GIAT LG1

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GIAT LG-1
Royal Thai Army firing LG1 howitzer with extended range ammunition.jpg
Royal Thai Army firing extended range ammunition from LG1 during training in Lopburi, Thailand
TypeHowitzer
Place of originFrance
Service history
Used bySee operators
Production history
Designer GIAT Industries (now Nexter group)
ManufacturerGIAT Industries
Unit cost$475,000 (Mk II, 1994), [1] $1,998,000 (Mk III, 2023) [2]
No. built130 [3]
Specifications
Mass1,520 kg (3,350 lb)
Barrel  length3.15 m (10 ft 4 in) L/30
Crew5

Shell 105 mm NATO
Breech Horizontal-block
Carriage Split trail
Elevation -3°/+70°
Traverse ±25° from centerline
Rate of fire 12 rounds per minute
Maximum firing range17 kilometres (11 mi) using Base bleed rounds [4]

The LG1 is a modern 105 mm towed howitzer designed and produced by GIAT Industries (now Nexter group) of France.

Contents

Design

The LG1 howitzer is a 105 mm towed artillery piece that features both low weight and a high level of accuracy over long distances. Its lightweight construction gives the barrel a relatively short lifespan. The equivalent full charge (EFC) count is suggested to be approximately 7,500; however, during fire and practice, has yielded only around 1,500 EFCs. The gun was specifically designed for use by rapid deployment forces with attributes such as ruggedness, ease of operation and reduced weight. It can fire all NATO standard 105 mm ammunition up to a range of 17 kilometres (11 mi) using HE-ER G3 base bleed rounds. [5]

Deployment

Indonesian Marine soldiers fire a round out of a GIAT LG1 MK II 105mm howitzer during a rehearsal of The Operational Troops and Military Honors Ceremony 2025. GIAT LG1 MK II 105mm howitzer of the Indonesian Marine Corps.jpg
Indonesian Marine soldiers fire a round out of a GIAT LG1 MK II 105mm howitzer during a rehearsal of The Operational Troops and Military Honors Ceremony 2025.

The gun has been used by the Belgian Army, Canadian Army, Colombian National Army,Malaysian Army, Indonesian Marine Corps, Singapore Army and the Royal Thai Army. [3]

Current service version with Canadian artillery is the LG1 Mark II, of which 28 were purchased for the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA). GIAT supplied the first howitzers in 1996 and fielding was complete by November 1997.

Planned improvements

In August 2005, DEPRO (GVB) Incorporated - a Canadian defence firm, was selected by the Canadian Forces to improve their LG-1 guns with improvements ranging from new & better muzzle brake, new-designed spades for better stability during firing and larger tires to replace the small Pirelli tires (which were found to be inadequate for proper ground clearance while on the move). It is expected that this new set of improvements will give the LG-1 howitzers greater reliability and lifespan, and increase the safety margin for the crew.[ citation needed ]

Combat history

Operators

Map with LG1 operators in blue and former operators in red Utilisateurs du canon LG1.png
Map with LG1 operators in blue and former operators in red

Current operators

Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium  :

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada  :

Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia  :

Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia  :

Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia  :

Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand  :

Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia  :

Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal  :

A single LG-1 105 mm light howitzer on static display during Singapore Army Open House. Giat LG-1.jpg
A single LG-1 105 mm light howitzer on static display during Singapore Army Open House.

Former operators

Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore  :

Flag of Rwanda (1961-2001).svg Rwanda  :

See also

References

Notes
  1. "Jane's Defence Contracts: A Jane's Defence Weekly Publication". 1994.
  2. "Royal Thai Army modernizes artillery with Nexter LG1 Mk III howitzers". 5 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "105mm LG1 MkII - Contracts, Orders & Sales". Deagel.Com. 1 August 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  4. "OUR PRODUCTS | Nexter".
  5. "OUR PRODUCTS | Nexter".
  6. The Military Balance. International Institute for Strategic Studies. 2025. ISBN   978-1-041-04967-8.
  7. "Tecnodefesa - A mais antiga publicação de Defesa da América Latina". tecnodefesa.com.br. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  8. "Army of Colombia has take delivery of three new Nexter System LG1 Mk III 105mm light guns". 5 July 2014. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  10. "Janes | Latest defence and security news".
  11. "Arming Rwanda: The Arms Trade and Human Rights, Abuses in the Rwandan War" (PDF). Human Rights Watch Arms Project. Vol. 6, no. 1. January 1994. p. 16.