Indian Field Gun

Indian Field Gun
TypeField gun
Place of originIndia
Service history
In service1974 - present
Used bySee Operators
WarsKargil War
Production history
DesignerArmament Research and Development Establishment
Designed1972
Manufacturer
Produced
  • 1978–? (IFG)
  • 1984-2015 (LFG)
No. built534 LFGs (as of 2015)
VariantsSee Variants
  • Indian Field Gun (IFG)
  • Light Field Gun (LFG)
Specifications
Mass
  • 3,450 kg (7,610 lb) (IFG)
  • 2,380 kg (5,250 lb) (LFG)
Length5.94 m (19 ft 6 in)
Barrel length
  • 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in) L/22 (IFG)
  • 3.89 m (12 ft 9 in) L/37 (LFG)
Width2.21 m (7 ft 3 in)
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Shell105 × 372 mm R
(HE, HESH, Illuminating, BE Smoke)
Caliber105 mm (4.1 in)
BreechHorizontal block
RecoilHydropneumatic, constant
  • 110 cm (43 in) (IFG)
  • 106 cm (42 in) (LFG)
Carriagesplit trail
Elevation-5° to +73°
Traverse5° left & right from centreline
Rate of fireLFG
  • 4 rpm (normal)
  • 6 rpm for 10 mins (intense)
  • 1 rpm for 2 hours (sustained)
Muzzle velocity475 m/s (1,560 ft/s)
Maximum firing range
  • 17,400 m (10.8 mi) (IFG)
  • 17,200 m (10.7 mi) to 20,000 m (12 mi) (LFG)
References[1][2][3]

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][4][5] In addition to the GCF, the guns have been manufactured at Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur.

105 mm HE and smoke shell of Indian field gun

The shells are manufactured at ordnance factories in Ambajhari and Chandrapur.[6] 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.[7]

Indian Field Gun prototype being shown at the Pragati Maidan Defence exhibition, New Delhi

Variants

Towed

The Indian Field Gun (IFG) weighs 3,450 kg (7,610 lb). It has a normal rate of fire of four rounds per minute over ranges from 2,000–17,400 m (6,600–57,100 ft). 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 −27 to +60 °C (−17 to 140 °F). 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.[1][2] Manufacture of the Indian Field Gun began in 1978.[1] 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 2,380 kg (5,250 lb), 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][2] The manufacture of the Light Field Gun began in 1984.[2] 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

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Indian 105mm Light Field Gun". International Defense Review. Vol. 12, no. 8. Geneva: Interavia. 1979. p. 1427. Retrieved 5 June 2023.. (Needs login and borrowing to access the specific page).
  2. ^ a b c d "105/37 mm Light Field Gun". Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  3. ^ "Military Balance India Vs China Part-3 Indian artillery systems". Full Afterburner. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  4. ^ Shukla, Ajai (June 29, 2010). "155-mm gun contract: DRDO enters the fray". Business Standard. New Delhi, India. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Army's in-service guns suffer two barrel bursts". The Times of India. 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  7. ^ "Military Balance India Vs China Part-3 Indian artillery systems". 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  8. ^ "India Seeks 105mm Mounted Guns, 155mm ATAGS Clears Trials". Overt Defense. 2022-05-10. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  9. ^ "CATALOGUE INDIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRY" (PDF). 2022-03-01. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  10. ^ "Sharang 155mm 45 calibre gun". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  11. ^ "Watch: Why India used light artillery guns against Pakistan along the LoC - India News". www.wionews.com. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  12. ^ deshkeheroes (2020-10-21). "Top 6 Indian Artillery Guns". Desh Ke Heroes. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  13. ^ "SIPRI Trade Register". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Archived from the original on 2010-04-14. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
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