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ARTILLERY REGISTER |
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| Type of Gun: |
L5 Pack Howitzer |
| Location: |
Mangrove Mountain Memorial Club, 18 Hallards Road, Central Mangrove, NSW |
| GPS Location: |
33° 17' 27.90" S - 151° 14' 13.00" E |
| Serial Number: |
057090P |
| Date of Manufacture: |
1961 |
| Manufacturer: |
Oto Melara |
| Calibre: |
105 mm |
| Weight of Projectile: |
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| Range: |
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| Historical Specifics: |
The guns at Central Mangrove were purchased by the Mangrove Mountain RSL Sub Branch in 1994. They were transported by the Army Reserve to the present site from Salisbury in South Australia. No Gun history books came with the gun however, the present paint is lifting and has revealed tactical signs on the shield. These signs are painted on the gun at the using unit and are a square of red and blue that denote artillery with a white letter or number. On this gun the letter D is shown indicating it was delta gun, or the fourth gun in a battery of six. The number 917 appears on the other square. This denotes the gun had been issued to the School of Artillery.
The L5 is a pack howitzer designed by the Italians and capable of being broken down into several loads which could be carried on pack mules or man pack. Introduced into service in the Australian Army in 1963 a total of 120 guns were delivered from three purchases. The gun was issued to regular and reserve (CMF) artillery units and saw active service during the Confontation with Indonesia in Malaysia and in Vietnam from 1965 to 1967, including firing support to D Company 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment during the battle of Long Tan 0 18 August 1966. It was replaced in Vietnam in 1967 due to the stresses imposed on the gun from firing numerous rounds of ammunition. It was withdrawn from service in 1992. |
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