L6 WOMBAT (Weapon Of Magnesium, Battalion, Anti-Tank)

Recoilless Rifle [ 1964 ]

The L6 WOMBAT was a newer, lighter weight version of the previous BAT recoilless rifle offering used by the British and Australian armies.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/26/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image released to the Public Domain by Wikipedia user Max Smith, September 2006.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]

Armored combat actions of World War 2 influenced much of the doctrine and weapons design of the ensuing Cold War years. The tank was still the primary threat and all leading world powers moved to adopt various counters for them including the recoilless rifle. The recoilless rifle provided a tank-killing/fortification-defeating (sometimes) portable solution in which the recoil effects of the existing projectile were countered to an extent by the proper dispelling of gasses at the rear of the launch tube. The British adopted the Ordnance 3.45" RCL too late to have it see action in World War 2 (1993-1945) but its design influenced the ultimate selection of the L6 WOMBAT in the 1950s. Indeed the L2 BAT ("Battalion Anti-Tank") and L4 MOBAT ("MObile BAT") were, themselves, preceding designs related to the RCL itself.

The L6 WOMBAT (Weapon of Magnesium, Battalion, Anti-Tank) represented a more portable solution to the existing vehicle-mounted L4 MOBAT weapon already in use. However, it was hardly a man-portable system as the RCL before it was, weighing a hefty 680lbs and requiring use of a wheeled carriage and crew of three. The new weapon fired a 28lb, 120mm projectile at a rate of four rounds-per-minute with a muzzle velocity of 1,520 feet-per-second. Effective range was 1,000 meters with an extreme range out to 1,600 meters. Sighting was through an integrated optical arrangement. The wheeled carriage allowed for a full-360-degree traverse as well as an elevation span of -8 to +17 degrees. It was a line-of-sight weapon requiring the crew to have an unobstructed view of the intended target.

Despite its weight, the WOMBAT still proved a mobile solution over the heavier vehicle-mounted version. In this fashion, it could be used by dedicated anti-tank teams in-the-field and lightly-armed paratroopers who relied on any useful artillery piece after being dropped from an airplane. Magnesium alloys were used throughout the construction of the WOMBAT to help reduce its overall weight and a lighter breech mechanism also helped to keep weight in check. The removable, wheeled carriage was also purposely designed as a compact, lightweight mount.

In practice, the L6 saw widespread use as a field weapon and as a vehicle-mounted system. In the latter, the WOMBAT was outfitted to lightweight Land Rovers of the British Army. Others found their way atop the hull roofs of armored vehicles to be used as a point defense system against enemy armor. British Marine forces stationed in the Arctic regions of Norway mounted their L6 weapons to their "Snow Trac" tracked vehicles.

L6 WOMBATs were in use until the wider adoption of improved wire-guided anti-tank missiles. From that period onwards, the recoilless rifle found a reduced frontline role in all modern armies, remaining a weapon for just a few select units such as Special Forces groups.©MilitaryFactory.com

Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications

Service Year

1964

Origin

United Kingdom

Classification

Recoilless Rifle

State Arsenals - UK

(View other Arms-Related Manufacturers)

Australia; United Kingdom

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

Overall Length

3,860 mm
151.97 in

Barrel Length

3,860 mm
151.97 in

Empty Wgt

683.43 lb
310.00 kg

Sights

Included Optics

Action

Reoilless Action; Resuable Tube

(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)

Caliber(s)*

120mm

Rounds / Feed

Single-Shot; Reusable

*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources.
**Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.

Max Eff.Range

3,280 ft
(1,000 m | 1,093 yd)

Rate-of-Fire

4
rds/min

Muzzle Velocity

1,520 ft/sec
(463 m/sec)

L6 WOMBAT - Base Series Designation

Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War

Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.

Images Gallery

1 / 1

Image of the L6 WOMBAT (Weapon Of Magnesium, Battalion, Anti-Tank)

Image released to the Public Domain by Wikipedia user Max Smith, September 2006.

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)