DOCSLIB.ORG

Situating the Mortar in the Future of the British Army: Vision for 2020+

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Situating the Mortar in the Future of the British Army: Vision for 2020+ Situating the Mortar in the Future of the British Army: Vision for 2020+ Colonel John Musgrave Assistant Director Offensive Support Combat Support Capability Directorate HQ Army Context behind Artillery Involvement in this Conference If Mortars are operated in the British ORBAT by the Infantry so why should a Royal Artillery Officer be talking to you? My response is: We need to look at Joint Fires support to the manoeuvre battle in its totality Hence given that it is the total effect that is required we need to recognise that their may be balance of investment decisions between components The artillery have lead the way in technology fields which may be applicable to mortars The British artillery has a formal responsibility to certify mortars before operational deployment I will contend that greater synergy is required Scope Historical context Strengths and weaknesses of the Mortar as part of the Joint Fires support of the Manoeuvre Battle Possible Capability Enhancement: Defining the Spectrum of Precision Addressing the Accuracy of Unguided Shells/Bombs Balance Between ‘True Precision’, Course Corrected and Unguided Bombs, Shells and Rockets Opportunities for Longer Range Universal Observers? Summary Historical Context Direct support ‘battalion’ guns (usually a pair of 3 or 4 Pounders) have been attached to infantry units since the 17th Century In addition Field artillery has been largely been used in direct support of infantry until longer range small arm fire forced the indirect fire revolution and the resultant deep battle Hence, for most armies, the close support role switched in WW1 to mortars; weapons that had hither to been restricted to siege warfare Why the Mortar is an Ideal Infantry Support Weapon? Low velocity, and for fin-stabilised, no requirement to withstand the rotational forces allows the bomb to have greater explosive yield than a similarly sized artillery shell Together with a high rate of fire this equals high lethality in return for a small crew: WW2 Operational Analysis determined that the 3” Mortar caused twice the casualties as similarly crewed Vickers Medium Machine Gun Easy to operate Ability to engage targets in cover with plunging fire Ease of concealing and protecting Transportability over almost any terrain It is not as burdened by the logistical support needed for artillery Resultant Disadvantages Low velocity = short range = cannot adequately support armoured manoeuvre Fin stabilised = reduced accuracy Plunging fire = high trajectory = instant WLR detection and thus counter fire Easy to operate = reluctance to increase technology All terrain mobility = man-portable = slow into and out of action Light logistics = inability to sustain high rate of fire Challenges for the Mortar Capability Areas to Address: Greater accuracy and consistency Range Increased agility to avoid counter fire Deductions: Recognition that the current compromises in a single general purpose mortar (81mm) whilst providing excellent support in dismounted operations is inadequate for armoured CAM Requirement to embrace technological enhancements whilst keeping the system simple Greater Accuracy and Consistency Defining the Spectrum of Artillery Precision Either guided weapons Artillery Problem or precision weapons not adequately using mensurate understood or target coordination addressed ‘True’ Precision Near Precision Modern Some Post Unregistered Cat 1 Target Artillery 1917 Artillery Fire Location Error Spectrum of Precision: Artillery Balance of Investment Balance of Indirect Investment Area for Fire Modern Artillery Inefficient Either guided weapons Artillery Problem or precision weapons not adequately using mensurate understood or target coordination addressed ‘True’ Precision Near Precision Modern Some Post Unregistered Cat 1 Target Artillery 1917 Artillery Fire Location Error Spectrum of Mortar Precision Mortars with Mortars Most Mortars Course systematically reliant on Corrected addressing ‘shooting out Fuses & Cat 1 accuracy the error’ TLE Either guided weapons Artillery Problem or precision weapons not adequately using mensurate understood or target coordination addressed ‘True’ Precision Near Precision Modern Some Post Unregistered Cat 1 Target Artillery 1917 Artillery Fire Location Error (TLE) Addressing the Accuracy of Unguided Shells Met: 300 – 350m Survey: Fixation: 100m Survey Orientation: 5mils Gun Laying: 2mils MV Calibration (including ballistics) Wear / AMV error 3 m/s Occasion to Occasion 3 m/s (during Fire Missions) Charge Temperature 4 degrees Addressing the Accuracy of Unguided Shells Met: 300–350m 100–150m Survey: Fixation: 100m 10m Survey Orientation: 5mils 0.5mils Gun Laying: 2mils 1mils MV Calibration (including ballistics) Wear / AMV error 3 m/s 2 m/s Occasion to Occasion 3 m/s 3 m/s (during Fire Missions) Charge Temperature 4 degrees 1 degree Error Budget Breakdown Met 60% Calibration, MV 25% Survey 15% Where does the RA stand in addressing its error budget? Met : RA have addressed most of the savings Calibration, MV : greater accuracy can be delivered (adopting MVs round to round) Survey: greater accuracy can be delivered in target location during mobile operations Utility of Course-Corrected Fuzes Status. Several contenders including the European Course Corrected Fuse (ECF) and Precision Guidance Kits (PGK) which is currently deployed with US 120mm Mortars Limitations. Needs an accurate grid and most of the mortars error accounted for Analysis: Delivers significantly improved accuracy at least c30M CEP over all ranges Separating accuracy and consistency from range therefore makes Base Bleed and RAP effective Pointless for Smoke and Illumination Deductions on the Utility of Course-Correction Will allow increase in range through countering the inaccuracy of Base Bleed or RAP Will allow effective first round fire Impact of a ‘circular’ as opposed to a ‘cigar’ distribution of fire on close support tactics However. Requires all the other elements of the error budget to be addressed increasing the overall complexity of the mortar system True Precision Static Target. accurately and consistently hitting a point (usually described as a grid reference) • Mobile Target: • either a Man-in-Loop to guided the projectile to the target Excalibur (usually indirectly Increment IB GNC Base Warhead through designating Assembly Assembly CAS with a laser or directly GNU ‘flying’ the projectile); HOB Sensor or • the projectile having its own target seeking Radome capability Fins Canards What is Criteria to Judge the Correct Balance between Precision and Guided Projectiles The RA believes that posing a choice between ‘precision’ and ‘suppression’ is false and divisive, principally because: Modern artillery area fires are precise Suppression is an effect on the target The true choice is between: the level of accuracy and consistency required to effectively engage a target; recognising that the nature of the target and its environment (own troop safety and avoidance of collateral damage) will dictate the level of precision ‘Just as the machine gun is a valid choice to engage an area target in the direct fire battle so are, in many circumstances, unguided shells’ Integrating Joint Fires: Fire Support Team (FST) Signaller Driver FST Commander Arty Controller Mortar Fire Controller Arty Controller Forward Air Controller Attack Helicopter Controller Fire Support Team (FST) • Precision Fire (Cat 1 TLE) through: • FIRESTORM differential GPS and laser range finder • Mensuration applications • Long range location and identification • Communications • Ground to Ground • Ground to Air • Data transfer • Down load of full FAC motion video FST MORTAR ARTY COMD ATTACK HEL Merging of Artillery and Mortar Observers? Option 1: Separate capabilities with limited effective integration Option 2: Building on the FST concept look at further integration of the two separate capabilities Option 3: Universal observer trained to cover all aspects of the Joint Fires system Wireless Ridge – Falklands 1982 ‘In contrast to their battle at Goose Green, this time 2 Para could call on massive fire support. The support units included two Batteries of artillery, or five in total if the situation became desperate, HMS Ambuscade, 3 Para's mortars as well as their own and they had two Scorpion and two Scimitar tanks’ Summary In the British inventory the 60mm mortar is hugely effective in its role, as is the 81mm mortar on current operations, however this capability has not embraced enhancements possible due to the revolution in the Joint Fires capability The role of the mortar in support of dismounted infantry remains at least as important as previously, but the current 81mm: Unmodified its role in armoured operations is problematic; it can be greatly enhanced through addressing the Met/Survey/calibration error budget; Course Corrected Bombs offer a further significant accuracy enhancement; and with base bleed/RAP a real increase in range Further integration into the Joint Fires capability are possible Questions? .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Guided Mortar Systems APRIL 2015
    Guided Mortar Systems APRIL 2015 • uided mortar systems are guided mortars from other types of artillery. Finally, NUMBER 51 NUMBER 51 weapons intended to provide increased the increased accuracy of guided mortar sys- Gfiring accuracy and reduced ammu- tems has increased the utility of the mortar as nition consumption over their conventional an anti-tank weapon, allowing for the more counterparts. Mortars typically fire projec- accurate engagement of moving targets. The tiles intended for use against personnel, light advantages of guided mortar systems have armoured vehicles, and structures. They are made them increasingly popular weapons and normally smooth-bore, muzzle-loading, indirect- they are now in service with several militaries fire support weapons that allow the operators around the world.3 to engage targets that may not be within their Guided mortar systems first entered line of sight. Conventional mortars do not have development more than thirty years ago. WEAPONS WEAPONS & MARKETS recoil mechanisms, with the main recoil force Early attempts to develop guided mortar sys- being transmitted directly to the ground via tems were limited by the comparatively small the baseplate. Additionally, most mortars are size of mortar projectiles and fuzes compared restricted in elevation, only capable of firing to larger guided missiles and guided artillery at high-angle trajectories (above 45°), meaning projectiles. Advances in microelectronics have that they cannot be used in the direct-fire sup- allowed for the development of effective guid- port role (Ryan, 1982).1 Mortars are limited in ance packages and fuze assemblies within the range and accuracy when compared to many size constraints of mortar projectiles (Weber, other artillery systems.
    [Show full text]
  • The Utilization of Artillery and Mortars As Infantry Support Weapons in the Chaco War
    Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Master's Theses Graduate College 6-1965 The Utilization of Artillery and Mortars as Infantry Support Weapons in the Chaco War Charles John Goodall Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses Part of the Military, War, and Peace Commons Recommended Citation Goodall, Charles John, "The Utilization of Artillery and Mortars as Infantry Support Weapons in the Chaco War" (1965). Master's Theses. 3907. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/3907 This Masters Thesis-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE UTILIZATION OF ARTILLERY AND MORTARS AS INFANTRY SUPPORT WEAPONS IN THE CHACO WAR by Charles John Goodall A thesis presented to the Faculty of the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the Degree of Master of Arts Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan June, 1965 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to express his appreciation for the co-operation of the following agencies and research facilities in gathering materials and providing technical advice in the production of this thesis: The University of Texas Library, Austin, Texas. The University of North Carolina Library, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The University of Florida Library, Gainesville, Florida. Duke University Library, Durham, North Carolina. The University of California Library, Los Angeles, California The United States Army War College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. The United States Army Ordnance School, Ft.
    [Show full text]
  • ASTRA MILITARUM SOLDIERS of the IMPERIUM These Datasheets Allow You to Fight Apocalypse Battles with Your Astra Militarum Miniatures
    ASTRA MILITARUM SOLDIERS OF THE IMPERIUM These datasheets allow you to fight Apocalypse battles with your Astra Militarum miniatures. Each datasheet includes the characteristics profiles of the unit it describes, as well as any wargear and special abilities it may have. KEYWORDS Throughout these datasheets you will come across the <Regiment> keyword. This is shorthand for a keyword of your choosing, as described below. <REGIMENT> Most Astra Militarum units are drawn from a regiment. Some datasheets specify which regiment the unit is drawn from (e.g. Mukaali Riders have the Tallarn keyword, so are drawn from the Tallarn Regiment), but where a datasheet does not, it will have the <Regiment> keyword. When you include such a unit in your army, you must nominate which regiment that unit is from. You then simply replace the <Regiment> keyword in every instance on that unit’s datasheet with the name of your chosen regiment. For example, if you were to include an Atlas Recovery Tank in your army, and you decided it was from Vostroya, its <Regiment> Faction keyword is changed to Vostroyan and its Recovery Vehicle ability would then read: ‘At the end of the Action phase, this unit can to repair one friendly Vostroyan Vehicle unit in base contact with it. If it does, remove one damage marker from that Vehicle unit. Only one attempt to repair each unit can be made each turn.’ ATLAS RECOVERY TANK 5 An Atlas Recovery Tank is a unit that contains 1 model. It is equipped with: Heavy Bolter; Armoured Hull. M WS BS A W Ld Sv Atlas Recovery Tank 12" 6+ 4+ 1 2 5 6+ WEAPON TYPE RANGE A SAP SAT ABILITIES Heavy Bolter Heavy 36" 1 7+ 9+ - Heavy Stubber Heavy 36" 1 8+ 10+ - Storm Bolter Small Arms 24" 1 9+ 10+ Rapid Fire Armoured Hull Melee Melee User 10+ 10+ - WARGEAR OPTIONS • This unit can also be equipped with one of the following (Power Rating +1): 1 Heavy Stubber; 1 Storm Bolter.
    [Show full text]
  • NEW INSENSITIVE RIFLED 120-Mm MORTAR AMMUNITION with ENHANCED LETHAL PERFORMANCE
    TDA Armements SAS NEW INSENSITIVE RIFLED 120-mm MORTAR AMMUNITION WITH ENHANCED LETHAL PERFORMANCE Patrick MALBO Christophe BAR (speaker) TDA Armements Route d’Ardon 45240 La Ferté Saint Aubin France Introduction The beneficial contribution of IM/Murat ordnance to the general endeavour to limit both loss of human life and platforms vulnerability during conflicts has become so obvious for many end-users that modern Armies express today a great interest in enhanced IM/Murat mortar ammunition. In order to satisfy its customers, TDA Armements has been developing since 2005 new HE & Rocket Assisted rifled mortar projectiles which all exhibit IM performance and enhanced lethal performance compared to the previous munitions. The IM/Murat signature of each mortar ammunition is to be achieved for the full complete round including the fuse and the propelling charges both fitted onto the filled body, keeping for the end-user the advantage of a delivered round ready for immediate use. Several high explosives and configurations were considered for the IM fill to match the requirement of maintaining the existing level of fragmentation already achieved with the current cast body in order to keep this mortar product affordable. The most significant engineering change was the replacement of the TNT-based fill by a cast- cured PBX from EURENCO called HBU88B which exhibited the best compromise between lethal performance, initiation and insensitivity. A few accidental aggressions were considered during 2005 to drive the first engineering change proposals due to achieve eventually the level Murat 2* for the two mortar munitions. As a priority the accidental threats which were firstly taken into account were the Slow Cook-off event, the Sympathetic detonation and the Fragment impact event.
    [Show full text]
  • Unofficial Copy
    527 CMR: BOARD OF FIRE PREVENTION REGULATIONS 527 CMR 22.00: CANNON OR MORTAR FIRING Section 22.01: Purpose and Scope 22.02: Definitions 22.03: Permits 22.04: Certificates of Competency 22.05: Range Conditions and Other Pre-firing Requirements 22.06: Magazines and Powder 22.07: Firing of Cannons 22.08: General Provisions 22.01: Purpose and Scope (1) 527 CMR 22.00 governs the firing of muzzle-loading cannons during patriotic celebrations and re-enactments, including all such cannons ranging from pre-Revolutionary War vintage to present-day facsimiles. (2) 527 CMR 22.00 shall not apply to any cannon exhibit in which explosives are not being used. (3) Ammunition for any cannon shall be subject to all the applicable requirements contained in 527 CMR 13.00. 22.02: Definitions The following terms shall have the meanings assigned to them unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: Blank-fire. The supervised discharge of a cannon or mortar without projectile. Cannon. Any gun designed to be fired from a carriage resting on the ground and which is loaded from the muzzle with rigid non-combustible black powder cartridge. Competent Operator. A person at least 21 years of age who holds a current Certificate of Competency for cannon firing issued by the State Fire Marshal. Display. The supervised discharge of cannon or mortar, whether blank-fire without projectile or live-fire with projectile. Head of the Fire Department. As defined in M.G.L. c. 148, § 1. Live-fire. The supervised discharge of cannon or mortar with projectile. Marshal. The State Fire Marshal, as defined in M.G.L.
    [Show full text]
  • Fireworks FACT SHEET PUBLICATION #13 U.S
    Fireworks FACT SHEET PUBLICATION #13 U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION Fireworks Safety The American traditions of parades, cookouts, and fireworks help us celebrate the summer season, especially our nation’s birthday on the Fourth of July. However, fireworks can turn a joyful celebration into a painful memory when children and adults are injured or killed while using fireworks. Although legal consumer fireworks that comply with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations can be relatively safe when used responsibly, all fireworks, by their nature, are hazardous and can cause injuries. Fireworks are classified as hazardous substances under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA). Some fireworks, such as illegal firecracker-type devices (M-80s, quarter sticks) and professional display fireworks should never be handled by consumers, due to the risk of serious injury and death. Following are a few examples of recent deaths caused by illegal fireworks: UCT SAFE D TY O R C P O M R E M M I S U S S I O N N O C U N ES ITED STAT CPSC - FIREWORKS SAFETY FACT SHEET (800) 638-2772 • CPSC.gov • SaferProducts.gov PAGE 1 Fireworks - Related Deaths 2017-2018 • A 16-year-old male from Florida died after a mortar tube exploded in his hand on July 5, 2018. According to the police report, the victim’s cousin lit the charge of a mortar and placed it in the tube and backed away. The victim then picked up the tube and held it in his left hand. As the cousin went to tell the victim to put the tube down, the tube exploded in the victim’s hand and knocked the victim down.
    [Show full text]
  • Artillery Through the Ages, by Albert Manucy 1
    Artillery Through the Ages, by Albert Manucy 1 Artillery Through the Ages, by Albert Manucy The Project Gutenberg EBook of Artillery Through the Ages, by Albert Manucy This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Artillery Through the Ages A Short Illustrated History of Cannon, Emphasizing Types Used in America Author: Albert Manucy Release Date: January 30, 2007 [EBook #20483] Language: English Artillery Through the Ages, by Albert Manucy 2 Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ARTILLERY THROUGH THE AGES *** Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Christine P. Travers and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net ARTILLERY THROUGH THE AGES A Short Illustrated History of Cannon, Emphasizing Types Used in America UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fred A. Seaton, Secretary NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Conrad L. Wirth, Director For sale by the Superintendent of Documents U. S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D. C. -- Price 35 cents (Cover) FRENCH 12-POUNDER FIELD GUN (1700-1750) ARTILLERY THROUGH THE AGES A Short Illustrated History of Cannon, Emphasizing Types Used in America Artillery Through the Ages, by Albert Manucy 3 by ALBERT MANUCY Historian Southeastern National Monuments Drawings by Author Technical Review by Harold L. Peterson National Park Service Interpretive Series History No. 3 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1949 (Reprint 1956) Many of the types of cannon described in this booklet may be seen in areas of the National Park System throughout the country.
    [Show full text]
  • STUDY FLOWFORMING MORTAR CANNON BARRELS Matthew Lowformed Nickel-Base Alloy Mortar Barrels Fonte* Fhave Been Fabricated in a Program Jointly Dynamic Funded by the U.S
    CASE STUDY FLOWFORMING MORTAR CANNON BARRELS Matthew lowformed nickel-base alloy mortar barrels Fonte* Fhave been fabricated in a program jointly Dynamic funded by the U.S. Army’s Armament Research Flowform Corp. Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) Billerica, headquartered at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., and the Massachusetts U.S. Marine Corps, Office of Naval Research, Ar- lington, Va. The goal of the joint program was to demonstrate that lightweight flowformed mortar barrel tubes could be quickly produced, at a cost 50% to 75% less than existing steel barrels, and with lower weight. Two years after the project was approved, proto- type flowformed cannon barrels were successfully fatigue-tested and live-fire tested (Fig. 1) at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona, and more Army personnel were added to the development program. Steel mortar systems Today, the United States Armed Forces operate three different types of mortar systems. • The 60 mm M224 has a range of up to 3490 me- ters (about two miles). • The 81 mm M252 is the preferred system for long-range, indirect fire. • The 120 mm M120/M121 is used for close and continuous fire. Each of these mortar systems is comprised of four sections: the cannon or gun tube, bipod, base- Fig. 1 — The flowformed mortar tube was live-fire tested at plate, and sight unit. the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona by U.S. Army personnel. The 60 mm and 81 mm mortar cannon barrels are carried, but the 120-mm barrels are vehicle Lightweight tube development transported. For this reason, it was decided to first Finite element analysis (FEA) computer mod- focus re-engineering efforts on reducing the weight eling was used to numerically simulate the dy- of the 60 mm and 81 mm barrels.
    [Show full text]
  • CINCPAC Bulletin 152-45, Japanese Artillery Weapons
    RESTRICTED UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET AND PACIFIC OCEAN AREAS JAPANESE ARTILLERY WEAPONS CINCPAC - CINCPOA BULLETIN NO. 152-45 1 JULY 1945 CINCPAC-CINCPOA BULLETIN 152-45 1 JULY 1-945 A>rtdle/uf 'Wea/panA Foreword This publication is a summary of the characteristics an recognition features of all Japanese artillery weapons for which information is available. Some weapons are not included because information regarding them is extremely limited and has not been substantiated. Information has been compiled from various sources and includes only pertinent data. Detailed information on specific weapons will be furnished on request. Correc­ tions and additions will be made from time to time, and recipients are invited to forward additional data to the Joint Inte lligence Center, Pacific Ocean Areas. Additional copies are available on request. This supersedes CIPCPAC-CIHCPOA Bulletin 26-45. RESTRICTED. JAPANESE ARTILLERY WEAPONS. RESTRICTED. CINCPAC-CINCPOA BULLETIN 152-4 5. 1 JULY 194 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS 75 mm Mountain Gun Type 41 (1908) 2 75 mm Mountain Gun Type 94 (1934) 4 75 nun Field Gun Type 38 (1905) 6 75 nun Field Gun Type 33 (Improved) 0 75 mm Field Gun Type 90 (1930) 10 75 mm Field Gun Type 95 (1935) 12 105 mm Howitzer Type 91 (1931) 14 105 mm Gun Type 38 (1905) 16 105 mm Gun 14th Year Type (1925) 18 105 mm Gun Type 92 (1932) 20 ,120 wn Howitzer Type 38 (1905) 22 150 mm Howitzer 4th Year Type (1915) 24 150 mm Howitzer Type 96 (1936) 26 150 nm Gun Type 89 (1929) 28 75 mm Anti-Aircraft Gun Type 88- (1928) 30 8 cm Dual Purpose Gun 10th Year Type (1921) 32 8 cm Coast Defense Gun 13th Year Type (1924) 34 88 mm Anti-Aircraft Gun Type 99 (1939) 36 10 cm Dual Purpose Gun Type 98 (1938) 38 105 mm Anti-Aircraft Gun 14th Yea^ Type (1925) 40 12 cm Short Naval Gun 42 12 cm Dual Purpose Gun 10th Year Type (1921) 44 JAPANESE ARTILLERY WEAPONS.
    [Show full text]
  • 26 Pubs 790, 29Mm Spigot Mortar
    NOT TO BE PUBLISHED The information given in this document is not to be communicated, either directly or indirectly, to the Press or to any person not holding an official position in His Majesty’s Service. G.'S. Publications Volume I, Pamphlet No. 23 1942 (This pamphlet supersedes the 29-mm. Spigot Mortar (Blacker Bombard) Training Instruction (Provisional, 1941)) Crown Copyright Reserved By Command of the A rmy Council, The War Office, 1th November, 1942. Printed under the Authority of HIS MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE by Keliber, Hudson & Kearns, Ltd., London, S.E.l. { ■ DISTRIBUTION Units with this Equipment ... 2 Copies per Weapon S.A.S. Netheravon ... ... ... ... ... jo CONTENTS CL-'iiV ;■ 1 FACE Section 1. General. ' The anti-tank-role ... ... ... ... ... 2 The anti-personnel role.................................................. 3 Section 2. The spigot mortar and bombs. Lesson 1. General description....................................... ! „ 2. Types of bombs, fuzes, and cartridges ... 7 „ 3. Stripping the firing mechanism ............... 11 ,, 4. Care and maintenance ................. ... 12 Section 3. Drill. Lesson 5. Fall in-—Take post—-Action—Cease firing 15 „ 6. Loading and unloading—holding, aim­ ing and firing at stationary targets, in anti-tank role ...................................... 18 7. Engaging moving targets ............... 21 8. Action on misfire—causes-ef misfire ... 22 9. Anti-personnel roles—loading and unload­ ing—sight setting—fire orders ... 24 Section 4. Advanced handling. Lesson 10. Packing the truck—prepare for action— on truck.................................................. 26 „ 11. Coming into action in a weapon pit ,, 12. Siting the mortar, and camouflage Appendix 1. Range rules and safety precautions 31 Destruction of "blinds ” ... / ... 33 ,, 2. Approximate times of flight, and heights of trajectory ..
    [Show full text]
  • 120 Mm MORTAR WEAPON SYSTEM 10%
    120ALKAR mm MORTAR WEAPON SYSTEM INDIGENOUS RECOIL MECHANISM INTEGRATION TO ALL KINDS OF TRACKED AND TACTICAL WHEELED VEHICLES INDIGENOUS AUTOMATIC AMMINUTION LOADING SYSTEM USIBILITY WITH DIFFERENT MORTAR BARRELS FROM 81 MM TO 120 MM WORKING INTEGRATED WITH COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM www.aselsan.com SST-ALKAR/ e001 /10-2018 e001 SST-ALKAR/ ALKAR 120 mm MORTAR WEAPON SYSTEM 10%. ± ALKAR 120 mm Mortar Weapon System, originally designed Technical Specifications entirely by ASELSAN including sub-systems, is a modern weapon system integrated on a turret equipped with Automatic Barrel • Barrel : 120 mm Rifled* Laying System, Automatic Ammunition Loading System, Recoil • Range Mechanism and Fire Control Systems. • Min : 1500 m* • Max : 8000 m* ALKAR 120 mm Mortar Weapon System General Specifications • Barrel Length : 1900 mm* • Recoil Force : < 25 tonnes • Integration of any kind of domestic / foreign rifled or • Time to Shoot : < 1 dakika smoothbore mortar barrel • Time to Scoot : < 10 saniye • Modular system architecture enabling integration to tracked • Firing Sector vehicles, tactical wheeled vehicles and stationary platforms • Azimuth : ± 3200 milyem • Recoil Mechanism reducing the force transferred to the • Elevation : 800 - 1200 milyem* platform during shooting that increases the variety and • Dimensions number of platforms that system can be integrated • Width : 1450 mm • Automatic Ammunition Loading system allowing precise, • Length : 2450 mm fast and safe loading of ammunitions • Height : 1100 mm • Usibility with all kind of mortar ammunition • Automatic and precise laying in accordance with the * Properties may vary according to the type of smooth/rifled barrel. calculated fire command • Precise position and barrel laying detection with Inertial Navigation System within are notice.
    [Show full text]
  • Product Manager Excalibur Product Manager Mortars Systems
    M1117 armored security vehicle tar weapon systems include the 60 mm, 81 mm and 120 mm mortars and related equipment. Fire-control systems, used to calculate mortar missions, include new, improved systems like the mortar fire-con- trol system-heavy (MFCS-H) and the light- weight handheld mortar ballistic com- puter (LHMBC). The M224 60 mm mortar weapon sys- tem is a lightweight, high-angle-of-fire, smooth-bore, manportable, muzzle-loaded mortar with improved rate-of-fire capabili- ties. The M224 consists of the following components: M225 cannon (tube), M170 bipod assembly, M7 baseplate, M8 auxil- tillery combat observation lasing teams Product Manager Excalibur iary baseplate and the M64A1 sight unit. (COLTs) in both heavy and Infantry brigade The Product Manager Excalibur (PM Ex- The M224 fires the complete family of 60 combat teams, the Armored Knight will calibur) is developing Excalibur, a preci- mm ammunition, such as high explosive, combine the proven armored security vehi- sion, autonomously guided, long-range ar- smoke, illumination, infrared illumination cle with the M707 Knight mission equip- tillery system. and practice cartridges. With ranges from ment package. The XM982 Excalibur is a 155 mm preci- 70 meters to 3,500 meters, the M224 meets The resultant M1200 Armored Knight sion-guided artillery round with extended lethality, range and weight requirements will provide COLTs with increased armor range. Already being fielded to warfight- for light forces without an additional trans- protection, payload and agility. Textron ers and successfully employed in combat portation requirement. Marine and Land Systems is presently un- operations, Excalibur uses GPS precision- The M252 81 mm mortar system is a der contract with the U.S.
    [Show full text]