Name: L6 Wombat 120 mm recoilless rifle portee mounting
Brand: Royal Ordnance Factories (weapon) / MoD vehicle adaptation

Description

The fit that let a Series IIA or III 109 carry and fire the British Army's 120 mm L6 Wombat recoilless anti-tank gun: the gun rode in the rear body on a lightweight narrow-axle trolley carriage, run up over ramps with a manual winch on the vehicle to recover it after dismounted action, with a rack of six ready rounds (four on the Lightweight) so it could also be fired from the stationary vehicle with a two-man crew. Used by paratroopers, Royal Marines and air-mobile battalions.

Fired from the stationary vehicle or dismounted; the 109 GS portee was the standard carrier

Rarity. Every infantry battalion support company held 6-8 Wombats from 1964 until Milan replaced them from 1979, so portee Rovers were numerous in service, but deactivated Wombats and complete portee fits are museum and show pieces today rather than trade items.

Record: 3 sources; designation recorded; no price recorded.

Specification

MAKERRoyal Ordnance Factories (weapon) / MoD vehicle adaptation, United Kingdom

DESIGNATION / PARTL6 WOMBAT (Weapon Of Magnesium, Battalion, Anti-Tank) on Truck 3/4 ton Rover portee

MADE1964–1985

RARITYRare — Every infantry battalion support company held 6-8 Wombats from 1964 until Milan replaced them from 1979, so portee Rovers were numerous in service, but deactivated Wombats and complete portee fits are museum and show pieces today rather than trade items.

WEAPONL6 Wombat 120 mm recoilless rifle, 308 kg, 3.86 m long, 360-degree traverse, 1,000 m static / 750 m moving targets

CARRIAGElightweight trolley with narrow axle and small wheels for the 3/4 ton Rover

LOADINGramps and a manually operated winch on the portee

READY ROUNDS6 on the 109, 4 reported on the Lightweight

CREW3, two when firing from the vehicle

PREDECESSORMOBAT L4 (770 kg) too heavy for the Rover