Day Parade on 1 October 2019.

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 with conventional ammunition and with extended range ammunition. The gun can also fire laser-guided munition which is capable of all-weather operation. Each vehicle can carry 27 rounds of ammunition.

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. The PCL-181 is fitted with hydropneumatic suspension, allowing better gun elevation and depression.

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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

Current operators

*
**People's Liberation Army Ground Force: 600 units as of 2024.
*** 71st Artillery Brigade, 71st Group Army
***(Stationed in Wuxi) - 72nd Group Army
***(Stationed in Nan'an) - 73rd Group Army
***(Stationed in Shaoguan) - 74th Group Army
*** 75th Artillery Brigade - 75th Group Army
*** 77th Artillery Brigade - 77th Group Army
***(Stationed in Weifang) - 80th Group Army
*** 83rd Artillery Brigade - 83rd Group Army
*
**Pakistan Army
*** Pakistan Army Artillery Corps - ~236 units
*
** Ethiopian Ground Forces: Satellite imagery confirms the arrival of at least 32 SH-15 self-propelled howitzers.
*
**Myanmar Army: 150

See also

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

References

{{PRCAFVs

Military vehicles introduced in the 2010s
Self-propelled artillery of the People's Republic of China
Wheeled self-propelled howitzers
155 mm artillery
Eight-wheeled vehicles