Two-inch mortar

Last updated

Ordnance SBML two-inch mortar
2 inch mortar (AWM 094355).jpg
Australian infantrymen using a 2-inch (51 mm) mortar in New Guinea in 1945 (AWM 094355)
Type Light mortar
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
Used by British Commonwealth armies
other users
Wars World War II
Korean War [1]
Sino-Indian War [2]
Biafran War
Production history
Designed1937
VariantsMark 8 "airborne"
Specifications
Mass10+12 lb (4.8 kg)
Length21 in (53 cm)
CrewTwo

Shell High explosive: 2 lb 2 oz (960 g).
Smoke: 2 pounds (910 g)
Illuminating: 1 lb 5 oz (600 g)
Calibre 2 in (51 mm)
Action Trip
Elevation 45-90°
Rate of fire 8 rounds per minute
Effective firing range500 yd (460 m)

The Ordnance SBML two-inch mortar, or more commonly, just "two-inch mortar", was a British mortar issued to the British Army and the Commonwealth armies, that saw use during the Second World War and later.

Contents

It was more portable than larger mortars, and had greater range and firepower than rifle grenades. Its main purpose was to produce smoke for cover and through high trajectory and HE shell, engage targets "immune to small arms fire". [3]

Design

The two-inch mortar was one of a number of small mortars brought into service by European nations between the two World Wars.

Due to its small size, and for simplicity, the mortar had no forward strut or bipod like larger designs needed. The barrel was held at the correct angle by one soldier while the other loaded and fired the round. The original design had a large base plate and sights for aiming which used spirit levels. As the design matured, the baseplate became smaller and the sights were omitted; aiming was by eye and relied on the firer's judgment and experience. With such a short barrel, the typical firing method where the bomb was dropped down the tube and a pin in the base of the barrel struck the detonator in the tail of the bomb would not work, so firing was by a small trigger mechanism at the breech.

The bombs were cylindrical with a (perforated) four finned tail. For the HE projectile an impact fuze was fitted in the nose of the bomb.

Postwar, the two-inch mortar was kept in service to fire smoke and illuminating rounds. It was replaced by the Royal Ordnance 51 mm infantry mortar [4] in the late 1980s.

Specifications

Variants

Free Belgian Forces fire a two-inch mortar during a training exercise in Wales, 1941 Allied Forces in the United Kingdom 1939-45 H7146.jpg
Free Belgian Forces fire a two-inch mortar during a training exercise in Wales, 1941

Ammunition types

Parachute illumination round Parachute Illumination 2 Inch Mortar Bomb.JPG
Parachute illumination round

Ammunition was packed one 51 mm-bomb per tube, three conjoined tubes per pack (three bombs), two packs (six bombs) to a fibre container, and three fibre containers to a steel box (18 bombs total). [7]

Modern variants

India's Ordnance Factory Board's 51mm E1 mortar is an enhanced version of the two-inch British mortar of World War II; it is still in production and service in India. [8]

Specifications

Users

See also

Similar World War 2-era weapons:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PIAT</span> Anti-tank weapon

The Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank (PIAT) Mk I was a British man-portable anti-tank weapon developed during the Second World War. The PIAT was designed in 1942 in response to the British Army's need for a more effective infantry anti-tank weapon and entered service in 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mortar (weapon)</span> Artillery weapon that launches explosive projectiles at a range of angles

A mortar is usually a simple, lightweight, man-portable, muzzle-loaded weapon, consisting of a smooth-bore metal tube fixed to a base plate with a lightweight bipod mount and a sight. Mortars launch explosive shells in high-arching ballistic trajectories. Mortars are typically used as indirect fire weapons for close fire support with a variety of ammunition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordnance QF 25-pounder</span> British field gun and howitzer used during the Second World War

The Ordnance QF 25-pounder, or more simply 25-pounder or 25-pdr, with a calibre of 3.45 inches (87.6 mm), was a piece of field artillery used by British and Commonwealth forces in the Second World War. It was often described as being durable, easy to operate and versatile. It was the major British field gun and howitzer during the War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Type 89 grenade discharger</span> Light mortar

The Type 89 grenade discharger, inaccurately and colloquially known as a knee mortar by Allied forces, is a Japanese grenade launcher or light mortar that was widely used in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It got the nickname the "knee mortar" because of an erroneous Allied belief that these launchers could be fired by propping its plate against the leg. However, anyone trying to fire it this way would receive a severe bruise from its hefty recoil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ML 3-inch mortar</span> United Kingdoms standard mortar from the early 1930s to the late 1960s

The Ordnance ML 3-inch mortar was the United Kingdom's standard mortar used by the British Army from the early 1930s to the late 1960s, superseding the Stokes mortar. Initially handicapped by its short range compared to similar Second World War mortars, improvements of the propellant charges enabled it to be used with great satisfaction by various armies of the British Empire and of the Commonwealth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">76 mm gun M1</span> American tank gun

The 76 mm gun M1 was an American World War II–era tank gun developed by the U.S United States Ordnance Department in 1942 to supplement the 75 mm gun on the basic Medium tank M4. It was also used to arm the M18 Hellcat tank destroyer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M2 mortar</span> Infantry 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stokes mortar</span> Light mortar

The Stokes mortar was a British trench mortar designed by Sir Wilfred Stokes KBE that was issued to the British and U.S. armies, as well as the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps, during the latter half of the First World War. The 3-inch trench mortar is a smooth-bore, muzzle-loading weapon for high angles of fire. Although it is called a 3-inch mortar, its bore is actually 3.2 inches or 81 mm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8 cm Granatwerfer 34</span> WWII German infantry mortar

The 8 cm Granatwerfer 34 was the standard German infantry mortar throughout World War II. It was noted for its accuracy and rapid rate of fire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M2 4.2-inch mortar</span> American mortar

The M2 4.2-inch mortar was a U.S. rifled 4.2-inch (107 mm) mortar used during the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. It entered service in 1943. It was nicknamed the "Goon Gun" or the "Four-Deuce". In 1951 it began to be phased out in favor of the M30 mortar of the same caliber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2-inch medium mortar</span> Smooth bore muzzle loading medium trench mortar

The 2 inch medium trench mortar, also known as the 2-inch howitzer, and nicknamed the "toffee apple" or "plum pudding" mortar, was a British smooth bore muzzle loading (SBML) medium trench mortar in use in World War I from mid-1915 to mid-1917. The designation "2-inch" refers to the mortar barrel, into which only the 22 in (560 mm) bomb shaft but not the bomb itself was inserted; the spherical bomb itself was actually 9 in (230 mm) in diameter and weighed 42 lb (19 kg), hence this weapon is more comparable to a standard mortar of approximately 5–6 in (130–150 mm) bore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">240 mm trench mortar</span> Heavy trench mortar

The 240 mm trench mortar, or Mortier de 240 mm, was a large calibre mortar of World War I. An original French design, it was developed by Batignolles Company of Paris and introduced in 1915.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandt Mle 27/31</span> Mortar

The Brandt mle 27/31 mortar was a regulation weapon of the French army during the Second World War. Designed by Edgar Brandt, it was a refinement of the Stokes mortar. The Brandt mortar was highly influential, being licensed built or copied by numerous countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordnance QF 3-inch howitzer</span> Howitzer

Ordnance QF 3 inch howitzer was a howitzer fitted to British cruiser and infantry type tanks of the Second World War so they could fire a smoke shell in "close support" of other tanks or infantry. HE shells were also available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ML 4.2-inch mortar</span> WW2 British mortar

The Ordnance ML 4.2-inch mortar was a heavy mortar used by the British Army during and after World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M6 mortar</span> Light mortar

The M6 Mortar is a 60 mm lightweight infantry mortar made by Hirtenberger AG of Austria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M-4 commando mortar</span>

The M-4 commando mortar, also known as a patrol mortar, is a lightweight 60 mm commando mortar manufactured by Denel Land Systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordnance QF 95 mm howitzer</span> Howitzer

The Ordnance QF 95-mm howitzer was a British howitzer built in two versions during the Second World War. The tank howitzer version was accepted for service use, but the infantry version was not.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L16 81mm mortar</span> Mortar

The L16 81mm mortar is a British and Canadian standard mortar used by the Canadian Army, British Army, and many other armed forces. It originated as a joint design by the UK and Canada. The version produced and used by Australia is named the F2 81mm Mortar; that used by the U.S. armed forces is known as the M252.

References

  1. 1 2 "Mortar - 2 inch" (PDF). defence.gov.au. Defence unexploded ordnance website: ordnance information sheet. March 2015.
  2. Mohan Guruswamy (November 20, 2012). "Don't forget the heroes of Rezang La". The Hindu . Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  3. Pamphlet 8, Mortar (2-inch), Small Arms Training, Vol.1, War Office, 15 July 1942, p. 1
  4. Norris 2002, p. 11.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Norris 2002, p. 12.
  6. 1 2 Norris 2002, p. 13.
  7. Owen, J.I.H., ed. (1978), Brassey's Infantry Weapons of the World (1950-1975), New York: Bonanza Books, p. 134
  8. Kemp, Ian (October 2017). "Light mortars, heavy effect" (PDF). Asian Military Review: 21–30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2012.
  9. "Mortars & Ammunitions". bharat-rakshak.com. May 2009. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014.
  10. 1 2 Rottman, Gordon L. (20 Nov 2015). Victory 1945: Western Allied Troops in Northwest Europe. Elite 209. Osprey Publishing. p. 60. ISBN   9781472809476.
  11. Gates & Roy 2014, p. 48.
  12. Gates & Roy 2014, p. 77.
  13. Young, Peter (1972). The Arab Legion. Men-at-Arms. Osprey Publishing. p. 24. ISBN   978-0-85045-084-2.
  14. 1 2 Norris 2002, p. 5.
  15. Gates & Roy 2014, p. 70.
  16. Stack, Wayne; O’Sullivan, Barry (2013). The New Zealand Expeditionary Force in World War II. Men-at-Arms 486. Osprey Publishing. p. 19. ISBN   9781780961118.
  17. Jowett, Philip (2016). Modern African Wars (5): The Nigerian-Biafran War 1967-70. Men-at-Arms. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Press. p. 23. ISBN   978-1472816092.
  18. Norris 2002, p. 10.

Bibliography