| Gun, 105mm, Field, L118 | |
|---|---|
 The L118 in Afghanistan | |
| Type | Towedhowitzer |
| Place of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| Used by | British Army |
| Wars | Western Sahara War,Falklands War,Yugoslav Wars,Sierra Leone Civil War,Iraq War,Afghanistan War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment |
| Manufacturer | Royal Ordnance Factory (laterBAE Systems Land and Armaments) |
| Produced | from 1975 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,858 kg (4,096 lb) |
| Length | 8.8 m (28 ft 10 in) |
| Barrel length | 37 calibers[1] |
| Width | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Height | 2.13 m (7 ft) |
| Crew | 6 (normal), 4 (reduced) |
| Calibre | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Rate of fire | 6-8 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | maximum 708 m/s (2,320 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 17,200 m (18,800 yd) |
TheL118Light Gun is ahowitzer. It was first made for theBritish Army in the 1970s. It has been moved around the globe a lot since then. The United States use a changed version of the L118 called theM119A1. The proper name for it is "Gun, 105mm, Field, L118" but it is usually just called "the Light Gun".
The L118 can betowed by a medium-weightvehicle. It can also be moved around by aChinook helicopter.[2]
From 1961 until the 1970s, theBritish Army used the 105 mm Pack Howitzer L5 as its light howitzer. This howitzer was used a lot. It was first designed inItaly for theAlpini. It was light enough to be lifted byWestland Wessex helicopters or towed byLand Rovers. However, it could not fire very far (had a short range), had bad sights and was not very popular.
In 1965 the British Army asked for a new 105 mm howitzer because the pack howitzer "lacked range and lethality"[3] (had a short range and was not verylethal).
The new gun was soon called the 'Light Gun'. It was designed by the governmentRoyal Armament Research and Development Establishment (RARDE).Prototypes were tested in 1968. However, it was noticed that more weight was needed for a gun to be as sturdy and strong as was needed. Several guns were redesigned because of this.
The first guns were made byRoyal Ordnance Factory,ROF Nottingham. This has now been merged intoBAE Systems Land and Armaments.
The L118 was first used by the British Army in 1976. The new weapon was heavier than the Pack Howitzer. However, new, better helicopters like thePuma andWestland Sea King, which could carry the L118, were also beginning to be used at the same time.
Since the end of the 1990s, the British Army has usedPinzgauerATVs as the vehicles that move the guns around. InArctic service (and some other places) the L118 is moved around by the HägglundsBv 206. It hasskis put on it if it is moving on snow.
In 1982, the L118 was used a lot during theFalklands War. 30 guns were moved to theFalkland Islands. Since then, British forces have used the L118 in theBalkans,Sierra Leone,Iraq andAfghanistan.
On 30 November 2001, an L118 Light Gun became theOne O'Clock Gun in Edinburgh Castle. This fires every day at one o'clock except on Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day.
The Light Gun took many features from theQF 25 pounder. However, the L118 is light compared to the QD 25 pounder.
The L118 has a special system called the Automatic Pointing System. This allows the gun to be unpacked and in action in 30 seconds.[2]
The L118 fires 105 mm Fd Mk 2 ammunition. It has two propercartridges for combat and a blank one for ceremonies etc.
Some ammunition types in British service are:
WP (whitephosphorus) smoke shell has never been used by the UK for the L118.
New ammunition for the L118 is being developed. It will be even more damaging and have more range.[2]
During the early 1990s, all UK L118s had aradar and its supply of power.
A program that started making improvements to UK guns in 2007 tried to make the gun lighter and some features better. To make the gun weigh less, somesteel parts were replaced withtitanium.
The L119 has a differentbarrel. It is a bit shorter. It fires different ammunition, giving the gun a range of 11,400 metres (12,500 yd).[4] In British service, the L119 was only used for training. The last British L119s were retired in 2005.
The L119 was changed more and made under alicense for theUnited States Army.
