107mm M1938 mortar

107mm mortar M1938

107mm mortar M1938 in White Eagle Museum
Type Mortar
Place of origin Soviet Union
Service history
Wars World War II
Vietnam War
2011 Libyan civil war
Specifications
Weight combat: 170 kg (370 lb)
Barrel length 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Diameter 107mm
Crew 5
Shell 9.1 kg (20 lb) bomb
Caliber 107 mm (4.2 in)
Breech muzzle loaded
Elevation 45° to 80°
Traverse 3°
Rate of fire 15 rpm
Muzzle velocity 302 m/s (990 ft/s)
Effective firing range 6,300 m (6,900 yd)
Filling TNT
Filling weight 1.0 kg (2 lb 3 oz) (OF-841A)

The Soviet 107mm M1938 mortar was a scaled-down version of the 120mm M1938 mortar intended for use by mountain troops and light enough to be towed by animals on a trolley.[1]

History

In World War II, the 107mm mortar saw service with Soviet mountain infantry as a divisional artillery weapon.[2] Its last significant use in battle was in the Vietnam War. The ability to break down the weapon made it particularly suited to the rugged terrain of Vietnam.[3]

The mortar fired a lighter high explosive round (OF-841) and a heavier HE round (OF-841A). The lighter HE round actually carried a larger bursting charge than the heavier round.[4] Both rounds used GVMZ-series point detonation fuzes.

Recently, the weapon has been seen in use by rebel forces during the 2011 Libyan civil war.[5]

See also

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

Notes

  1. ↑ Ian Hogg (ed.), Jane's Infantry Weapons 1984-85, p. 636, London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1984
  2. ↑ Steven Zaloga and Leland Ness, Red Army Handbook 1939-1945, p. 47, Phoenix Mill: Sutton, 1998
  3. ↑ skysoldier17.com
  4. ↑ Defense Intelligence Agency, Projectile Fragment Identification Guide, pp. 201-202, Washington: GPO, 1973
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwdqzTlXvl8
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