The 81 mm L 16 infantry mortar is in the armament of mortar platoons of infantry battalions of the British Army. The platoon is divided into 3 or 4 squads, each with two mortars. The L 16 can be carried by 3 men when unfolded, and can also be used in a self-propelled version. In this case, a modified FV 432 armoured personnel carrier or a truck is used as the mortar carrier. The L 16, which has proven its quality in combat in e.g. Borneo and the Falkland Islands, has been successfully exported. Among its users are e.g. Austria, Canada, India, Norway, USA and other countries. To maintain the qualities of the mortar, upgrades are planned in several stages. These include, for example, a new digital fire control system, the use of GPS, achieving higher performance at a lower weight, and the development of new ammunition. There are currently about 540 mortars in the British Army's arsenal.
The L 16 mortar has a conventional design consisting of a heavy bearing, barrel and supporting bipod with metering and aiming bolts. The barrel is reinforced and fitted with cooling fins allowing for rapid firing. The mortar can fire standard ammunition consisting of burst, illumination, smoke and practice mines and a guided anti-personnel mine (missile). The 'Merlin' guided ammunition is equipped with a sensor that guides the cumulative projectile onto armoured targets. The hit is guided from above, i.e. to the places where the armour is the least thick.
Tactical-technical data
length...........................................81 mm
total weight......................36.6 kg
weight of the bearing........................11.6 kg
weight of the barrel.......................12.7 kg
weight of the bipod..................12.3 kg
barrel length.............................1 280 mm
pointing range..........................45° - 80°
minimum range.......................100 m
maximum range......................5 650 m
mass of mine (projectile)...............4.2 kg
rate of fire.........................15 shots per minute
The L 16 mortar has a conventional design consisting of a heavy bearing, barrel and supporting bipod with metering and aiming bolts. The barrel is reinforced and fitted with cooling fins allowing for rapid firing. The mortar can fire standard ammunition consisting of burst, illumination, smoke and practice mines and a guided anti-personnel mine (missile). The 'Merlin' guided ammunition is equipped with a sensor that guides the cumulative projectile onto armoured targets. The hit is guided from above, i.e. to the places where the armour is the least thick.
Tactical-technical data
length...........................................81 mm
total weight......................36.6 kg
weight of the bearing........................11.6 kg
weight of the barrel.......................12.7 kg
weight of the bipod..................12.3 kg
barrel length.............................1 280 mm
pointing range..........................45° - 80°
minimum range.......................100 m
maximum range......................5 650 m
mass of mine (projectile)...............4.2 kg
rate of fire.........................15 shots per minute