Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
- For other uses of the term, see Mortar.
A mortar is a portable muzzle-loading artillery piece that fires indirect shells (bombs in the UK) at low velocities, short ranges, and high arcing ballistic trajectories (as a weapon or e.g. for firework). All of these attributes are in comparison with the mortar's larger sibling, howitzers and field guns, which fire at higher velocities, longer ranges, and flatter arcs. Typically a modern mortar consists of a tube into which is dropped a mortar shell (bomb) onto a firing pin resulting in the detonation of the propellant and the firing of the shell.
Mortars are normally included in infantry units and often personally see combat action. The chief advantage a mortar section has over artillery pieces is its small size and its mobility. It also has the advantage of being able to be fired from a trench or a defilade, thereby protecting the crew from enemy fire. In these aspects the mortar is an excellent infantry support weapon as it can travel over any terrain and is not burdened by the logistical support and geographical structure needed for artillery.
Mortars can be carried by one or more people (in the case of larger mortars, separate people can carry different components, including the ammunition), or mounted in a vehicle. Some mortars can be used in both roles—they are mounted in and can be fired from a vehicle, and they can also be removed and used separately. Vehicles which transport mortar tubes and ammunition are referred to as mortar carriers or self-propelled mortars.
Modern mortars normally range in caliber from 60 millimeters (2.36 inches) to 120 millimeters (4.72 inches) however, aberrations both larger and smaller than these specifications have been produced. An example of the smaller scale is the British 51 mm light mortar which is carried by an individual and consists of only a tube and a base plate. Conversely, a large abnormality is the Soviet 2S4 M1975 "Tyulpan" (tulip tree) 240-mm self-propelled mortar. Aside from these though, most modern mortar systems consist of three main components: a tube, a base plate, and a bipod. These weapons are commonly used and transported by infantry based mortar sections as a substitute for, or in addition to, artillery.
Ammunition for mortar systems generally come in two main varieties: fin-stabilized and spin-stabilized. The former have short fins on their posterior portion that controls their path in flight. The latter use rotational spin (similar to a thrown American Football) to balance and control the mortar shell. These rounds can either be illumination, smoke, or high explosive.
Mortars have existed for hundreds of years, first finding usage in siege warfare. However, these weapons were huge heavy iron monstrosities that could not be easily transported. Simply made, these weapons were no more than an iron bowl truly reminiscent of the mortar wherefrom they drew their name. Portable mortars were first seen during the American Civil War and its resulting railroad mortars. However, it was not until World War I and the Stokes trench mortar devised by Sir Wilfred Stokes in 1915, that the modern, man-portable mortar was born. Extremely useful in the muddy trenches of Europe, mortars were praised because of their high angle of flight. A mortar round could be aimed to fall directly into trenches where artillery shells, due to their low angle of flight, could not possibly go. Modern mortars have improved upon these designs even more offering a weapon that light, adaptable, easy to operate, and yet possesses enough firepower to provide the infantry with quality close support.
The largest mortars ever developed were "Mallet's mortar" (developed by Woolwich Arsenal, London in 1857) and the "Little David" (developed in the USA for use in World War II). Each weapon had a caliber of 36 inches (915 mm), neither were used in action.
- Military technology and equipment
- Chemical mortar battalions of the United States Army
- M224 Mortar
- M252 Mortar
- British 81 mm mortar
- Strix mortar round
- Defense Update: Modern Mobile 120mm Mortars
- Defense Update: Advanced Mortar Munitions
- Mortars during World War I
- The Karl Morser, WWII-era German 60cm self-propelled mortar.
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