The L119 and M119 use "semi-fixed" ammunition – when it is prepared for firing, the projectile is fitted into the top of the cartridge case and the shell loaded into the gun as a complete round.

It lacked range (making it potentially vulnerable to counter-battery fire), was not notably robust, and had poor sights.

In 1965, a general staff requirement was approved for a new 105 mm weapon system because the L5 pack howitzer "lacked range and lethality".

[5] Key characteristics included 6400 mil (360°) traverse by one soldier, maximum weight of 3,500 pounds (1,600 kg), small enough size to be carried inside new Chinook helicopters and Andover transport aircraft, and ability to fire immediately after being under water for 30 minutes.

An early requirement was for the new weapon to use 105 mm Fd Mk 1 ammunition, which uses the M1 shell, in training.

Original production, which was authorised in late 1975, was by Royal Ordnance Factory, ROF Nottingham, which has since been incorporated into BAE Systems Land and Armaments.

It was heavier than its predecessor, but helicopters that could carry it, such as the Puma and Westland Sea King, were entering service at the same time.

In Arctic service, and elsewhere, the gun is towed by the Hägglunds Bv 206 and is fitted with skis when over snow.

The light gun is also fired by 14 (Training) Regiment Royal Artillery on Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day each year.

Its comparatively light weight is also attributed to the nature of the steel used in the carriage and ordnance, and other weight-reducing features, including its narrow wheelbase.

Because of this, the gun features a knock-off hub on one side, allowing the ordnance to be rotated by removing one wheel.

When being towed in the unfolded position, the A-frame is fitted to the front transom in order to support the elevating mass.

For long-distance transport or traversing rough terrain, the barrel is reversed and clamped to the end of the trail.

By the time the L118 entered service, propellant sub-zones A and B originally used with the Abbot had been replaced by an aerodynamic spoiler (a ring slipped over the nose of shell to lodge on the ogive) to reduce the minimum range at high-angle fire when this was required.

During the early 1990s all UK L118 were fitted with a muzzle velocity measuring device (MVMD), a radar, and its power supply.

In 2002, the British Army's L118 guns completed replacement of their optical sights with the LINAPS artillery pointing system (APS) mounted above the barrel.

The outputs and inputs for APS are through the touchscreen layer's display and control unit (LCDU) that replaced the conventional dial sight and its mount.

Weight reduction measures include the replacement of some steel components by titanium, however, only some elements entered UK service.

It may enable data transfer from FC-BISA and include the NATO armament ballistic kernel (NABK) for direct fire shooting.

The most recent version is the M119A3 introduced in 2013 with a digital fire-control system and GPS-aided inertial navigation unit using software derived from the M777A2.

Based on the standard L118, these saluting guns are modified to exclusively fire blank cartridges, are not fitted with the APS system and are easily distinguished from the field gun variant by their distinctive bronze green paintwork, chromed muzzle brake, and chromed breech.