GAU-12 Equalizer vs PCL-181: Specs Compared

AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph — Representative exterior of GAU-12 Equalizer

AArtillery

GAU-12 Equalizer

Rotary cannon

AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph

Credit

ForceTally · AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph · AI-generated · OpenAI output terms · Source ↗ · Modified

AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph — Representative exterior of PCL-181

BArtillery

PCL-181

Self-propelled howitzer

AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph

Credit

ForceTally · AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph · AI-generated · OpenAI output terms · Source ↗ · Modified

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

GAU-12 EqualizerLength

2.11 m

Length source ↗

PCL-181SH-15

6.5 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

GAU-12 Equalizerlarger figure on 0 of 1

None

PCL-181larger figure on 1 of 1

Calibre+520%

Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.

Measured figures

Head to head

12 of 38 rows sourced on both sides

2.11m

6.5mSH-15

Length

All recorded figures & sources

2.11 m

Length

Single source

83.2 in (2.11 m)^[source]

6.5 m

SH-15

Single source

6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) (SH-15)^[source]

0.28–0.34mGAU-22

2.66mSH-15

WidthScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

0.29 m

GAU-12

Single source

0.28–0.34 m

GAU-22

Single source

GAU-12: 11.5 inches (290 mm) GAU-22: 11.1–13.3 inches (280–340 mm)^[source]

2.66 m

SH-15

Single source

2.66 m (8 ft 9 in) (SH-15)^[source]

260mm

< 3.6m<

Height

All recorded figures & sources

0.26 m

Height

Single source

10.2 inches (260 mm)^[source]

< 3.6 m

Single source

<3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)^[source]

120kgGAU-12 with feed system

25t

Mass

All recorded figures & sources

120 kg

GAU-12 with feed system

Single source

100 kg

GAU-22 without feed system

Single source

GAU-12: 270 pounds (120 kg) with feed system GAU-22: 230 pounds (100 kg) without feed system^[source]

25,000 kg

Mass

Single source

25 t (25 long tons; 28 short tons)^[source]

—

Crew

All recorded figures & sources

6 people

Crew

Single source

6^[source]

—

90km/hMaximum; Maximum speed

Speed

All recorded figures & sources

90 km/h

Maximum; Maximum speed

Single source

90 km/h (56 mph)^[source]

3.7kmMaximum; Maximum firing range

53kmMaximum; rocket-assisted projectile

RangeScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

3.66 km

Maximum; Maximum firing range

Single source

12,000 feet (3,660 m)^[source]

20 km

Effective; conventional projectile

Single source

53 km

Maximum; rocket-assisted projectile

Single source

20 km (12 mi) (conventional projectile)^[source]

53 km (33 mi) ( rocket-assisted projectile )^[source]

25mmCaliber

155mmCaliber

Calibre+520%

All recorded figures & sources

25 mm

Caliber

Single source

25 mm (0.98 in)^[source]

155 mm

Caliber

Single source

155 mm (6.1 in)^[source]

3,300rpmGAU-22

4–6rounds/minSH-15

Rate of fireScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

1,800–4,200 rounds/min

GAU-12

Single source

3,300 rounds/min

GAU-22

Single source

GAU-12: 1,800–4,200 rounds per minute GAU-22: 3,300 rounds per minute^[source]

4–6 rounds/min

SH-15

Single source

4–6 rounds/min (SH-15)^[source]

1,040m/sHEI API

—

Muzzle velocity

All recorded figures & sources

1,000 m/s

APEX

Single source

1,040 m/s

HEI API

Single source

970 m/s

Muzzle velocity

Single source

(HEI) 3,400 ft/s (1,040 m/s); (API) 3,280 ft/s (1,000 m/s); (APEX) 3,200 ft/s (970 m/s)^[source]

Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.

Configuration

Details

GAU-12 Equalizer and PCL-181 configuration
Specification	GAU-12 Equalizer	PCL-181
Type	Rotary cannon^[source]	Self-propelled howitzer^[source]
Place of origin	United States^[source]	China^[source]
Designer	General Electric^[source]	Nanjing University of Science and Technology^[source]
Manufacturer	General Dynamics^[source]	Norinco^[source]
Cartridge	25 × 137 mm^[source]	—
Barrels	GAU-12: 5-barrel GAU-22: 4-barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 11 grooves)^[source]	52 caliber^[source]
Action	Hydraulic, Electric, Pneumatic^[source]	—
Feed system	Linked or linkless^[source]	—
Sights	Lead Computing Optical Sight System (LCOSS)^[source]	—
Operation	electric^[source]	—
Weight (complete)	270 lb (122 kg)^[source]	—
Projectile weight	(HEI) 6.5 oz (184 g); (API) 7.6 oz (215 g)^[source]	—
Muzzle energy	(HEI) 73,400 ft·lbf (99,500 joules); (API) 79,300 ft·lbf (107,500 joules)^[source]	—
In service	—	2019–present^[source]
Used by	—	See § Operators^[source]
Wars	—	2025 India–Pakistan conflict^[source]
Breech	—	Semi-automatic vertical wedge type breech block^[source]
Elevation	—	Around 20° to 70° (except for front due to cab)^[source]
Traverse	—	360°^[source]
Main armament	—	PLL-01 155 mm howitzer gun^[source]
Engine	—	diesel^[source]
Drive	—	6×6^[source]
Suspension	—	hydropneumatic suspension^[source]
Barrel length	—	52 caliber^[source]PCL-181; main howitzer barrel
Reported operators	—	Reported operator · People's Republic of China Reported operator · Pakistan Reported operator · Ethiopia Reported operator · Myanmar

FORCETALLY

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GAU-12 Equalizer

PCL-181

Type

Rotary cannon^[source]

Self-propelled howitzer^[source]

Place of origin

United States^[source]

China^[source]

Designer

General Electric^[source]

Nanjing University of Science and Technology^[source]

Manufacturer

General Dynamics^[source]

Norinco^[source]

Cartridge

25 × 137 mm^[source]

—

Barrels

GAU-12: 5-barrel GAU-22: 4-barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 11 grooves)^[source]

52 caliber^[source]

Action

Hydraulic, Electric, Pneumatic^[source]

—

Feed system

Linked or linkless^[source]

—

Sights

Lead Computing Optical Sight System (LCOSS)^[source]

—

Operation

electric^[source]

—

Weight (complete)

270 lb (122 kg)^[source]

—

Projectile weight

(HEI) 6.5 oz (184 g); (API) 7.6 oz (215 g)^[source]

—

Muzzle energy

(HEI) 73,400 ft·lbf (99,500 joules); (API) 79,300 ft·lbf (107,500 joules)^[source]

—

In service

—

2019–present^[source]

Used by

—

See § Operators^[source]

Wars

—

2025 India–Pakistan conflict^[source]

Breech

—

Semi-automatic vertical wedge type breech block^[source]

Elevation

—

Around 20° to 70° (except for front due to cab)^[source]

Traverse

—

360°^[source]

Main armament

—

PLL-01 155 mm howitzer gun^[source]

Engine

—

diesel^[source]

Drive

—

6×6^[source]

Suspension

—

hydropneumatic suspension^[source]

Barrel length

—

52 caliber^[source]PCL-181; main howitzer barrel

Reported operators

—

Reported operator · People's Republic of China
Reported operator · Pakistan
Reported operator · Ethiopia
Reported operator · Myanmar