L31 HESH round

Also known as

L31A7
L31A7 HESH
120 mm L31A7 HESH
120mm HESH round

The L31 HESH round is a British 120 mm high-explosive squash-head shell for the Challenger 2 tank's rifled L30A1 gun family. References describe it as an L31A7 projectile in the Challenger 2 ammunition mix and as separate-loaded tank ammunition with the L3 bag charge.

L31 HESH round, 120 mm HESH shell, Munitions

Image source: 120MM HESH Round.jpg

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: United Kingdom
Built by: Royal OrdnanceRO Defence
Type: 120 mm HESH shell

ammunition tank ammunition 120 mm high-explosive projectile

Specifications

Caliber: 120 mm
Projectile type: High-explosive squash head (HESH)
Designation: L31A7
Gun family: L30A1 rifled tank gun
Loading: Separate-loaded tank ammunition
Muzzle velocity: 670 m/s

Firing Weapons

Challenger 2 is the documented firing platform for this round.

Firing weapon

Weapon type

Firing evidence

Challenger 2, Main battle tank, Tanks

Main battle tank

Wikipedia's Challenger 2 entry lists L31 HESH among the tank's carried rounds and places it in the tank's 120 mm rifled-gun ammunition fit.

Sources: Wikipedia Challenger 2

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: In Challenger 2 service

Media

L31 HESH round Images

L31 HESH round, 120 mm HESH shell, Munitions - view 1 — Source: Arjun tank's HESH round impacting an armour block.jpg

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Sources

Wikipedia Challenger 2Publisher: Wikipedia | Note: Lists L31 HESH among Challenger 2's carried rounds and gives the tank's 120 mm rifled-gun context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Royal Ordnance L30Publisher: Wikipedia | Note: Describes the L31A7 HESH projectile as part of the L30 ammunition family and gives muzzle velocity and loading context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 GlascoedPublisher: BAE Systems Heritage | Note: Covers the Glascoed ammunition site and its production of 120 mm tank ammunition for Chieftain and Challenger, supporting the Royal Ordnance/RO Defence manufacturing lineage. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 120MM HESH Round.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports primary image provenance for the HESH round cross-section photograph hosted on Wikimedia Commons. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Arjun tank's HESH round impacting an armour block.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance for a reusable Wikimedia Commons HESH-impact photograph. | Accessed: 2026-06-27