M2 Mortar

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US M1 60mm Mortar Technical Summary Bore diameter: 60mm (2.36in) Barrel Length: 726mm (28.6in) Weight as fired: 19.05kg (42.0lb) Elevation: +40° to +85° Traverse: 7° Weight of bomb: 1.33kg (2.94lb) Maximum Effective Range: 1815m (1985 yards) Max ROF: 18 rounds/minute Muzzle Velocity: 158m/s (518ft/sec)

The M2 Mortar is a smoothbore, muzzle loading, high angle of fire weapon for light infantry support.

Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Ammunition 4 References

[edit] Description

The M2 Mortar was to bridge the gap between the 81mm Mortar and the hand grenade for mobile platoon and company level action. It is of the usual mortar pattern, a smoothbore tube on a rectangular baseplate, supported by a simple bipod with the elevation and traverse mechanisms. The firing pin was fixed in the base cap of the tube, and the bomb was fired automatically when it dropped down the barrel.

[edit] History

During the late 1920s the US Army began examining mortars to act as a light infantry support weapon. They eventually bought the M2 design from Edgar Brandt, a French ordinance engineer, and built it on license in the United States.

[edit] Ammunition

The M2 Mortar can fire the following principal classifications of training and service ammunition.

1. M49A2 High explosive (HE): Used against infantry and other light targets
2. M302 White phosphorus (WP): Used as a signaling, screening, smoke-producing, and causality producing tool
3. M83 Illuminating round: Used in night missions requiring illumination for assistance in observation.

[edit] References

• Hogg, Ian (2000). Twentieth-Century Artillery. Friedman/Fairfax Publishers. ISBN 1-58663-299-X

60mm M2 Mortar. Kortegaard Engineering. Retrieved on September 1, 2006.