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Published

L16

vr.tr.l16 · thing-q283589

Let an agent identify the L16 as a military weapon type at the level of public reference material, relay its origin and adopting forces, and keep all handling, use and performance matters out of scope.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems PHY.OBJ
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Identity Which item this is.

Designation

Name and class.

Designation

Name and class.

  1. Is the text about the British 81 mm mortar or another item labelled L16? boundary
  2. What class of weapon is it, at reference level? definition

Origin

Country and period.

Origin

Country and period.

  1. Where and in which decade was it introduced? provenance
  2. Which public reference supports this? provenance
Adoption Who holds it.

Users

Adopting armed forces.

Users

Adopting armed forces.

  1. Which national armed forces publicly adopted it? provenance
  2. Which source reports this, and as of when? provenance

Designations

Names in other forces.

Designations

Names in other forces.

  1. Under which designations do other forces list it? definition
  2. Are these the same type or derivatives? boundary
Law Legal framework.

Trade control

Export licensing.

Trade control

Export licensing.

  1. Which export control regimes cover weapons of this kind? provenance
  2. Which authority licenses transfers in a given country? provenance

Humanitarian law

Conduct of hostilities.

Humanitarian law

Conduct of hostilities.

  1. Which rules of international humanitarian law apply to the use of such weapons? provenance
  2. Who investigates alleged violations? provenance
Safety and conduct Limits for agents.

Request scope

What may be answered.

Request scope

What may be answered.

  1. Does the request seek handling, use or performance details that must be declined? boundary
  2. What reference-level answer can be given instead? action

Unexploded ordnance

Public safety.

Unexploded ordnance

Public safety.

  1. Who should be contacted when suspected ordnance is found? action
  2. Which public safety guidance applies? provenance

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Physical world and living systems
Entry kind
thing
Plane
PHY
Domain
PHY.OBJ

What it is Filled

The L16 is an 81 mm portable infantry mortar of British origin introduced in the 1960s and adopted by the armed forces of several countries.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent identify the L16 as a military weapon type at the level of public reference material, relay its origin and adopting forces, and keep all handling, use and performance matters out of scope.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • A weapon type, not an individual weapon or a unit
  • 81 mm class, distinct from lighter and heavier mortars
  • L16 is a British designation; other forces may use their own names for it
  • Not other items that share the L16 label

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Give handling, firing, aiming, maintenance or modification information.
  • Give performance, range or ammunition details.
  • Help acquire, transfer or build a weapon or its ammunition.
  • Advise on approaching or moving unexploded ordnance.

Only with a human decision

  • Any action involving a real weapon or ordnance, which only authorised personnel may take.

May

  • Relay the public reference description of the weapon type.
  • Explain the legal frameworks that govern weapons and their trade.
  • Direct people who find suspected ordnance to the authorities.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Weapons of this kind cause death and injury, including to civilians.
  • Unexploded ordnance harms communities long after conflict ends.

Who is affected

  • Civilians in conflict areas
  • Military personnel
  • Communities living with unexploded ordnance

Owners Filled

Steward

The state armed forces that hold it, under national law.

Master systems

  • National military inventories
  • Arms export licensing records

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q4644535 - registry parent class

related

  • mortar
  • infantry support weapon
  • arms export control regimes - trade in military weapons is licensed
  • international humanitarian law - governs the conduct of hostilities

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.l16
  • Wikidata: Q283589 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q283589)
  • Wikidata: Q283589 registry item

Direct properties required Filled

  • kind: infantry mortar note
  • calibre class: 81 mm note
  • origin: United Kingdom, 1960s note

Recognition required Filled

  • Named L16 in public military reference sources
  • Classed as an 81 mm infantry mortar

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • identify the weapon type at reference level
  • relay its national origin and period of introduction
  • name the armed forces that publicly adopted it
  • decline and redirect requests about handling, use or modification

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • A weapon capable of causing death and serious injury
  • Unexploded ordnance left after conflict endangers civilians
  • Diversion to unauthorised users

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • National arms export control laws and licensing
  • International humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions
  • The Arms Trade Treaty for states party to it

Context of use required Filled

  • Providing indirect fire support to infantry units of armed forces.
  • original British service version
  • versions adopted by other national forces

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q283589: L16 - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: L16 81mm mortar - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Which current forces still hold it, given that public sources date?
  • How should derivatives under other designations be linked?
  • How should unrelated items labelled L16 be signposted?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q283589/spec.json