L16 81mm mortar

L16 81mm mortar
81mm mortar L16
TypeMortar
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Canada
Service history
Used bySee Users
Wars
Production history
DesignerRoyal Armament Research and Development Establishment, Fort Halstead (barrel and bipod)
Designed1956
ManufacturerRoyal Ordnance (barrel and bipod)
Produced1965
Specifications
Mass35.3 kg (78 lb)
Barrel length1,280 millimetres (50 in)
Crew3

Shell weight4.2 kilograms (9.3 lb) (L3682).[1]
Calibre81 millimetres (3.2 in)
Actionmuzzle loading
Breechnone
Recoilbaseplate and spring buffered mounting clamp
Rate of fire15 rpm, 1–12 rpm sustained, 20 rpm for short periods
Muzzle velocity225 m/s (740 ft/s)
Effective firing rangeHE: 100–5,675 m
(109–6,206 yd)
Smoke: 100–5,675 m (109–6,206 yd)
Illumination: 400–4,800 m
(437–5,249 yd)
Maximum firing range5,650 m (6,180 yd)
Feed systemManual
SightsOptical (C2) with Trilux illumination

The L16 81mm mortar is a British and Canadian standard mortar used by the Canadian Army, British Army, and many other armed forces. It originated as a joint design by the UK and Canada. The version produced and used by Australia is named the F2 81mm Mortar; the U.S. armed forces version is the M252.

  1. ^ "81mm Mortar". Retrieved 4 November 2014.