Wheel arm for a howitzer system

A method of operation of a towed howitzer system, the howitzer system including:

• a wheel arm pivotably coupled to a chassis of the howitzer, the wheel arm comprising:
• a chassis coupling feature centered on an arm pivoting axis;
• a wheel coupling feature centered on a wheel rotation axis, and wherein the chassis coupling feature is spaced apart from the wheel coupling feature;
• and
• a lever which extends from the wheel arm to a handle region at a free end, the lever having a lever engagement feature provided as a protrusion which extends away from the wheel arm along an engagement feature axis, the protrusion comprising a wall defining a cavity with an opening centered on the engagement feature axis, and the wall defines a drain aperture extending through the wall;
• wherein the lever, the wheel coupling feature, and the chassis coupling feature are provided in series along the length of the wheel arm;
• the method comprising:
• a user grasping the handle region of the lever and applying a force to the lever so that the wheel arm pivots relative to the chassis about the arm pivoting axis.

A method of manufacture of a wheel arm,

• the wheel arm including:
• a chassis coupling feature centred on a wheel arm pivoting axis;
• a wheel coupling feature centred on a wheel rotation axis, wherein the chassis coupling feature is spaced apart from the wheel coupling feature;
• and
• a lever engagement feature provided as a protrusion which extends away from the wheel arm along an engagement feature axis, the protrusion comprising a wall defining a cavity with an opening centered on the engagement feature axis, and the wall defines a drain aperture extending through the wall;
• wherein the lever engagement feature, the wheel coupling feature and the chassis coupling feature are provided in series along the length of the wheel arm;
• the method comprising:
• providing a wheel arm precursor;
• and
• attaching the lever engagement feature to the wheel arm.