Artillery

L118 Light Gun

Also known as
  • 105mm Light Gun
  • 105 mm light gun
  • Royal Ordnance 105mm Light Gun
  • L118 105mm Light Gun
  • L118 105 mm Light Gun
  • L119 Light Gun
  • L119 105 mm Light Gun
  • Gun, 105mm, field, L118

The L118 Light Gun is a British 105 mm towed howitzer built for airborne, commando, and light-force artillery. It can be towed by a medium-weight vehicle or carried underslung by a Chinook helicopter, and BAE Systems says its 105 mm ammunition family includes HE, illumination, target-marking, smoke, and propelling-charge options. This family record also covers the L119 branch, the NATO/M1-ammunition variant supplied to Ukraine, while the U.S. M119 derivative has its own linked entry.

L118 Light Gun, 105 mm towed light howitzer, Artillery
Image source: Commandos preparing to fire a L118 light gun during Exercise Heiktila

Role in Conflicts

1982 Falklands War
Fire Support
Side
United Kingdom

The Royal Artillery Museum records five batteries of Light Guns, 30 guns in total, with British forces during the 1982 Falklands War, including heavy firing during the later fighting around Port Stanley.

2003 Iraq War
Fire Support

Leonardo says LINAPS fitted to the British Army L118 light gun was deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, while IWM places 7 Para RHA 105 mm light guns in Kuwait before Iraq operations and Airborne Assault Museum records 7 PARA RHA firing regimental fire missions during Operation Telic.

Role details
Family Branches

Open sources split the light-gun family into the British L118, the NATO/M1-ammunition L119 used in Ukraine, and the U.S. M119 derivative.

DesignationWhat it tells readersEvidence
L118Original British 105 mm light gun.British Army equipment page
L119NATO/M1-ammunition variant gifted to Ukraine and serviced in-country.BAE Ukraine repair announcement; New Zealand Ukraine deployment notice
M119U.S. licensed development of the British L119 light gun.M119, 105 mm lightweight towed howitzer, ArtilleryU.S. Army RIA self-guided tour

Sources: L118 Light Gun; BAE Systems awarded contract to maintain and repair light guns in Ukraine; NZ to provide additional deployment to support Ukraine; RIA Self-Guided Tour: L119 105 MM Light Gun.

105 mm Ammunition Set

BAE Systems says its 105 mm artillery ammunition is designed for the Royal Ordnance 105mm Light Gun L118. The family includes HE, base-bleed, smoke, and multiple propelling-charge options.

ItemTypeReader takeaway
L31 High ExplosiveHE shellRDX/TNT-filled shell with a user-selected fuze; BAE describes it as combat-proven and in service.
XL32E1Base-bleed shellThin-walled shell optimized for fragmentation and blast effect; BAE says the base-bleed unit pushes range over 20 km.
L52 SmokeSmoke shellFuzed steel body with four smoke canisters that create persistent RP-type smoke.
L35 / L45 / L36Propelling chargesCharge families that tailor range and training use for 105 mm ammunition.

Source: 105mm artillery ammunition.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United Kingdom
Built by
BAE Systems
Type
105 mm towed light howitzer
Service note
1970s-present
Designer
Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment
Designed
1960s-1970s
Unit cost
Not publicly documented
Produced
1970s onward
Number built
Not publicly documented

Specifications

Caliber
105 mm
Crew
Six
Combat weight
1,858 kg
Dimensions
8.8 m long, 1.78 m wide, 2.13 m high
Maximum range
17.2 km with HE ammunition
Extended-range ammunition
BAE Systems describes the XL32E1 base-bleed shell as extending 105 mm Light Gun range beyond 20 km
Ammunition family
HE, base-bleed HE, target-marking, smoke, illumination, and propelling-charge options are documented in the BAE 105 mm ammunition family
Rate of fire
6-8 rounds per minute
Mobility
Towed by medium-weight vehicles or carried underslung by Chinook helicopter
Sighting and laying
Artillery Pointing System used to orient the gun and provide fall-of-shot corrections
Light-Force Artillery Traits
Mobility

British Army material describes the L118 as towable by medium-weight vehicles and transportable underslung by Chinook helicopter.

Fast laying

The automatic pointing system lets Royal Artillery L118 crews bring the gun into action quickly after unlimbering.

Ammunition depth

BAE's 105 mm family covers HE, base-bleed, smoke, and propelling-charge options, including an XL32E1 base-bleed shell described at more than 20 km range.

Sources: L118 Light Gun; 105mm artillery ammunition.

Variants

This family page uses L118 for the British 105 mm light-gun line. The L119 branch adapts the system for NATO/M1 ammunition, while the M119 is the U.S. derivative of the British L119.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
L119NATO/M1-ammunition branch

BAE Systems identifies UK-donated L119 Light Guns in Ukraine, and U.S. Army material describes the L119 branch as the basis for the American M119.

Sources: BAE Systems awarded contract to maintain and repair light guns in Ukraine, RIA Self-Guided Tour: L119 105 MM Light Gun

M119, 105 mm lightweight towed howitzer, ArtilleryM119U.S. derivative

Rock Island Arsenal revised the British L119 into the M119 lightweight towed howitzer for U.S. Army requirements.

Sources: RIA Self-Guided Tour: L119 105 MM Light Gun

Timeline

L118 Light Gun Key Events

  1. Mock-up appears in Soldier magazine

    A February 1968 Soldier magazine issue showed a mock-up of the new 105 mm light gun under development.

    Sources: FEBRUARY 1968 - Soldier magazine

  2. Development work still visible in the Army press

    A January 1975 Soldier magazine issue showed gauge development work on the new 105 mm light gun.

    Sources: JANUARY 1975 10p - Soldier magazine - The British Army

  3. Light Gun enters Royal Artillery service

    The Royal Artillery Museum says the Light Gun entered service in 1976 as the replacement for the L5 105 mm Pack Howitzer.

    Sources: L118 Light Gun | Royal Artillery Museum

  4. Five batteries deploy to the Falklands

    The Royal Artillery Museum records five Light Gun batteries, totaling 30 guns, in British use during the Falklands War.

    Sources: L118 Light Gun | Royal Artillery Museum

  5. UK announces L119 guns for Ukraine

    The UK Ministry of Defence announced that 36 L119 105 mm artillery guns would be supplied to Ukraine as part of a wider artillery, drone, and anti-armor support package.

    Sources: GOV.UK UK to send scores of artillery guns and drones to Ukraine

  6. New Zealand sends trainers for L119 support

    New Zealand said it would deploy an artillery training team to help Ukrainian personnel operate L119 105 mm light field guns and would provide gun sights and a small quantity of training ammunition.

    Sources: NZ to provide additional deployment to support Ukraine

  7. Ukrainian airborne use reported in southern Ukraine

    Defense Express reported Ukrainian Air Assault Forces using British-provided L119 light guns from firing positions in southern Ukraine and highlighting the gun's mobility for covering assault operations.

    Sources: Once Again About British 105mm Light Guns: Ukrainian Paratroopers Value Its Mobility

  8. BAE announces Ukrainian repair support

    BAE Systems said gifted L119 Light Guns in Ukraine could be serviced in country and returned to the front more quickly.

    Sources: BAE Systems awarded contract to maintain and repair light guns in Ukraine

Media

L118 Light Gun Videos

L118 Light Gun Images

L118 Light Gun, 105 mm towed light howitzer, Artillery - view 1
Source: The British are coming 141204-A-PX133-004.jpg
L118 Light Gun, 105 mm towed light howitzer, Artillery - view 2
Source: ISAF Soldiers Fire a 105mm Light Gun MOD 45149844
Related Weapon Systems
M119, 105 mm lightweight towed howitzer, ArtilleryArtilleryM119105 mm lightweight towed howitzerThe M119 is the U.S. 105 mm lightweight towed howitzer derived from the British L119 light gun and built around air-mobile infantry fire support. The M119A3 variant adds digital fire control, self-location, and communications upgrades while retaining a light carriage that can be moved by trucks, cargo aircraft, or helicopter. U.S. Army sources place the type in Gulf War, Iraq War, and Afghanistan service, and Ukrainian forces later received American 105 mm howitzers during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
105 mm Royal Ordnance L7, 105 mm rifled tank gun, ArtilleryArtillery105 mm Royal Ordnance L7105 mm rifled tank gunThe 105 mm Royal Ordnance L7 is a British L/52 rifled tank gun designed for armored fighting vehicles and widely adapted through the Centurion, Leopard 1, M60, and later derivative programs. Its L7A3 Leopard 1 installation remains conflict-relevant in Ukraine, where delivered Leopard 1A5 variants provide mobile direct fire with a legacy NATO 105 mm ammunition ecosystem rather than the protection or firepower of newer 120 mm main battle tanks.
155 mm artillery round, 155 mm artillery ammunition family, MunitionsMunitions155 mm artillery round155 mm artillery ammunition familyThe 155 mm artillery round is a family-level label for complete 155 mm howitzer shots rather than one projectile model. U.S. Army sources define a complete shot as fuze, primer, projectile, and propelling charge, while manufacturer and conflict records show high-explosive, extended-range, inert, precision-guided, smoke, illumination, cluster, white-phosphorus, and charge-system variants across NATO and NATO-compatible artillery use.
Cartridge, 105 mm, Illuminating, M314, 105 mm howitzer-fired illuminating cartridge with parachute-retarded canister, MunitionsMunitionsCartridge, 105 mm, Illuminating, M314105 mm howitzer-fired illuminating cartridge with parachute-retarded canisterThe M314 is a U.S. 105 mm howitzer illumination cartridge family that ejects a flare canister under parachute for battlefield lighting. Army ammunition manuals list earlier M314-series rounds for M101/M102-era howitzers, while Army portfolio material identifies the M314A3 visible-light round as a 105 mm M119-series illumination cartridge with a semi-fixed case, time fuze, expelling charge, illuminant canister, and parachute assembly.

Sources

L118 Light GunPublisher: British Army | Note: Official British Army equipment page supporting L118 role, dimensions, ammunition, range, crew, weight, mobility, and BAE Systems manufacturer attribution. | Accessed: 2026-07-07BAE Systems awarded contract to maintain and repair light guns in UkrainePublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Documents UK-donated L119 Light Guns in Ukrainian service and in-country repair support during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War; L119 is the NATO/M1-ammunition variant of the L118 Light Gun family. | Accessed: 2026-07-07L118 Light Gun | Royal Artillery MuseumPublisher: Royal Artillery Museum | Note: Supports L118/L119 family background, 1976 entry into service, air-mobile and towed mobility context, and direct 1982 Falklands War use by five British Light Gun batteries around Port Stanley. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Leonardo engineers keeping British & Italian artillery on targetPublisher: Leonardo | Note: Direct 2003 Iraq War support source stating that LINAPS, fitted to the British Army L118 light gun, was deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom; also supports L118 LINAPS pointing-system context. | Accessed: 2026-07-07IWM Operation Telic 7 Para RHA light gunsPublisher: Imperial War Museums | Note: Direct 2003 Iraq War support source identifying 105 mm light guns of G Battery, 7 Para RHA during preparations for operations in Iraq on February 21, 2003. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Airborne Assault Museum Iraq Operation TelicPublisher: Airborne Assault Museum / ParaData | Note: Direct 2003 Iraq War support source recording that 7 PARA RHA fired regimental fire missions during Operation Telic in Iraq. | Accessed: 2026-07-07GOV.UK Gunners ready 24/7 despite progress in HelmandPublisher: GOV.UK / Ministry of Defence | Note: Direct 2001 War in Afghanistan support source documenting a 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery detachment in southern Helmand providing offensive fire support and firing the L118 105 mm howitzer. | Accessed: 2026-07-07GOV.UK UK military support for Ukraine continuesPublisher: GOV.UK / Ministry of Defence | Note: Direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War support source stating that the UK Ministry of Defence supplied Ukraine with L119 105 mm light guns and artillery ammunition. | Accessed: 2026-07-07GOV.UK UK to send scores of artillery guns and drones to UkrainePublisher: GOV.UK / Ministry of Defence | Note: Direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War support source announcing that 36 L119 105 mm artillery guns would be supplied from the UK to Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-07-07105mm artillery ammunitionPublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Supports the L118 ammunition family, including L31 HE, XL32E1 base-bleed, L52 smoke, and L35/L45/L36 propelling-charge descriptions. | Accessed: 2026-07-07NZ to provide additional deployment to support UkrainePublisher: New Zealand Government | Note: Direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War support source documenting training that enabled Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel to operate L119 105 mm light field guns. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Ukraine to Get 105 mm L118 Howitzers, Comparison And SpecificationPublisher: Defense Express | Note: Ukrainian defense reporting from June 2022 connecting planned Ukrainian 105 mm light-gun training and ammunition support to the L118/L119 light-gun context. | Accessed: 2026-07-07FEBRUARY 1968 - Soldier magazinePublisher: The British Army | Note: Soldier magazine issue showing a mock-up of the new 105 mm light gun under development. | Accessed: 2026-07-07JANUARY 1975 10p - Soldier magazine - The British ArmyPublisher: The British Army | Note: Soldier magazine issue showing development work on the new 105 mm light gun. | Accessed: 2026-07-07OCTOBER 3-16 1983 - Soldier magazine - The British ArmyPublisher: The British Army | Note: Soldier magazine issue describing parachute artillery re-equipping with the 105 mm Light Gun. | Accessed: 2026-07-07RIA Self-Guided Tour: L119 105 MM Light GunPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the L119 origin, Rock Island Arsenal revision into the M119, and early U.S. production background. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Once Again About British 105mm Light Guns: Ukrainian Paratroopers Value Its MobilityPublisher: Defense Express | Note: Direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War reporting on Ukrainian Air Assault Forces using British-provided L119 light guns from firing positions in southern Ukraine and emphasizing their mobility for covering assault operations. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Commandos preparing to fire a L118 light gun during Exercise HeiktilaPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image page identifies the photographed system as an L118 light gun and lists MOD/Crown Copyright provenance under the Open Government Licence v1.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-07The British are coming 141204-A-PX133-004.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Wikimedia Commons file page for a U.S. Army photo showing an L118 105 mm light gun during a Fort Bragg exercise; Commons identifies the image as released by the United States Army. | Accessed: 2026-07-07ISAF Soldiers Fire a 105mm Light Gun MOD 45149844Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and limited conflict-use support source for an MOD/Crown Copyright image of ISAF soldiers firing a 105 mm Light Gun in Helmand during Operation Herrick, released under the Open Government Licence v1.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-07