A day after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki ordered locals to vacate bandit-infested regions in the north rift, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), on Monday, March 13, ferried more artillery to boost their operation.
A cavalry regiment escorting vehicle-drawn artillery launchers was seen along the Marigat-Chemolingot road at Emining centre in Baringo County.
The launchers sparked debate, as Kenyans online differed on whether the weapons were tankers, missile launchers, and rocket propellers.
However, one launcher towed by military vehicles appeared to be the L118 Light Guns, a 105 mm towed howitzer.
L118 Light Guns were originally produced in England for the British Army in the 1970s and have gained popularity among several militaries worldwide.
The light gun consists of several sub-assemblies that ensure its effectiveness, ordnance, cradle, recoil system, balancing gear, trail assembly, wheels, and suspension, and saddle incorporating elevating and traversing mechanisms.
These parts improve its effectiveness while being supported by the trail assembly, platform, wheels, and suspension that form the lower gun structure.
Notably, some assemblies, including the cradle and trail assembly, are manufactured from corrosion-resistant steel.
Additionally, it is versatile enough to cope with various ground conditions due to the unique interchangeable spades that allow it to be fired off the soft ground, rock, and hard emplacements.
"The gun is provided with a platform, enabling fast rotation through 180 degrees when the operational need arises," explained BAE Systems, a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company.
Additionally, it can be fitted in a ready-to-fire position by a range of medium-lift helicopters. However, the gun can be dismantled into two parts and lifted as a split load.
A versatile artillery gun can fire, smoke, illuminate, and target markings rounds as needed.
Normally, the gun is operated by a crew of six, but in instances of emergency, it can be operated by four officers.
To its advantage, the lightweight howitzer has a short redeployment time. It can take about 2-3 minutes to prepare for firing and equal time to wrap up and leave the firing position.
