Indian field gun
The 105 mm Indian field gun is a towed howitzer developed in India and extensively used in the Indian Army.
| Indian field gun | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Howitzer |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| Used by | India Myanmar |
| Production history | |
| Designer | ARDE |
| Designed | 1972 |
| Manufacturer | Ordnance Factory Board |
| Produced | 1984 |
| Variants | Mk-1, Mk-2, truck mounted variant |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2,380 kg (5,250 lb) |
| Length | 5.94 m (19 ft 6 in) |
| Barrel length | 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in) L/22 |
| Width | 2.21 m (7 ft 3 in) |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Shell | 105 x 372 mm R |
| Caliber | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Breech | Horizontal block |
| Recoil | Hydropneumatic, constant, 42 in (110 cm) |
| Carriage | split trail |
| Elevation | -5° to +73° |
| Traverse | 30° left & right |
| Muzzle velocity | 475 m/s (1,560 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 17,200 m (10.7 mi) to 20,000 m (12 mi) |
Development
The gun was designed and developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in 1972 to replace the 25-pounder guns used by the Indian Army. It was produced in the Gun Carriage Factory (GCF), Jabalpur, from 1984.[1][2] In addition to the GCF, the guns have been manufactured at Field Gun Factory, Kanpur. The shells are manufactured at ordnance factories in Ambajhari and Chandrapur.[3] It shares many features with the British L118 light gun. Due to its excellent portability, it is suitable for mountainous and other difficult terrains.[4]
Variants
Towed
The Indian field gun (IFG) weighs 3,450 kg, while the light field gun (LFG) variant weighs 2,380 kg. Both guns have a normal rate of fire of four rounds per minute over ranges from 2,000 to 17,400 metres. It can sustain an intense rate of fire of six rounds per minute for up to 10 minutes and a sustained rate of fire for up to one hour. It has a crew of six. The gun has a secondary anti-tank capability. It can operate in temperatures ranging from -27 to +60 °C. The recoil on firing is absorbed by two side-mounted hydraulic cylinders. A circular platform provided with the gun can be used for rapid 360° movement. The light field gun can be broken down into two or three parts for easy transport and quickly re-assembled. The LFG can be heli-lifted and paradropped.[5][6]
- Indian field gun Mark 1
- Indian field gun Mark 2
- Indian field gun Mark 3
- Light field gun Mark 1
- Light field gun Mark 2
Self propelled
- OFB 105 mm SPG – consists of a BMP Sarath hull mounted with a light field gun. It was developed by ordnance development centre, Ordnance Factory Medak, but has not been inducted into the Indian Army.
- Garuda 105 – developed by Kalyani Strategic Systems, a subsidiary of Bharat Forge[7]
Operators
India
Myanmar : 10 in service (aid from India for use against insurgency groups operating from Myanmar)[8]
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See also
References
- Shukla, Ajai (June 29, 2010). "155-mm gun contract: DRDO enters the fray". Business Standard. New Delhi, India. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
- "Indian Field Gun 105 mm | Defence Research and Development Organisation - DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India". www.drdo.gov.in. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- "Army's in-service guns suffer two barrel bursts". The Times of India. 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- "Military Balance India Vs China Part-3 Indian artillery systems". 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- "IDR, 1979, Vol 12 (8)". International Defense Review, 1979: Vol 12 Issue 8. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
- "105/37 mm Light Field Gun". Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
- "CATALOGUE INDIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRY" (PDF). 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- "SIPRI Trade Register". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
