What is a mortar man in the Army?
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What is a mortar man in the Army?
A mortarman is a soldier who operates a weapon system called a mortar. A mortar is a smooth bore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for close-in support of ground troops.
What are mortar men?
: a soldier who operates a mortar.
What is a mortar platoon?
The Mortar Platoon was made up of a six-man HQ and three 18-man mortar sections, each section armed with two 81mm M1 mortars. A total of six mortars and 60 men. A significant proportion of these 60 men were ammunition bearers. The HQs for the three platoons were also armed with two Bazooka rocket launchers each.
What is a military mortar?
mortar, portable, short-barreled, muzzle-loading artillery piece that fires explosive projectiles at low velocities, short ranges, and high, arcing trajectories. The weapon is contrasted with larger artillery pieces, which fire at high velocities, long ranges, and low, direct trajectories.
Does the US Army still use mortars?
The 81-mm mortars, M29A1 and M252, are the current US medium mortars. The M252 is replacing the M29A1, but both will remain in the Army inventory for several years. Medium mortars offer a compromise between the light and heavy mortars.
How fast can a mortar shoot?
The maximum rate for a medium mortar is some 30 rounds per minute; 15 rounds per minute for sustained fire. For heavy mortars, such as those in 120 mm, the maximum rate is approximately 16 rounds per minute, and just 4 rounds for sustained fire.
What are the duties of mortar crew?
Duties include operating and maintaining weapons, such as rifles, machine guns, mortars, and hand grenades; locating, constructing, and camouflaging infantry positions and equipment; evaluating terrain and recording topographical information; operating and maintaining field communications equipment; assessing need for …
How does a military mortar work?
The modern mortar is a muzzle-loaded weapon and relatively simple to operate. It consists of a barrel into which the gunners drop a mortar round. When the round reaches the base of the barrel it hits a fixed firing pin that fires the round.
Were there mortars in ww2?
Mortars were used throughout the Second World War by all armies and in all theaters. Although a very simple weapon they could greatly enhance the firepower of infantry formations, giving them their own mobile artillery arm.
