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The L number ("L" standing for Land Service) [1] [2] or weapon identity number [3] system is a numerical designation system used for the type classification of British Army weapons and related stores. The L number in isolation is not a unique identifier; rather, it is used in conjunction with a description, e.g. "Rifle, 7.62mm, L1A1" or "L1A1 7.62mm Rifle". [2] The A number following the L number refers to the particular version of a piece of equipment; [1] unlike some similar designation systems where an A number is only used for subsequent versions of equipment, an A1 designation is always used for the first version to be officially adopted. [2] [a] Stores coming into Army service began receiving Land Service designations in 1954, replacing the old number-and-mark system of designations. [8]
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Some weapons such as the AR-15 [9] [10] and M16A2 [11] rifles, the C3 Non-Metallic Anti-Personnel Mine and its C4 drill variant, [12] [13] the M18A1 Anti-Personnel Mine, [14] [15] the M79 [16] [17] and M203 [17] grenade launchers, the M6-895 and M6-640 mortars, [16] [18] and the various air rifles in Cadet Force usage, [19] [20] were not given L numbers and are referred to in official documentation by their manufacturer's designations instead. Likewise, legacy items that were given designations under the earlier number-and-mark system [b] continued to be referred to by those designations until replacement. [36] A number of guided weapons in British service such as the K170A1/A2 NLAW HEAT Guided Missile [37] and the K130 High Velocity Missile [38] [39] use a "K" designation rather than a Land Service one.
Equivalent designation systems were devised for the Royal Navy ("N", standing for Naval Service) and the Royal Air Force ("A", standing for Air Service), [1] though in many cases stores used across all three branches were and are referred to by Land Service designations; [37] Land Service designations have also been used where no Army equivalent exists, as in the case of the L44A1. [40] The FV (fighting vehicle) number series is similar in purpose but not in formatting. Similar designation systems are used by various other militaries; for example, Canada uses "C" (standing for Canadian), Australia uses "F" (standing for Forces), [c] and several nations such as Denmark, South Africa, and the United States of America use or used "M" (standing for Model or its non-English equivalent).
