1

81 MM MORTAR81 MM MORTAR

CORE0402CORE0402

OVERVIEW

• Characteristics

• Nomenclatures

• Offensive capabilities/limitations

QUESTIONS?

• Any questions on:

– What you will be learning?– How the lesson will be taught?– When/how you will be evaluated?– Safety or cease training criteria?

M253 Barrel35 lbs

M177 Bipod27 lbs

M3A1 Baseplate 29 lbs

Characteristics

• Ranges:– A. Minimum Range is 83 meters– B. Maximum Range is 5608 meters

Rates of Fire.

Rapid Rate = 30 rounds per min for 2 minutes

Sustained Rate = 15 rounds per min indefinetly

8

• Question: What is the maximum range for the M252 81mm mortar?

• Answer: 5,608 meters

QUESTION

9

NOMENCLATURE

Cannon M253. The cannon assembly consists of the barrel that is sealed at the lower end with a removable breech plug, which houses a removable firing pin. At the muzzle end is a cone-shaped blast attenuator device (BAD) that is fitted to reduce noise.

B.A.D.

Removable Breech Plug Firing Pin

Upper Stopping Band

Cooling fan

Lower Stopping Band

10

M177 Bipod Assembly:

Consists of an:• Elevating

Mechanism• Traversing

Mechanism• Mechanical Leg• Fixed Leg • Barrel Clamp

NOMENCLATURE

11

M3A1 Baseplate: The baseplate is of one-piece construction, and supports and aligns the mortar for firing. During firing, the breech plug on the barrel is sealed and locked to the rotatable socket in the baseplate

Rotatable Socket Cap

NOMENCLATURE

12

M64A1 Sight Unit: This unit provides self-illuminating sighting capability for indirect fire in the conventional mode. This unit serves to lay the mortar for deflection and elevation, it is connected to the bipod using a dovetail mechanism

NOMENCLATURE

13

• Question: The dovetail slot is used to attach what instrument.

• Answer: The M64A1 sight

QUESTION

14

CAPABILITIES/LIMITATIONS OF A 81MM MORTAR

Gun Crew Members. The members of a 81mm mortar gun crew include:

Squad Leader- In addition to supervising the emplacement, laying, and firing of the mortar, he supervises all other squad activities and checks the data!!!

Gunner- The gunner stands to the left side of the mortar where he can manipulate the sight, and gun mechanisms

15

Assistant Gunner- The assistant gunner stands to the right of the mortar, facing the barrel and ready to load.

First Ammunition Bearer

Second Ammunition Bearer

CAPABILITIES/LIMITATIONS OF A 81MM MORTAR

CAPABILITIES /LIMITATIONS

• Fire Commands- Technical instructions issued to the gun line

• Firing with an FDC:– Mortar to Follow (Section)– Shell and Fuze (HE Quick)– Mortar to Fire (Gun 2 in adjust)– Method of Fire (Section 3 rnds in effect)– Deflection (2850)– Charge (2)– Elevation (1150)

17

• Question: In firing with a FDC, the initial fire command gives what information

• Answer: The initial fire command is the first fire command that is sent to the mortar section for a mission and contains all necessary information to fire the first round.

QUESTION

OFFENSIVE CAPABILITIES / LIMITATIONS

• Flexibility in fire support is required to provide continuous fires

• Usually positioned 1/3 to 2/3 distance from Enemy

• Defilade is best protection for mortars

• Can be broken down from PLT-Sections-Squads

OFFENSIVE CAPABILITIES / LIMITATIONS

• Mortars used to suppress, neutralize, or destroy as maneuver element closes

• After assault, consolidate mortars within the objective area preparation for counter attack

• M = method • O = objective• R = Route• T = Time

20

SUMMARY

• Characteristics

• Nomenclatures

• Offensive capabilities/limitations