Is Uk: | yes |
Is Artillery: | yes |
Origin: | United Kingdom |
Caliber: | 165mm |
Cartridge Weight: | 29kg (64lb) |
Royal Ordnance L9 | |
Manufacturer: | Royal Ordnance Factories |
Royal Ordnance L9 is a British short-barrelled 165mm gun used for combat engineering, particularly the demolition of defences.
Initially called Ordnance BL 6.5" Mk I, it was later renamed 165mm L9 Demolition Gun.
The gun is capable of firing a 29kg (64lb) High Explosive Squash Head (HESH) demolition projectile distances up to 2400m (7,900feet).[1] The HESH shell contains 18kg (40lb) of C-4 explosive.[2]
The L9 gun was mounted on Royal Engineers AVRE versions of the Churchill and Centurion tanks after the Second World War.
The gun's primary purpose is the clearing of obstacles such as walls, fences, roadblocks or bunkers, and the destruction of buildings.[3]