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The 51 mm Light Mortar is a weapon that
can be carried and fired by one man, and is found in the HQ of an
infantry platoon.
The mortar is used to fire smoke, illuminating and HE rounds out to
a range of approximately 750 m; a short range insert device enables
the weapon to be used in close quarter battle situations with some
accuracy.
The 51 mm Light Mortar has replaced the older 1940s 2' mortar.
Although the weapon remains available it is approaching its planned
out of service date across the armed forces. The capability provided
by the 51 mm mortar is being replaced by a combination of systems
including the 40 mm Under-slung Grenade Launcher and rocket
hand-fired illumination and smoke rounds. In Afghanistan, the 51 mm
capability is being augmented by a purchase of a more modern 60 mm
mortar.
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51mm Light Mortar Statistics |
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About 1000 available |
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Range |
750m |
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Bomb Weight |
800gms
(illuminating)
900gms (smoke), 920gms (HE) |
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Rapid Rate of Fire |
8rpm |
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Length of barrel |
750mm |
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Weight Complete |
6.275kg |
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Calibre |
51.25mm |
60 MM Light Mortar
Procured under an Urgent
Operational Requirement (UOR) in 2007 the M6-895 60 mm Mortar provides the
infantry with a light mortar capability out to almost 4 kms in both the
direct and indirect fire roles. Capable of firing up to 12 rounds per minute
the M6-895 has replaced the 51 mm Mortar in operational service.
Figures suggest that in the 12 months to November 2009 more than 3,500 60 mm
mortar rounds were fired on operations and training. The cost of a 60 mm
mortar round varies from between £185 - £640 dependent upon the type of
round that is fired. In the main high explosive (HE) and illuminating rounds
are used.
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60mm Light Mortar Statistics |
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Max
Range |
3,800m |
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Barrel Weight |
5.3kg |
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Bipod Weight |
12kg |
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Base Plate Weight |
4.8kg |
Grenade
Machine Gun (GMG)
This is a 40 mm high explosive grenade weapon that has a range of up
to 1.5 km for point targets and about 2 kms for
neutralising/suppressing area targets. Capable of firing up to 340
rounds per minute it is usually mounted on TUM/Land Rover type or
Protected Vehicles because of the problems associated with carrying
large amounts of ammunition.
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