Noob1999, a mortar system is really a fairly technical piece of equipment. There are a couple of methods of engagements that we utilize for mortars. Hand-Held: Only the 60mm, M224 Mortar, is capable of firing hand held utilizing the M-9 base plate. Normally this is in the assault mode and it requires a lot of experience to gain real proficiency.
All other mortars utilize a much larger base plate. First rounds are rarely on target since the initial round seats the baseplate deep into the soil. This allows for the stability of the weapons system.
Corrections are given by a Forward Observer and his position is plotted by the Fire Direction Control center. When the FO announces a correction of Add,Drop, Left and Right it is computed mathematically by the FDC and transmitted to the mortar Gunline as Deflection and Elevation changes.
The Mortar sight is calibrated into 6400 Mills. Once the data, deflection and Elevation, is placed on the sight; the sight is realigned to a fixed point, aiming Stakes, to the rear or front of the Mortar tube, and the mortar is then ready to fire.
Each subsequent command requires the same steps IOT ensure accuracy. The 60, 81 and 120mm mortar systems are the most difficult weapons in a Infantry Battalion to gain mastery of.
I hope I did not make this overly complicated but firing from a moving platform will not work and you can bet that is not the way these guys fired their Mortars. It’s hard firing a 81mm from a LAV and impossible from a pickup truck more than once!
......................I hope I did not make this overly complicated but firing from a moving platform will not work and you can bet that is not the way these guys fired their Mortars. It’s hard firing a 81mm from a LAV and impossible from a pickup truck more than once!..............
Thanks Gunner! I had thought that it was possible to fire a mortar from a non-moving heavy duty truck and calculate the common sprung recoil into the calculations.
When I see mortars deployed on TV, I say WTF, how did they fire that thing, holding onto it while it kinda waves around to an unseen target before the mortar lights off, as I knew that a small, very small deviation could create chaos at the other end!
Kind’a like Jason Duffner waggling his club before striking the golf ball, landing two feet from the pin - from 180 yards out!
Thanks for enlightening me, and I sure hope that you came home safe and sound! Thank you!
Noob