The official WeChat account of the 78th Group Army of the Chinese Army recently published an article reporting a live-fire tactical exercise at an artillery battalion of a synthetic brigade of the group army. The report rarely exposed the new four-wheel drive 122mm truck-mounted howitzer commissioned in the synthetic brigade. This is the third unit that has been revealed to be equipped with this new type of truck-mounted howitzer after a combined arms brigade of the Tibet Military Region and a combined regiment of the Xinjiang Military Region.
The new truck-mounted howitzer adopts a 122mm caliber artillery, which is smaller than the PCL181 155mm truck-mounted howitzer and has a shorter barrel. In addition, the new truck-mounted howitzer uses a 4×4 medium-sized high-mobility off-road chassis, while the 155mm truck-mounted howitzer uses a 6×6 heavy truck.
The new 122mm truck-mounted howitzer has the ability of 360° omnidirectional firing, capable of both curved and flat firing, which greatly increases the firing range of the artillery. In contrast, the PCL-09 truck-mounted gun can only use the backward shooting mode, which lacks flexibility in use, and the combat range will also be limited.
Therefore, it is generally believed that the new type of 122mm truck-mounted howitzer is improved on the basis of the PCL-09 type truck-mounted howitzer, while absorbing the advanced and mature new technology of the PCL181 type 155mm truck-mounted howitzer. Public information shows that the range of PCL-09-style ordinary grenade can reach 22 kilometers, and the rate of fire is 8 rounds per minute; when launching new types of ammunition such as rocket extended-range projectile, the range can reach 27 kilometers. In addition, the howitzer can fire a wide variety of ammunition, including high-explosive bombs, incendiary bombs, smoke bombs, flares and so on.
In terms of maneuverability, the new generation of truck-mounted howitzer MV3 chassis of the Chinese army’s new generation of medium-sized and highly mobile general-purpose tactical trucks. According to the data, MV3 uses a CA6DL2-35E3R diesel engine, a high-pressure common rail fuel supply system and an ultra-low temperature water heating heater, which can ensure normal startup at an ambient temperature of minus 41 degrees. In addition, the MV3 is the first to use the AMT clutch automatic start function on the truck. It is also equipped with independent suspension and automatic central inflating and deflating wheels. For the battlefield environment of tactical vehicles, it adds off-road control mode, anti-electromagnetic interference, and waterproof functions. The informatization, mobility, and protection of the entire vehicle have been greatly enhanced. Compared with the PCL-181 type 155mm truck-mounted howitzer, the new 122mm truck-mounted howitzer is smaller and lighter, and it is more maneuverable and flexible in combat on plateaus and mountains, with better maneuverability, and can achieve fire strike coverage faster. In addition, its strategic maneuverability is stronger, and a medium-sized transport aircraft such as the Y-9 can be used for aerial delivery.
In addition to a combined brigade of the 78th Army that was disclosed this time, the new 122mm truck-mounted howitzer has been commissioned and put into use in the Tibet Military Region and Xinjiang Military Region.
At present, the three most popular truck-mounted howitzers of the Chinese army, in addition to the new 122mm truck-mounted howitzer mentioned above and the PCL-181 155mm truck-mounted howitzer, there is also a 122mm vehicle-mounted howitzer based on the chassis of the Dongfeng Mengshi 6WD off-road vehicle.
