L16 81mm mortar

Last updated
L16 81mm mortar
81mmMORT L16.png
81mm mortar L16
Type Mortar
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Canada
Service history
Used bySee Users
Wars
Production history
DesignerRoyal Armament Research and Development Establishment, Fort Halstead (barrel and bipod)
Designed1956
Manufacturer Royal Ordnance (barrel and bipod)
Produced1965
Specifications
Mass35.3 kg (78 lb)
Barrel  length1,280 millimetres (50 in)
Crew3

Shell weight4.2 kilograms (9.3 lb) (L3682). [1]
Calibre 81 millimetres (3.2 in)
Action muzzle loading
Breech none
Recoil baseplate and spring buffered mounting clamp
Rate of fire 15 rpm, 1–12 rpm sustained, 20 rpm for short periods
Muzzle velocity 225 m/s (740 ft/s)
Effective firing rangeHE: 100–5,675 m
(109–6,206 yd)
Smoke: 100–5,675 m (109–6,206 yd)
Illumination: 400–4,800 m
(437–5,249 yd)
Maximum firing range5,650 m (6,180 yd)
Feed systemManual
SightsOptical (C2) with Trilux illumination

The L16 81mm mortar is a British and Canadian standard mortar used by the Canadian Army, British Army, and many other armed forces. It originated as a joint design by the UK and Canada. The version produced and used by Australia is named the F2 81mm Mortar; the U.S. armed forces version is the M252.

Contents

Description

It was introduced in 1965–66, replacing the Ordnance ML 3 inch Mortar in UK service, where it is used by the British Army, the Royal Marines and the RAF Regiment.

In UK armoured/mechanised infantry battalions, the L16 mortar is mounted in an FV 432 AFV (six [2] per battalion mortar platoon). British army light role infantry battalions and the Royal Marines may transport their mortars in BvS 10 vehicles (the replacement for the Bv 206). Otherwise, it is carried disassembled in three loads, (barrel, baseplate and bipod with sights, each approximately 11 kg), normally carried by a vehicle or helicopter and assembled for firing from the ground.

The weapon can be man-packed by the mortar detachment, in which case the ammunition would be carried by other soldiers of the battalion. In addition to their normal equipment, each soldier would carry four bombs in a pair of two-bomb plastic containers (known as greenies in the British Army).

Operators

Map with L18 operators in blue. L18 Operators.jpg
Map with L18 operators in blue.

Current operators

Former operators

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References

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