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
TypeHowitzer
Place of originIndia
Service history
Used byIndia
Production history
DesignerARDE
Designed1972
ManufacturerOrdnance Factory Board
Produced1984
VariantsMk-1,Mk-2,Truck Mounted variant.
Specifications
Mass2380 kg
Length5.94 m (19 ft 6 in)
Barrel length2.31 m (7 ft 7 in) L/22
Width2.21 m (7 ft 3 in)
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Shell105x372R
Caliber105 mm (4.1 in)
Breechhorizontal block
Recoilhydropneumatic, constant, 42 in (110 cm)
Carriagesplit trail
Elevation-5° to +73°
Traverse30° Left & Right
Muzzle velocity475 m/s (1,560 ft/s)
Maximum firing range17,200 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 Gun Carriage Factory (GCF), Jabalpur from 1984.[1][2] In addition to 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]

105 mm light field gun prototype being shown at the Pragati Maidan Defence exhibition, New Delhi

Variants

Towed
The Indian Field Gun (IFG) has a weight of 3,450 kg; whereas the Light Field Gun (LFG) has a weight of 2,380 kg. Both guns have a normal rate of fire of 4 rounds per minute over ranges from 2,000 to 17,400 metres. It can sustain an intense rate of fire of 6 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

Operators
105 mm HE and smoke shell of Indian Field Gun

See also

References
  1. Shukla, Ajai (June 29, 2010). "155-mm gun contract: DRDO enters the fray". Business Standard. New Delhi, India. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  2. "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.
  3. "Army's in-service guns suffer two barrel bursts". 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  4. "Military Balance India Vs China Part-3 Indian artillery systems". 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  5. "IDR, 1979, Vol 12 (8)". International Defense Review, 1979: Vol 12 Issue 8. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  6. "105/37 mm Light Field Gun". Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  7. "CATALOGUE INDIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRY" (PDF). 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  8. "SIPRI Trade Register". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
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