2RHPZ
08-24-2004, 07:12 PM
Turreted mortar system
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Mortar is a versatile weapon that are used in every conflict and almost every battle. Mortar in general is not something new. Roman Army are known to use catapult which, in principle, have more or less the same modus operandi of a mortar. During the medieval years, mortars were employed as siege weapons against fortifications. Their high ballistic arc are excellent to hit the enemy which take refuge behind castle walls. However, the advancement in the field of artillery has made the mortar seems to be obsolete. But during World War 1, modern artillery have failed to broke the stalemate and a new weapon had to be found to enable friendly forces to reach enemy soldiers who were protected by complex labyrinth of protective trenches. Rather than inventing a new weapon, the usage of mortar in trench warfare was introduced by Sir Wilfred Stokes in 1915. The mortar deemed as obsolete, re-emerged, modernized and used in great numbers in World War 1and proved to be a versatile weapon. Now, after nearly 90 years since its reintroduction in modern warfare, today’s mortar hasn’t changed much physically from the 1915 original design. However, in terms of material used in the construction of mortar components and mortar performance has changed a great deal. Much like any weapon, mortar has gone through countless enhancement process to enable it to fire further. Though the most common practice to achieve improvements in mortar’s performance is by uprate the mortar round propellant charge, this will result more heat will be generated. Heat not only will reduce the rate of fire but also stress up the mortar barrel. Not only the combination of stress and heat can create barrel erosion and eventually shortened the barrel’s life, it can also leads to a far more grave consequences such as serious structural failure which may be invisible to the naked eye. To make mortar more rugged, has a longer life and lighter, with the help of metallurgical advances, stronger and lighter steel alloy has been introduced in the construction of mortars.
Mortar by large is considered as an infantry fire support weapon because it is used exclusively to support infantry operations and it is the only fire support weapon that are able to fire in excess of 3,000 meters yet light enough to be carried by infantry soldiers. Generally there are three types of mortars. Light mortars or more commonly known as commando mortar are 51mm and 60mm in caliber and usually used as platoon level support weapon. Light mortar is operated by one person though the operator is usually accompanied by another soldier which act as ammunition carrier. Medium mortar is more common and used on battalion level. It is usually around 81-82mm in caliber and can be dismantled to be carried by three persons. Heavy mortar which calibers ranged from 107mm or 120mm but the most commonly used heavy mortar are 120mm mortars. While small and medium mortar system are considered as infantry weapons, the same cannot be said on heavy mortar especially 120mm caliber mortars. Some armies categorized 120mm mortar as artillery pieces while others put it in the realms of infantry. While its size and weight also contributed to the debate, the main issue is the firepower possessed by 120mm mortar, which is much greater than 105mm howitzer.
Though it is true that medium mortars are light enough to be carried by infantry soldiers but it is still cumbersome to carry. Furthermore, they have to carry with them the equipment needed to operate mortars such as fire control equipment, manpack radio and ammunition.
http://www.sidratrade.net/ContentManager/images/dbImages/AMOS%20copy.jpg
Mortar is a versatile weapon that are used in every conflict and almost every battle. Mortar in general is not something new. Roman Army are known to use catapult which, in principle, have more or less the same modus operandi of a mortar. During the medieval years, mortars were employed as siege weapons against fortifications. Their high ballistic arc are excellent to hit the enemy which take refuge behind castle walls. However, the advancement in the field of artillery has made the mortar seems to be obsolete. But during World War 1, modern artillery have failed to broke the stalemate and a new weapon had to be found to enable friendly forces to reach enemy soldiers who were protected by complex labyrinth of protective trenches. Rather than inventing a new weapon, the usage of mortar in trench warfare was introduced by Sir Wilfred Stokes in 1915. The mortar deemed as obsolete, re-emerged, modernized and used in great numbers in World War 1and proved to be a versatile weapon. Now, after nearly 90 years since its reintroduction in modern warfare, today’s mortar hasn’t changed much physically from the 1915 original design. However, in terms of material used in the construction of mortar components and mortar performance has changed a great deal. Much like any weapon, mortar has gone through countless enhancement process to enable it to fire further. Though the most common practice to achieve improvements in mortar’s performance is by uprate the mortar round propellant charge, this will result more heat will be generated. Heat not only will reduce the rate of fire but also stress up the mortar barrel. Not only the combination of stress and heat can create barrel erosion and eventually shortened the barrel’s life, it can also leads to a far more grave consequences such as serious structural failure which may be invisible to the naked eye. To make mortar more rugged, has a longer life and lighter, with the help of metallurgical advances, stronger and lighter steel alloy has been introduced in the construction of mortars.
Mortar by large is considered as an infantry fire support weapon because it is used exclusively to support infantry operations and it is the only fire support weapon that are able to fire in excess of 3,000 meters yet light enough to be carried by infantry soldiers. Generally there are three types of mortars. Light mortars or more commonly known as commando mortar are 51mm and 60mm in caliber and usually used as platoon level support weapon. Light mortar is operated by one person though the operator is usually accompanied by another soldier which act as ammunition carrier. Medium mortar is more common and used on battalion level. It is usually around 81-82mm in caliber and can be dismantled to be carried by three persons. Heavy mortar which calibers ranged from 107mm or 120mm but the most commonly used heavy mortar are 120mm mortars. While small and medium mortar system are considered as infantry weapons, the same cannot be said on heavy mortar especially 120mm caliber mortars. Some armies categorized 120mm mortar as artillery pieces while others put it in the realms of infantry. While its size and weight also contributed to the debate, the main issue is the firepower possessed by 120mm mortar, which is much greater than 105mm howitzer.
Though it is true that medium mortars are light enough to be carried by infantry soldiers but it is still cumbersome to carry. Furthermore, they have to carry with them the equipment needed to operate mortars such as fire control equipment, manpack radio and ammunition.