| PCL-161 | |
| Type: | Self-propelled howitzer |
| Origin: | China |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Is Artillery: | yes |
| Is Vehicle: | yes |
| Service: | 2020–present |
| Used By: | People's Liberation Army |
| Mass: | 12t13t |
| Rate: | 8 rounds/min |
| Range: | (conventional projectile) |
| Max Range: | (rocket-assisted projectile) |
| Primary Armament: | 122 mm howitzer gun |
| Drive: | 4×4 |
The PCL-161 is a truck-mounted self-propelled howitzer used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Ground Force.[1] The designation "PCL" is an acronym derived from pinyin .
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]
PCL-161 features a 122 mm howitzer with semi-automatic loader and digital fire-control system.[4] The range is with conventional ammunition and 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. 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.[6]
China: People's Liberation Army Ground Force – 60 units as of 2022.[7]