File image.
L118 105 mm light howitzers recently supplied by the United Kingdom have been spotted with Kiev forces for the first time.
On August 5, photos showing Ukrainian service members with an L118 howitzers in a camouflaged position near an unspecified frontline surfaced online.
The L118, which was designed by the UK’s Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment, has range of 17,2 kilometers with regular 105 mm rounds and up to 20,6 kilometers with base bleeding rounds. The light howitzer can fire six to eight rounds per minute. A crew of four to six is needed to operate the howitzer.
The latest version of the howitzer is equipped with the Laser Inertial Artillery Pointing System, LINAPS, which is used for navigation, pointing and weapon management.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
In June, the UK said it would supply Kiev forces with up to 50 L118 howitzers. Since then, Ukrainian troops have been training on the howitzers in the UK by British and New Zealander military instructors.
The US supported the UK’s bid to arm Kiev forces with L118 howitzers by supplying Ukraine with 36,000 105 mm rounds. Nevertheless, it is unclear if Ukraine will end up also receiving the American version of the light howitzer, which is known as the M119.
In the last few months, Western states supplied Kiev with hundreds of artillery pieces on the hopes of slowing down the ongoing Russian special military operation in Ukraine. However, the Russian artillery is still reigning supreme in the battlefield.
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