LH105 Howitzer (Prizyetsa)
| Gun, LH105 Howitzer | |
|---|---|
|
300px Artillery firing 105mm Light Guns on exercise in 2013 | |
| Type | Towed howitzer |
| Place of origin | Prizyetsa |
| Service history | |
| Used by |
Prizyetsa others (see article) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Sverd Industries, Siljeborg Steel |
| Manufacturer | Sverd Industries |
| Produced | from 1986 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 1,650kg |
| Length | 7,75m |
| Barrel length | 37 calibers |
| Width | 1,75 |
| Height | 2,15m |
| Crew | 6 (normal), 4 (reduced) |
|
| |
| Calibre | 105mm |
| Breech | vertical sliding block with electric firing mechanism |
| Recoil | hydropneumatic |
| Carriage | box trail, firing with wheels on the ground or platform |
| Elevation | -7° to 70° |
| Traverse | 360° (6,400 mils) on its platform and top traverse 5° left or right |
| Rate of fire | 6-8 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | maximum 700m/s |
| Maximum firing range | 21,000m |
| Sights | optical dial sight on reciprocating mount or inertial using 3 ring laser gyros |
The LH105 (Likt Haubitzer 105mm) is a 105mm “light” howitzer designed and produced by Sverd Industries for use with highly mobile artillery attachments where the use of mobile artillery is not an option. As such, it is designed to be “packed” into drop crates, which allows the LH105 to be dropped into war-zones via parachute, helicopter or alternatively towed by vehicles as light as a light utility vehicle.
The LH105 has a barrel length of 37 calibers, or 3,885 meters. This gives the LH105 a maximum effective range of up to 25km. Normally manned by a crew of six, the LH105 can also be manned by a skeleton crew of four although the latter reduces the rate of fire and efficiency of the gun. The gun can fire a range of ammunition types.
The LH105 Howitzer is currently exported by Sverd Industries for NSD 125.000,- per unit.
Contents
Development
In a series of reviews in the early 1980's the Prizyetsi military came to the conclusion that a new light artillery piece was needed to replace the aging 105mm pack guns in service at the time. The main issue with the pack guns in use was the lack range and mobility. Because of these requirements, it was decided that the new artillery piece was to become a highly mobile light howitzer instead of a pack gun.
Design
Ammunition
- 105LHE: A high explosive round packed with 2.5kg of RDX. Tipped with a SmartFuze Mk.3, the shell can be programmed to explode on impact, at a custom height. This can be done via the battery’s gunnery computer.
- 105LI: An illumination round which fires a parachute flare which burns from roughly 400m for about a minute.
- 105LHESH: The High Explosive Squash Head round is used for clearing buildings. The explosive is packed in a narrow cylinder within the shell and equipped with a delayed fuze. After the shell strikes through a wall or roof, the round goes off. This round is tipped with the SmartFuze Mk.3 allowing it to be used against armor.
- 105L Marker: A round which gives out red smoke for marking purposes.
