Indian Field Gun Explained
| Indian Field Gun |
| Origin: | India |
| Type: | Field gun |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Is Explosive: | yes |
| Is Artillery: | yes |
| Service: | 1974 - present |
| Used By: | See Operators |
| Wars: | Kargil War |
| Designer: | Armament Research and Development Establishment |
| Design Date: | 1972 |
| Manufacturer: |
|
| Production Date: | - 1978–? (IFG)
- 1984-2015 (LFG)
|
| Number: | 534 LFGs (as of 2015) |
| Variants: | See Variants- Indian Field Gun (IFG)
- Light Field Gun (LFG)
|
| Weight: | - 3450kg (7,610lb) (IFG)
- 2380kg (5,250lb) (LFG)
|
| Length: | 5.94m (19.49feet) |
| Part Length: | - 2.31m (07.58feet) L/22 (IFG)
- 3.89m (12.76feet) L/37 (LFG)
|
| Width: | 2.21m (07.25feet) |
| Height: | 1.73m (05.68feet) |
| Cartridge: | 105 × 372 mm R
(HE, HESH, Illuminating, BE Smoke) |
| Caliber: | 105mm |
| Rate: | LFG- 4 rpm (normal)
- 6 rpm for 10 mins (intense)
- 1 rpm for 2 hours (sustained)
|
| Velocity: | 475m/s |
| Max Range: | - 17400m (57,100feet) (IFG)
- 17200m (56,400feet) to 20000m (70,000feet) (LFG)
|
| Breech: | Horizontal block |
| Recoil: | Hydropneumatic, constant- 110cm (40inches) (IFG)
- 106cm (42inches) (LFG)
|
| Carriage: | split trail |
| Elevation: | -5° to +73° |
| Traverse: | 5° left & right from centreline |
| Ref: | [1] [2] |
The Indian Field Gun is a towed field gun developed in India and extensively used in the Indian Army.
Development
The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) began the design and development of the gun in 1972 to replace the older 25-pounder guns used by the Indian Army. It was produced in the Gun Carriage Factory (GCF), Jabalpur from 1978 onwards.[1] [3] [4] In addition to the GCF, the guns have been manufactured at Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur.
The shells are manufactured at ordnance factories in Ambajhari and Chandrapur.[5] It shares many features with the British L118 light gun. It's suitable to operate in mountainous and other difficult terrains, because this gun has excellent portability.[6]
Variants
Towed
The Indian Field Gun (IFG) weighs 3450kg (7,610lb). It has a normal rate of fire of four rounds per minute over ranges from NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet). It can sustain an intense rate of fire of six 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 -27C60C. 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.[7] Manufacture of the Indian Field Gun began in 1978. There are three variants:
- Indian Field Gun Mark 1
- Indian Field Gun Mark 2
- Indian Field Gun Mark 3
The Light Field Gun (LFG) variant weights 2380kg (5,250lb), but retains the same rate of fire and range as the IFG. The LFG can be broken down into two or three parts for easy transport and quickly re-assembled. The LFG can be heli-lifted and paradropped.[1] [7] The manufacture of the Light Field Gun began in 1984.[7] There are two variants:
- Light Field Gun Mark 1
- Light Field Gun Mark 2
Self propelled
- OFB 105 mm SPG – consists of a BMP Sarath hull mounted with a light field gun. It was developed by ordnance development centre, Ordnance Factory Medak, but has not been inducted into the Indian Army.
- Garuda 105 (version 2) – a 105 mm/37 calibre LFG gun is mounted on a Bharat Forge Made all terrain vehicle's 4X4 wheeled chassis.[8] This gun has all-terrain maneuverability (including high altitude). Based on the LFG, this gun has been developed by Kalyani Strategic Systems, a subsidiary of Bharat Forge.[9]
Operators
India : 2,400 FGs in service with the Indian army.[10] [11] 1,700 are IFGs and 700 are LFGs.[12]
Myanmar : 10 in service, provided by India.[13]
See also
Notes and References
- . Indian 105mm Light Field Gun . International Defense Review. 12 . 8 . Geneva . Interavia . 1979 . 1427 . 5 June 2023. . (Needs login and borrowing to access the specific page).
- Web site: Military Balance India Vs China Part-3 Indian artillery systems . 2024-11-25 . Full Afterburner . en.
- News: Shukla. Ajai. 155-mm gun contract: DRDO enters the fray. June 29, 2010. Business Standard. New Delhi, India. November 8, 2014.
- Web site: Indian Field Gun 105 mm Defence Research and Development Organisation - DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. 2021-10-03. www.drdo.gov.in.
- Web site: Army's in-service guns suffer two barrel bursts. . 2021-03-05. 2022-04-06.
- Web site: Military Balance India Vs China Part-3 Indian artillery systems. 2021-06-16. 2022-04-06.
- Web site: 105/37 mm Light Field Gun . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210428021849/https://ofb.gov.in/unit/pages/GCF/details/105mm-light-field-gun-mk-ii-lfg-1 . 28 April 2021 . 2022-04-07.
- Web site: 2022-05-10 . India Seeks 105mm Mounted Guns, 155mm ATAGS Clears Trials . 2023-07-27 . Overt Defense . en-CA.
- Web site: CATALOGUE INDIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRY. 2022-03-01. 2022-04-06. 7.
- Web site: Sharang 155mm 45 calibre gun . 2023-07-27 . www.globalsecurity.org.
- Web site: Watch: Why India used light artillery guns against Pakistan along the LoC - India News . 2023-07-27 . www.wionews.com.
- Web site: deshkeheroes . 2020-10-21 . Top 6 Indian Artillery Guns . 2023-07-27 . Desh Ke Heroes . en-US.
- Web site: SIPRI Trade Register. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 2020-11-05. 2010-04-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20100414022558/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. dead.
