Sign in or 
Share this
M224 Mortar
Model: M224 Mortar SystemThe M224 60mm Lightweight Mortar is the standard light mortar of the United States Army, brought in to replace the World War II vintage M2 and M19 that had seen service all the way up until the 1970s in Vietnam. The M224 is actually a mortar system, consisting of the M225 cannon, the M7 or M8 baseplate, and the M64A1 sight unit. The mortar can be fired in the conventional configuration with the bipod or handheld.
The M224 can fire all older 60mm ammunition, but the newer rounds are much longer range. The M224 can fire high explosive (HE), smoke, illumination (flare), infrared illumination, or practice rounds (which are also used for clearing misfires). The mortar also includes a selector switch on the cannon that allows it be switched between trigger firing and gravity firing (where the shell is simply dropped down the barrel and goes off when it hits the bottom).
| Specifications: | |
| Weight: | 46.5 lb (21.1 kg) conventional. 18 lb (8.2 kg) handheld. |
| Length: | N/A |
| Barrel Length: | 39.3 in (1000 mm). |
| Cartridge: | 60mm shells. |
| Action: | Single-shot. |
| Muzzle Velocity: | XX ft/s (XX m/s). |
| Effective Range: | 3816 yd (3490 m). 77 yd (70 m) minimum range. |
| Feed System: | Single-shot |
| Sights: | M64A1 Sight Unit |
Where to find
As you might expect, no civilians are going to be owning this any time soon. Even if you were able to buy one, a single unit costs over $10,000.
Complexity
Mortars are a rather complicated tool, requiring either line of sight to the target or a forward observer in radio contact to determine the effectiveness of each shot and tell the crew how they should adjust fire. An untrained crew can easily end up destroying random targets unintentionally.
Controls
- Selector switch: Located on the right side of the bottom of the cannon unit next to the trigger. Used to switch between trigger and gravity firing.
- Trigger lever: Located on the rear of the bottom of cannon.
Firing
- Point the mortar in a safe direction.
- Correctly calibrate the mortar to the proper firing solution.
- If in trigger firing mode, drop the shell down the barrel and pull the trigger. If in gravity firing mode, drop the shell down the barrel and QUICKLY move your hands away; the shell will fire as soon as it hits the bottom.
Unloading
Note: Can only be done in trigger firing mode.- Point the mortar in a safe direction.
- Tilt the barrel downward and let the shell slide out of the barrel.
Field Stripping
How to disassemble the firearm for cleaning. Presented in a numbered list.
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
chitoryu12 |
Latest page update: made by chitoryu12
, Apr 28 2011, 2:13 AM EDT
(about this update
About This Update
Edited by chitoryu12
366 words added 251 words deleted 1 image added view changes - complete history) |
|
More Info: links to this page
|
| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rogue_Wraith | Correction | 0 | Jul 14 2011, 11:00 PM EDT by Rogue_Wraith | ||
|
Thread started: Jul 14 2011, 11:00 PM EDT
Watch
That image is not of a M224 mortar (despite the fact that it comes up in a Google Image search). It is a picture of an earlier US mortar system - the exact nomenclature escapes me right now, despite an 11C telling me about 3 hours ago.
The M224 that is used today has a different look to the tube, and a round base plate. Unless there are objections, I plan on updating this page when I'm on leave next week. |
||||
Showing 1 of 1 threads for this page
