PCL-171
The PCL-171 is an assault-vehicle-mounted, 122 mm self-propelled howitzer used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Ground Force. The designation "PCL" is an acronym derived from pinyin (Chinese: 炮车榴弹炮; pinyin: Pào Chē Liúdànpào; lit. 'Gun Vehicle Howitzer').
PCL-171
- Field
- howitzer
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Documentary summary
The PCL-171 is an assault-vehicle-mounted, 122 mm self-propelled howitzer used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Ground Force. The designation "PCL" is an acronym derived from pinyin (Chinese: 炮车榴弹炮; pinyin: Pào Chē Liúdànpào; lit. 'Gun Vehicle Howitzer').
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original value insufficient · checked 25 September 2026
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wikidata · Q106867483 · wikipedia · PCL-171
In this article
Development
Development
The PCL-171 made its first public appearance during a CCTV report of an exercise in December 2020. According to the report, it entered service in the second half of 2020. It was designed as an even more mobile and lightweight platform to complement the PCL-161, which is based on a larger truck chassis but also equipped with a 122 mm howitzer.
Design
Design
Each battery consists of 6 PCL-171 guns, command vehicles, ammunition vehicles, reconnaissance vehicles and other equipment. Some of the non-gun vehicles are based on Dongfeng Mengshi CTL181A 4×4 armoured vehicles, with at least two variants in service. The command vehicle has communications equipment mounted on the vehicle while the reconnaissance vehicle is fitted with a counter-battery radar system, including a radar antenna and an opto-electronic sight mounted on an elevating mast.
Gun
Gun
The howitzer has a maximum firing range of 18–22 km (11–14 mi) with conventional ammunition and up to 27–40 km (17–25 mi) with extended range ammunition. Each vehicle can carry 28 rounds of 122 mm rounds, for a total of 168 rounds of rounds for a battery of 6 guns.
Vehicle
Vehicle
The PCL-171 is based on Dongfeng Mengshi 6×6 assault vehicle chassis, specifically the CTL181A variant. After the gun enters its firing position, 2 front hydraulic jacks and 2 backhoes can be automatically lowered to increase stability. PCL-171 is fitted with hydropneumatic suspension, allowing better gun depression when direct firing.
Deployment
Deployment
In April 2020, at least 6 PCL-171s were deployed in a training exercise in an unknown location.
Operators
Operators
China: People's Liberation Army Ground Force – 120 units as of 2022.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Dominguez, Gabriel. PCL-171 SPH in service with PLAGF's 75th Group Army. Janes. 14 May 2021.
- 2.The small and powerful PCL171 ultra-light self-propelled howitzer is a big killer for our army's rapid reaction forces. min.news. 2021-05-02.
- 3.Dominguez, Gabriel. PLAGF's 72nd Group Army conducts live-fire drills with new light 122 mm 6×6 SPH. Janes. 26 April 2021.
- 4.PCL-171 122mm Truck Cannon (SPH). GlobalSecurity.org.
- 5.Miller, Stephen W. China's New High Mobility Truck Artillery. Asian Military Review. 11 January 2021.
- 6.宋楠. 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！. Sohu News. 3 November 2021.
- 7.International Institute for Strategic Studies. The Military Balance 2023. Routledge. 239. 2023. 978-1-032-50895-5.
References
Citations
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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