Description
US Ordnance Department M-2 US Mortar
The M2 Mortar is a 60 millimeter smoothbore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used by U.S. forces in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War for light infantry support.
The U.S. M2 60 mm mortar was developed from the heavier 81 mm M1 Mortar to provide a lighter-weight alternative to company-level fire support, Normally employed by the weapons platoon of a U.S. infantry company.
It consists of a smoothbore metal tube on a rectangular baseplate, supported by a simple bipod with the elevation and traverse mechanisms. The firing pin was fixed in the base cap of the tube, and the bomb was fired automatically when it dropped down the barrel.
Specifications
Mass 42 lb (19 kg)
Barrel length 2 ft 5 in (726 mm)
Crew 3 (Mortar Squad Leader, Gunner, Loader) + Ammo Carriers
Service history
World War II, Chinese Civil War, Indochina War, Korean War, Algerian War, Portuguese Colonial War, Vietnam War, Lebanese Civil War
