PCL-181
The PCL-181 is a truck-mounted 155 mm self-propelled howitzer used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Development. The PCL-181 made its first public appearance during the 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 PLA 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 40 km with conventional ammunition and 72 km 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 (AFCS). 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 6X6 truck chassis. Due to its comparatively lighter weight of 25 tons, the PCL-181 can also be transported in a Shaanxi Y-9. Deployment. According to state media reports, most of the country’s five military jurisdictions, known as theatre commands, have been equipped with PCL-181 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzers. In June 2020, it was reported that the PCL-181 had been deployed in Tibet amid tensions with India. In February 2021, it was reported that at least 18 PCL-181s had been inducted into  the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force’s (PLAGF’s) Xinjiang Military Command. Official induction took place on 15 March 2021. Operators. Current operators. As per sources Pakistan has acquired around 300 units with TOT to further build these self propelled howitzer locally in Heavy Industries Taxila.