Royal Ordnance L30

L30A1
L30A1 gun mounted in the turret of a Challenger 2 tank
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service1998–present
Used byBritish Army
Royal Army of Oman
Ukrainian Ground Forces
WarsIraq War
Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Production history
DesignerRoyal Ordnance Factory, Nottingham
Designed1989
ManufacturerRoyal Ordnance Factory
Specifications
Mass1,805 kg (3,979 lb) (barrel with thermal sleeve)
Barrel length55 calibres (6.6 m (22 ft))

Calibre120 mm (4.7 in)
Muzzle velocityL27A1 APFSDS: 1,650 m/s (5,400 ft/s)[1][dubiousdiscuss]
L31A7 HESH: 670 m/s (2,200 ft/s)[1]

The L30A1, officially designated Gun, 120 mm, Tank L30,is a British-designed 120 mm rifled tank gun, installed in the turrets of Challenger 2 main battle tanks. It is an improved production model of the Royal Ordnance L11 series of rifled tank guns. Challenger 2 tanks and their L30A1 guns are operated by the British and Omani armies. In 2023, L30A1 armed Challenger 2 tanks supplied by the British were delivered to Ukraine.[2][3]

  1. ^ a b "120mm Royal Ordnance L30".
  2. ^ "British Army - Challenger 2 Tank - Main Battle Tank - MBT - The Household Cavalry and Royal Armoured Corps - Armed Forces - a4a7". www.armedforces.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  3. ^ Baroness Goldie (20 March 2023). "Ukraine: Ammunition Question for Ministry of Defence". UK Parliament 2023.