Photo By Capt. TIM IRVIN | Soldiers from the 218th MEB, fire an 81 mm mortar, during training at Camp Shelby, Miss.... read more read more
FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- In the fall of 2007, Capt. Gene Hindman, Commander of C Company, 4th Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment, Mt. Pleasant, S.C., was assigned as the intelligence officer for Police Mentor Team “Swamp Fox,” part of Task Force Phoenix Six in Afghanistan.
“In mid October, we had received a mission to search and cordon a small compound in the northwest Zabul province. We broke up into three squads and began our sweep of the buildings,” said Hindman. “We had an [Special Forces] team supporting us. They had setup an over watch position, with their 60 mm mortar, on a high plateau overlooking the small village.”
“We cleared the buildings with no issues. We then moved into the orchard directly behind the buildings,” Hindman recalled.
“As soon as we entered the orchard we started to receive a heavy volume of small arms fire. We immediately returned fire but the orchard was so thick that we couldn’t see much in front of us.”
Fortunately for Hindman and his soldiers, the SF team could see everything from their vantage point on the plateau 500 meters away.
“We continued forward, returning fire as we moved. Suddenly, the SF guys told us to stop over the radio,” Hindman explained. “They could see the Taliban fighters setting up an ambush with PKM (machine gun) directly to our front.”
Once Hindman and his squad had halted, the SF team engaged the enemy fighters with six rounds from their 60 mm mortar, killing three Taliban fighters.
“Without that mortar we would have been forced to assault the Taliban machinegun position,” Hindman said. “That mortar saved us from possible causalities.”
Mortars have been used for centuries and are an important asset to military missions during combat.
We can trace the history of the modern mortar to the 1600’s, when portable mortar systems were used in siege warfare. The high-arcing trajectory of mortars allowed early commanders to send explosive projectiles over fortifications and walls with deadly effect. Unfortunately, mortars were heavy then, and required the use of animals and carts to move them into position.
Those portable systems were the precursor to the systems we use today. Modern-day, heavy mortars are carried into battle by wheeled vehicles, and track vehicles.
Changing Times
The current asymmetrical battlefield has caused many commanders to change the way they would deploy their mortars in a conventional force-on-force battle. Missions in Afghanistan and Iraq are often led by smaller company or platoon-sized units.
These missions are usually scattered across great distances and over rugged terrain. A single mortar can increase the unit’s lethality on patrols and disrupt ambushes. Depending on the mission and the size of the unit, different caliber of mortars can be used.
Today, the National Guard currently uses three different mortar systems: 60 mm, 81 mm, and 120 mm. Different calibers are available to company- and battalion-level airborne, air assault, light infantry and special operations units.
In 1915, the man-portable mortar system was developed as a result of the trench warfare of World War I. The high-angle fire and portability of the mortar allowed rounds to be dropped into enemy trenches where artillery rounds could not effectively land. The light weight tubes allowed infantry Soldiers to carry indirect fire support with them and move with the fight. This man portable mortar developed into the 60 mm mortar currently used today
In 2006, Staff Sgt. Dustin Reed, training non-commissioned officer, A Company, 4th Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment, Moncks Corner, S.C., was a squad leader for a mortar section in Tal Afar, Iraq.
“When we conducted dismounted patrols, we would often carry our 60 mm mortars because of the added benefit of indirect fire to support the ground troops,” said Reed.
“From the time we received a call-for-fire mission, we could have a round down range within two minutes. Because of the mortar’s high angle of fire, hitting a target in an alley or narrow street wasn’t a problem,” said Reed. “The mortar was also very effective when we needed to lay down a smoke screen to conceal Soldiers’ movements.”
“Pocket” Artillery
The smallest mortar in the U.S. arsenal is the M224 60 mm mortar. It is used specifically in a light infantry company. It has a range of almost 3,500 meters and weighs about 48 pounds. For dismounted operations, the M224 can be carried without a base plate to reduce its weight to 18 pounds, but the loss of the base plate reduces its range to slightly over 1,300 meters. The M224 can be set in a position prior to conducting operations or carried by crewmembers for a hasty deployment if the unit comes in contact.
For long-range support, the M252 81 mm mortar is also used in a mortar platoon at battalion level. The platoon consists of approximately six mortar tubes and is under the control of the battalion commander. The M252 has a range of approximately 5,800 meters and weighs 91 pounds. The larger round provides greater distance and effects on the enemy then the smaller 60 mm mortar, but requires a vehicle to move it quickly.
At company level airborne, air assault, light infantry and special operations units, smaller mortar are used. Within a light infantry company, the mortar crew typically has two 60 mm mortars and six crewmembers. The crew consists of three Soldiers per mortar system: the gunner, assistant gunner and an ammunition bearer. In these small unit configurations the gunners also serve as the squad leader and section sergeant.
Most battalions use the 81 mm or 120 mm mortar systems. They are organized as a mortar platoon and are under the direct control of the battalion commander. A 120 mm mortar platoon has more Soldiers then the 81 mm platoon. These additional soldiers man the larger 120 mm tube and staff the Fire Direction Center. The FDC calculates fire mission requests and advises the mortar gunners what direction to fire.
The M120 120 mm mortar is the largest mortar system in the U.S. inventory. The massive M120 has a range of almost 7,200 meters and weighs in at 319 pounds. The system can be towed or vehicle mounted on the tracked M1064 heavy mortar carrier or a wheeled M1129 Stryker. When the 120 mm is mounted on a vehicle, it can be fired from inside. This gives the crew additional protection from small arms fire and increases the response time for ground forces in need of firepower.
“Some of our guys were receiving sniper fire from a building. This forced them to take cover and halt. They called in an immediate suppression mission. We fired several [high explosive] rounds from our one-twenty onto the target building. This eliminated the threat and allowed the soldiers to continue on with their mission,” recalled Reed.
“On numerous occasions my mortar section would shoot illumination missions in order to provide a burst of light over a target house, or objective in the middle of the night or early morning. This improves the visibility for soldiers on mission,” said Reed.
“Umbrella” of Fire”
Mortars allow units to quickly place indirect fire on enemy positions that are protected from our direct fire systems due to terrain. Commanders are always aware of the ‘umbrella’ of fire that mortars provide them. If soldiers were to be outside of that ‘umbrella’, they would move the mortars so that they would be covered. Mortars are that important.
“It is has significant psychological impact on the enemy knowing we can place deadly fires on his position within seconds of an attack,” said Hindman. “If we can’t reach the enemy, our mortars sure can!”
Mortars have played a significant role in combat throughout the history of warfare. Recent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have proven mortar systems are as vital to winning the fight on the ground. Most commanders believe it is essential that units train and maintain their mortars to be ready, reliable and relevant in the fight.
| Date Taken: | 12.01.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.09.2010 09:22 |
| Story ID: | 61627 |
| Location: | FORT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 176 |
| Downloads: | 7 |
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