PCL-181 is a new type of vehicle-mounted howitzer installed by our army. P, C, and L mean gun, vehicle, and howitzer respectively. The 181 was named after its formal finalization in January 2018. Since the gun was installed in the army, its power and performance have been recognized, and it is known as the "God of War". Today, let’s take a closer look at why PCL-181 is so popular with the military.
First of all, the biggest feature of PCL-181 is its strong maneuverability. Its carrying platform is a 6x6 wheeled truck. The chassis of this truck cannon weighs only 5 tons, and the total combat weight is about 25 tons, which is far smaller than the crawler 155mm howitzer installed by our army. Under wartime conditions, the PCL-181 can quickly drive to the designated combat location by virtue of its powerful maneuverability, and its flexibility is very high. Due to its small weight, the gun can be transported by Yun-8, Yun-9, and Yun-20. If transported by Yu-20 with a load of more than 60 tons, 3 PCL-181s can be transported to the predetermined target at one time. Of course, it can also be transported by 071 and 075 amphibious warships to improve the ability to land on beaches. There is no doubt that the batch installation of the guns will help our army quickly deploy across regions and improve the force's rapid reaction capability.
In terms of power, PCL-181 is not inferior to crawler guns. Its main gun has a caliber of 155 mm, a rate of fire of 4-6 rounds per minute, a maximum range of 30 kilometers, and a carrying capacity of 30 rounds. Due to the use of a semi-automatic loading device and a brand-new digital control system, it only takes 20 seconds for the gun to fire from the adjustment to the target. In terms of accuracy, the gun adopts the Beidou navigation guidance method, with a hit accuracy of meters, and has the ability to accurately strike enemy targets, which is equivalent to a 155mm "sniper gun". Imagine the spectacular scene of rows of howitzers lined up and blasted at the enemy, enough to blow the enemy panic.
In terms of protection performance, PCL-181 adopts a "flat-head" structure, which separates the cab and the muzzle to a certain distance to reduce the impact of shock waves on the cab during launch. influences. In order to enhance the protective performance of the cab, the car body especially adopts a frame-type steel beam welding reinforcement structure, and the surface is covered with armored steel plates. On both sides of the cab, there are two passenger doors. Like the front windshield, both have a bullet-proof design, which can effectively defend against light bullet attacks.
Compared to the Type 15 tank, the PCL-181 is actually more suitable for mobile combat on the plateau. In the desolate plateau Gobi, there are no particularly potholes in the wild, nor swamps, suitable for off-road trucks. Moreover, the PCL-181 uses a hydraulic support system to facilitate the truck cannon driving in the rugged Gobi. Therefore, in plateau operations, PCL-181 is a very suitable equipment for building ground firepower nets.
