Hello defence lovers! Mortars are the most simple artillery equipment which is used widely by the armed forces around the globe. In an era where we have modern weapons like precision-guided howitzer ammunition, rocket-powered artillery, multi-barrel rocket launchers, etc on the battlefield why mortar is not obsolete yet? Why with all the advancements in artillery technology, a primitive weapon like Mortar is so important? We will try to answer all these questions in this article.
What Is a Mortar?
A mortar is a very primitive weapon consisting of a tube and a baseplate. The tube is mounted on the baseplate and supported by a bipod. It is mainly used for providing indirect fire support. These are muzzle-loaded weapons which fire bomb-like projectiles in high-arching ballistic trajectories.
Mortars are typically portable and easy to set up, making them useful for infantry and other ground troops. They are designed to be fired at a steep angle, which allows them to drop their shells behind cover or into trenches where direct-fire weapons, such as rifles or machine guns, may not be able to reach. Mortars come in various sizes, ranging from small handheld versions used by individual soldiers to larger models mounted on vehicles or fixed positions. Among all the varieties, two sizes, 81 mm and 120 mm are the most popular and widely used.
The mortar shell typically consists of a metal casing filled with explosive material and a fuse that detonates the shell on impact. When fired, the shell is launched out of the mortar tube and its trajectory is controlled by adjusting the angle of the tube and the amount of propellant used. Mortars can be highly effective against enemy personnel, vehicles, and structures, and are a common weapon in modern militaries.
Evolution of Mortar
Mortars have a long and interesting history and have evolved over time to become the powerful and effective weapons they are today. The earliest known use of mortars dates back to ancient China, where rudimentary versions were used to hurl projectiles over walls during sieges. Mortars continued to evolve during the medieval era, with the first recorded use of metal mortars appearing in Europe during the 14th century. The 19th century saw a major evolution in mortar technology, with the development of the Stokes mortar in 1915 being a key milestone. This British-designed weapon was a portable and lightweight mortar that could be easily transported by infantry units.
Mortars played a significant role in World War I, with both sides using them extensively. The introduction of the Stokes mortar and other portable designs allowed infantry units to provide close fire support for advancing troops. Mortars continued to be a vital weapon system during World War II, with both Allied and Axis powers using them extensively. Advances in technology, including improvements in range and accuracy, made mortars even more effective.
Mortars have continued to evolve in the modern era, with improvements in range, accuracy, and mobility. Modern mortars can be carried by individual soldiers or mounted on vehicles and can deliver a range of different types of rounds, including high-explosive, smoke, and illumination.
Also Read, Full List Of India’s Air Defence Systems
Mortar Projectiles
The body of the mortar shell is typically made of metal or composite materials and houses the explosive charge. The shape of the body can vary, with some shells having a cylindrical shape and others having a more tapered or pointed shape. The amount and type of explosive used can vary depending on the desired effect of the shell, with high-explosive charges being used for maximum damage and fragmentation charges being used to create a wider blast pattern.
The explosive charge is ignited by the fuse. The fuse is the mechanism that initiates the explosive charge inside the shell. The type of fuse used can vary depending on the desired timing of the explosion and the tactical situation on the battlefield. the most common one is the impact fuse.
Mortar shells are generally fin-stabilized. The fins are located at the rear of the shell and provide stability and guidance during flight. The shape and size of the fins can vary depending on the desired trajectory and range of the shell. There are also spin-stabilized mortar shells which are fired from rifled barrels.
The ignition system is used to initiate the propellant charge that propels the shell out of the mortar tube. This can be a simple percussion primer or a more complex electronic ignition system.
Propelling Charges are used to fire the mortar shell. These are C-shaped explosive rings which can be attached to the shell. Cordite is a very popular propellant. Their quantity can be varied according to the desired range.
| Charge | Muzzle Velocity (m/s) | Range (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | 73 | 180–520 |
| Charge 1 | 110 | 390-1120 |
| Charge 2 | 137 | 580-1710 |
| Charge 3 | 162 | 780-2265 |
| Charge 4 | 195 | 1070-3080 |
| Charge 5 | 224 | 1340-3850 |
| Charge 6 | 250 | 1700-4680 |
Modern Mortar Combat Tactics
Now Let us look at some mortar tactics that are used in the modern battlefield by the infantry or the artillery units.
Indirect fire: Mortars are often used to deliver indirect fire, which means that they are fired at a target that cannot be seen by the operator. Indirect fire is often used to target enemy positions that are behind cover or in defilade.
High-angle fire: Mortars are capable of firing at a high angle, which allows them to hit targets that are behind cover or in trenches. High-angle fire can be used to attack enemy positions that are otherwise difficult to reach with direct-fire weapons. High-angle fire is extremely useful in mountainous terrain and in trench warfare.
Concentrated fire: Mortars can be used to deliver a high volume of fire to a specific target area. Concentrated fire can be used to suppress enemy positions or to support an infantry assault.
Smoke screens: Mortars can be used to deliver smoke rounds that create a temporary smoke screen. Smoke screens can be used to conceal friendly movement or to disrupt enemy observation and targeting. Some screens can also be used as a defensive measure to disrupt enemy advance.
Illumination: Mortars can fire illumination rounds which can be used to light up an area during the night to observe enemy movement, reveal enemy positions concealed in the darkness or help in the movement of friendly troops.
Counter-battery fire: Mortars can be used to target enemy mortar positions. This tactic is known as counter-battery fire and can be used to disrupt enemy fire support.
Rapid response: Mortars are portable and easy to set up, which means they can be rapidly deployed to support infantry units. Mortars can be used to provide immediate fire support to infantry units under attack or to support a rapid assault.
With the elements of modern reconnaissance techniques such as aerial footage from small UAVs, mortars can be used quite accurately with a high degree of precision.
Mortars In The Indian army
Now let us discuss the mortars used in the Indian army. Indian army uses 51 mm mortar, 81mm mortar and 120 mm mortar.
The 81 mm mortar L16 A1 is most widely used by the Indian army. It was initially developed by the British Army in the 1960s. It is widely used by other commonwealth nations as well as many NATO countries. The maximum range of the L16 mortar is approximately 5.5 km, although the effective range depends on a range of factors such as the type of shell used and the weather conditions. It fires up to 20 rounds per minute in rapid-fire mode, although sustained firing is usually limited to around 4-6 rounds per minute to prevent overheating and damage to the weapon. It can fire a range of different shells, including high-explosive, smoke, and illumination shells. The shells are typically carried in crates that are transported to the firing position by the mortar team. L16 is designed to be highly portable and can be disassembled into several smaller components for ease of transport. It can be carried by a small team of soldiers or transported by vehicle to the firing position. L16 mortar is typically operated by a team of four soldiers, including a gunner, an assistant gunner, a loader and a commander.
Conclusion
Mortars have been there on the battlefield and will remain there for centuries to come. These simple weapons are just irreplaceable as they are cheap yet greatly effective. The Russia-Ukraine war is an example that shows mortars are relevant in 21st-century modern warfare.
