105mm Howitzer C1A1
Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Ontario

The 105mm C1 is manually operated, single loaded, air cooled and used semi-fixed ammunition, and is effective in both a direct and indirect firing role. The recoil mechanism is a hydro pneumatic system that absorbs the energy of recoil by forcing oil through restricted orifices and returns the Howitzer to battery by the reaction of a compressed gas. The carriage is of the single axle type. It is equipped with a screw type traversing mechanism. The elevating mechanism is of the arc and pinion type, with a worm and a worm wheel drive.

The gun can be operated with a crew of five or seven, If necessary, deployment can be performed with a crew of three. It fires NATO standard 105mm ammunition. The gun is normally towed by a vehicle, but can also be lifted by helicopter and transported by air. Canada modified 96 of its 105mm C1 howitzers in 1995 to 1997 through RDM Industries of the Netherlands, primarily for equipping the Reserve Force units.

This 105mm Howitzer C1A1 is mounted in front of the 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery lines along Menin Road.

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Photos and text provided by LCol L. Jensen