1. Mortar Bombs
Lesson 25
6 Periods

2. Introduction
A MORTAR is a smooth-bore, muzzle-loading, infantry weapon.

3. Objective
Identify
Evaluate
Select appropriate RSP

4. Calibres found in Afghanistan
2 inch – British – Pak or Indian copies
60mm - Chinese
81mm – Egyptian, NATO, Yugoslavia
82mm – FSU, Chinese
120mm – FSU
160mm – FSU
240mm - FSU

5. Tactical Role
HE Fragmentation
Illuminating
Smoke WP
Screening Smoke

6. Fragmentation Used against personnel and materiel
Providing both fragmentation and blast effect.
All calibres found in Afghanistan

7. Make-Up

8. Make-Up

9. Markings FSU and Chinese: Egyptian: NATO:
OBC is grey or olive drab with black markings
Egyptian:
OBC is black with yellow hazard band around nose
NATO:
OBC is dark green with yellow hazard band and stencilling

10. Markings FSU: NATO: Chinese: Egyptian is in ARABIC  or 
Designation and calibre
Chinese:
Designation and calibre – mix Chinese and English
Egyptian is in ARABIC

11. Method of Functioning
When the mortar bomb is loaded, it slides down the mortar tube until the percussion primer in the ignition cartridge strikes the firing pin in the base cap of the mortar.
The flash from the primer ignites the primary cartridge, and the cartridge ignites the augmenting charge.

12. Method of Functioning
Rapidly expanding gases from the burning propellant expel (push) the mortar bomb from the mortar tube and propel it to the target.
The mortar bomb is fin-stabilized in flight.
On Firing, the setback allows the fuze to start arming by freeing the safety mechanism.
During Flight, the striker moves forward, under the impulse of the striker spring, to free the shutter. The shutter moves into the armed position under the action of its spring.

13. Method of Functioning
The point-detonating fuze functions on impact, detonating the fuze booster charge and, in turn, the high explosive charge.
The high explosive charge shatters the projectile body, producing near optimum fragmentation and blast effect at the target.

14. Evaluation of Arming State
Check percussion primer on base:
If STRUCK, assume fired, therefore ARMED
If NOT struck, assume nor fired, therefore UNARMED
Check gas vent holes in tail unit:
If still INTACT and primer not struck, assume UNARMED
If burnt through assume ARMED
If INTACT and primer is STRUCK, assume MISFIRE
Check general condition

15. EOD RSP UNARMED MISFIRE ARMED Remove for disposal at CDS
Treat as ARMED
ARMED
Attempt to remove fuze remotely OR
Destroy in Situ

16. Final Disposal
82mm Yugoslavian NEQ: 680g

17. Associated Fuzes Chinese Fuze – PD - MP1B (60 & 82mm)
FSU & Chinese Fuze – PD - M6 (82mm)
FSU – PD - GVMZ7 (120 & 160mm)
FSU – PD - M5 & M5M (120 & 82mm)

18. Most Common Mortar Fuze - M6

19. British 2” Mortars
NEQ: 170g

20. Pakistan 51mm Mortar
NEQ: 100g

21. Chinese 60mm Type 27
NEQ: 100g

22. Yugoslavian 60mm M73
NEQ: 220g

23. Egyptian 81mm
NEQ: 554g

24. Typical NATO 81mm
NEQ: 720 to 960g

25. FSU 82mm
NEQ: 435g

26. Egyptian 82mm
NEQ: 440g

27. Chinese 82mm
NEQ: 392g

28. FSU 120mm
NEQ: 1.58 to 2.7kg

29. FSU 240mm
NEQ: 50kg

30. Illuminating Used for lighting up a desired point or area.
Normally only FSU 82mm and 120mm found in Afghanistan.

31. Make-Up: FSU 82mm

32. Make-Up - FSU 120mm

33. Markings OBC is grey or olive drab with white band and black markings
 in Cyrillic which is S in English

34. Method of Functioning
When the mortar bomb is loaded, it slides down the mortar tube until the percussion primer in the ignition cartridge strikes the firing pin in the base cap of the mortar.
The flash from the primer ignites the primary cartridge, and the cartridge ignites the augmenting charge.

35. Method of Functioning
Rapidly expanding gases from the burning propellant expel (push) the mortar bomb from the mortar tube and propel it to the target.
The mortar bomb is fin-stabilized in flight.

36. Method of Functioning At a pre-set time the fuze functions in flight.
The expulsion charge ignites and ejects the candle assembly.
A spring ejects the parachute from the tail cone. The parachute opens, slowing the descent of the burning candle which illuminates the target.

37. Evaluation of Arming State
Check percussion primer on base:
If STRUCK, assume fired, therefore ARMED
If NOT struck, assume nor fired, therefore UNARMED
Check gas vent holes in tail unit:
If still INTACT and primer not struck, assume UNARMED
If burnt through assume ARMED
If INTACT and primer is STRUCK, assume MISFIRE
Check general condition

38. EOD RSP UNARMED MISFIRE ARMED Remove for disposal at CDS
Treat as ARMED
ARMED
Attempt to remove fuze remotely OR
Destroy in Situ – do NOT use a shaped charge

39. Final Disposal

40. Associated Fuzes Fuze Time: TSQ, Model T-1, 82 & 120mm
Incorporates a time combustible element and a PD element

43. Possible – 2” British Copy

44. 82mm

45. 120mm

46. Smoke Used for obscuring an area.
Also used for spotting or target indication
Normally only FSU and Yugoslavian 82mm and FSU 120mm found in Afghanistan

47. Make-Up: FSU 82mm

48. Make-Up

49. Markings OBC is grey or olive drab with black band and black markings
 in Cyrillic which is D in English
Main difference in make-up is adapter ring at neck – always look for this when checking for markings

50. Method of Functioning
When the mortar bomb is loaded, it slides down the mortar tube until the percussion primer in the ignition cartridge strikes the firing pin in the base cap of the mortar.
The flash from the primer ignites the primary cartridge, and the cartridge ignites the augmenting charge.

51. Method of Functioning
Rapidly expanding gases from the burning propellant expel (push) the mortar bomb from the mortar tube and propel it to the target.
The mortar bomb is fin-stabilized in flight.

52. Method of Functioning On impact, the fuze functions.
The fuze initiates the burster charge.
The burster charge ruptures the body and disperses the WP filler.
The WP produces smoke upon exposure to the air.
The WP mortar bomb uses the same fuze as the HE fragmentation

53. Evaluation of Arming State
Check percussion primer on base:
If STRUCK, assume fired, therefore ARMED
If NOT struck, assume nor fired, therefore UNARMED
Check gas vent holes in tail unit:
If still INTACT and primer not struck, assume UNARMED
If burnt through assume ARMED
If INTACT and primer is STRUCK, assume MISFIRE
Check general condition

54. EOD RSP UNARMED MISFIRE ARMED Remove for disposal at CDS
Treat as ARMED
ARMED
Attempt to remove fuze remotely OR
Destroy in Situ

55. Final Disposal

56. Safety Considerations
Ensure the WP is not leaking before moving it in a vehicle.
Carry the munition in a sealed water container ensuring the munition is immersed in the water.
Rake the soil carefully after destroying a WP munition in-situ. Go back and rake the next three days.
Remember WP is toxic smoke and is harmful.

57. British 2” Smoke

58. 82mm

59. 120mm