M1938 mortar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

120 mm mortar M1938
Granatwerfer 42, a German clone of M1938.
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
Wars	World War II
Specifications
Weight	combat: 280 kg
Barrel length	1,862 mm
Shell	16 kg bomb
Caliber	120 mm
Breech	muzzle loaded
Muzzle velocity	272 m/s
Effective range	6,000 m (6,600 yd)

The Soviet M1938 120-millimetre calibre mortar has made significant impacts in modern warfare. M-1938 120 mm mortar was the copy of the french 'mortier Brandt de 120 mm modèle 1935' which had been adopted by the french army. Very few were delivered before the armistice.It was the first modern 120mm mortar developed by any country entering production in 1939. The Red Army made significant use of its heavy calibre by treating it as an artillery piece in World War II against the German army. The Germans were impressed by the weapon and adopted it for their own use, and developed an improved design. The mortar was kept in production long after the war and sold to Soviet allies. Its last significant use in battle was seen in the Vietnam War, used by the NLF. Users have particularly liked the weapon for its uniquely-designed towing carriage, which made it easy to limber up in a single movement, using hooks on the weapon's base-plate. It is typically deployed to support infantry units, and is the heaviest weapon that can be reasonably transported by soldiers on foot.