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105mm Light Gun


L118 | Hamel | M119


Overview


105mm L118 Light Gun

Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment Battlegroup fire live rounds from their 105mm Light Gun during an exercise in Kenya in 2020.
Source: UK MoD - © Open Government License

Origin
United Kingdom
Type
Towed howitzer
Entered service
1974 for L118
1984 (or earlier) for L119
1990 for M119
Status
In service
Development
1965 - 1973
Developer
United Kingdom - RARDE
Production
1973 - 1987
Producer
United Kingdom - Royal Ordnance Factory (now BAe Systems Land Systems)
Australia
United States - Watervliet Arsenal
Number produced
Over 1.100 by 2005, including M119 and Hamel
Designations
L118 (UK service)
M119 (L119 in US service)
Hamel (L119 in Australian service)
Notable users
United Kingdom

Variants


L118

Original production model to meet UK requirements. Fires the same 105mm Field Mk 2 family of artillery shells as the Abbot self-propelled howitzer.

L119

UK produced variant for export sales. Features a shorter L20A1 howitzer with single baffle muzzle brake firing the US 105mm M1 range of ammunition. With non-assisted shells this has a shorter range than the L118, but ammunition is more commonly available.

M119

American license produced version built at Watervliet Arsenal. Identical to L119 when the first batch was built, but subsequently modernized in the USA.

Details


Facts L118 Light Gun
General
Origin
United Kingdom
Type
Towed howitzer
Crew
6 for normal operation
4 with reduced crew
Dimensions - Travel configuration
Weight
1.86 t
Length
6.63 m with ordnance facing rearward
4.88 m with ordnance stowed over carriage
Width
1.78 m
Height
2.63 m with ordnance facing rearward
Dimensions - Firing configuration
Weight
1.86 t
Length
7.01 m with ordnance in horizonal position
Width
1.78 m
Ordnance
Type
105mm 37-caliber L19A1 rifled howitzer
Ammunition
105mm Field Mk 2 electrically fired shells with separate charges
Barrel length
8.8 m
Muzzle brake
Yes, double baffle
Muzzle velocity
708 m/s maximum
Elevation
-5.5° to +70°
Traverse
11° in mount
360° on baseplate
Fire control
Sights
Indirect fire quadrant sight
Direct fire night sight
Fire control system
LINAPS artillery pointing system in UK service since 1999
Firepower
Rate of fire
12 rpm for 1 minute
6 rpm for 3 minutes
3 rpm sustained
Range
17.2 km maximum with L31 HE shell
2.5 km minimum
20.6 km using newer base bleed shell
Carriage
Type
Two wheel twin tube box carriage
Limber
No
Gun shield
No
Tire size
9.00 x16
Tread
1.4 m
Ground clearance
0.5 m
Mobility
Towing vehicle
Pinzgauer 4x4 or 6x6 in UK service
Towed speed
Can be towed at 'high' speed
Autonomous mobility
Can be moved over short distanced by crew
APU
No

Media


Related articles


105mm Model 56

The Light Gun was developed to replace the Model 56 pack howitzer in UK service.

Abbot

The L118 variant of the Light Gun fires the same 105mm shells as the Abbot.