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</div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Types-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Types subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Types-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Stokes_mortar" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Stokes_mortar"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>Stokes mortar</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Stokes_mortar-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Mortar_carrier" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Mortar_carrier"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>Mortar carrier</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Mortar_carrier-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Gun-mortars" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Gun-mortars"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Gun-mortars</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Gun-mortars-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Spigot_mortar" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Spigot_mortar"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.4</span> <span>Spigot mortar</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Spigot_mortar-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Improvised" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Improvised"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5</span> <span>Improvised</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Improvised-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Syrian_civil_war" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Syrian_civil_war"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5.1</span> <span>Syrian civil war</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Syrian_civil_war-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Sri_Lankan_civil_war" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Sri_Lankan_civil_war"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5.2</span> <span>Sri Lankan civil war</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Sri_Lankan_civil_war-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Modern" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Modern"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Modern</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Modern-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Modern subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Modern-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Design" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Design"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Design</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Design-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Ammunition" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ammunition"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Ammunition</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ammunition-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Precision_guided" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Precision_guided"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>Precision guided</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Precision_guided-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Compared_to_long_range_artillery" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Compared_to_long_range_artillery"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Compared to long range artillery</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Compared_to_long_range_artillery-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Largest_mortars" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Largest_mortars"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Largest mortars</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Largest_mortars-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Mortar (weapon)</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 54 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-54" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">54 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-af mw-list-item"><a href="https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortier" title="Mortier – Afrikaans" lang="af" hreflang="af" data-title="Mortier" data-language-autonym="Afrikaans" data-language-local-name="Afrikaans" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Afrikaans</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%86_(%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD)" title="هاون (سلاح) – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="هاون (سلاح)" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-az mw-list-item"><a href="https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minaatan" title="Minaatan – Azerbaijani" lang="az" hreflang="az" data-title="Minaatan" data-language-autonym="Azərbaycanca" data-language-local-name="Azerbaijani" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Azərbaycanca</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bn mw-list-item"><a href="https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0_(%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0)" title="মর্টার (অস্ত্র) – Bangla" lang="bn" hreflang="bn" data-title="মর্টার (অস্ত্র)" data-language-autonym="বাংলা" data-language-local-name="Bangla" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>বাংলা</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be mw-list-item"><a href="https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%86%D1%96%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Марціра – Belarusian" lang="be" hreflang="be" data-title="Марціра" data-language-autonym="Беларуская" data-language-local-name="Belarusian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Беларуская</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Мортира – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Мортира" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morter_(arma)" title="Morter (arma) – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Morter (arma)" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cv mw-list-item"><a href="https://cv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Мортира – Chuvash" lang="cv" hreflang="cv" data-title="Мортира" data-language-autonym="Чӑвашла" data-language-local-name="Chuvash" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Чӑвашла</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo%C5%BEd%C3%AD%C5%99_(zbra%C5%88)" title="Moždíř (zbraň) – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Moždíř (zbraň)" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mort%C3%A9r" title="Mortér – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Mortér" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%B6rser_(Gesch%C3%BCtz)" title="Mörser (Geschütz) – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Mörser (Geschütz)" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et mw-list-item"><a href="https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BC%C3%BCser" title="Müüser – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et" data-title="Müüser" data-language-autonym="Eesti" data-language-local-name="Estonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Eesti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%8C%CE%BB%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%82" title="Όλμος – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Όλμος" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortero_(arma)" title="Mortero (arma) – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Mortero (arma)" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortero_(arma)" title="Mortero (arma) – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Mortero (arma)" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AE%D9%85%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B2" title="خمپاره‌انداز – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="خمپاره‌انداز" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortier_(arme)" title="Mortier (arme) – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Mortier (arme)" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fy mw-list-item"><a href="https://fy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortier" title="Mortier – Western Frisian" lang="fy" hreflang="fy" data-title="Mortier" data-language-autonym="Frysk" data-language-local-name="Western Frisian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Frysk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ga mw-list-item"><a href="https://ga.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moirt%C3%A9ar" title="Moirtéar – Irish" lang="ga" hreflang="ga" data-title="Moirtéar" data-language-autonym="Gaeilge" data-language-local-name="Irish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Gaeilge</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gl mw-list-item"><a href="https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morteiro_(arma)" title="Morteiro (arma) – Galician" lang="gl" hreflang="gl" data-title="Morteiro (arma)" data-language-autonym="Galego" data-language-local-name="Galician" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Galego</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%B0%95%EA%B2%A9%ED%8F%AC" title="박격포 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="박격포" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hy mw-list-item"><a href="https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D4%B1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%A5%D5%BF" title="Ականանետ – Armenian" lang="hy" hreflang="hy" data-title="Ականանետ" data-language-autonym="Հայերեն" data-language-local-name="Armenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Հայերեն</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortir" title="Mortir – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Mortir" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortaio_(arma)" title="Mortaio (arma) – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Mortaio (arma)" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%92%D7%9E%D7%94" title="מרגמה – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="מרגמה" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kk mw-list-item"><a href="https://kk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Мортира – Kazakh" lang="kk" hreflang="kk" data-title="Мортира" data-language-autonym="Қазақша" data-language-local-name="Kazakh" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Қазақша</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lv mw-list-item"><a href="https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mort%C4%ABra" title="Mortīra – Latvian" lang="lv" hreflang="lv" data-title="Mortīra" data-language-autonym="Latviešu" data-language-local-name="Latvian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Latviešu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lt badge-Q17437798 badge-goodarticle mw-list-item" title="good article badge"><a href="https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortyra" title="Mortyra – Lithuanian" lang="lt" hreflang="lt" data-title="Mortyra" data-language-autonym="Lietuvių" data-language-local-name="Lithuanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lietuvių</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozs%C3%A1r_(l%C3%B6veg)" title="Mozsár (löveg) – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Mozsár (löveg)" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortar" title="Mortar – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Mortar" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-my mw-list-item"><a href="https://my.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%80%85%E1%80%AD%E1%80%94%E1%80%BA%E1%80%95%E1%80%BC%E1%80%B1%E1%80%AC%E1%80%84%E1%80%BA%E1%80%B8" title="စိန်ပြောင်း – Burmese" lang="my" hreflang="my" data-title="စိန်ပြောင်း" data-language-autonym="မြန်မာဘာသာ" data-language-local-name="Burmese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>မြန်မာဘာသာ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortier_(wapen)" title="Mortier (wapen) – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Mortier (wapen)" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%BF%AB%E6%92%83%E7%A0%B2" title="迫撃砲 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="迫撃砲" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-oc mw-list-item"><a href="https://oc.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morti%C3%A8r_(arma)" title="Mortièr (arma) – Occitan" lang="oc" hreflang="oc" data-title="Mortièr (arma)" data-language-autonym="Occitan" data-language-local-name="Occitan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Occitan</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo%C5%BAdzierz" title="Moździerz – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Moździerz" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morteiro" title="Morteiro – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Morteiro" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ro mw-list-item"><a href="https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortier" title="Mortier – Romanian" lang="ro" hreflang="ro" data-title="Mortier" data-language-autonym="Română" data-language-local-name="Romanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Română</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Мортира – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Мортира" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sq mw-list-item"><a href="https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortaja" title="Mortaja – Albanian" lang="sq" hreflang="sq" data-title="Mortaja" data-language-autonym="Shqip" data-language-local-name="Albanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Shqip</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-si mw-list-item"><a href="https://si.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%9D%E0%B6%A7%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%8A" title="මෝටාර් – Sinhala" lang="si" hreflang="si" data-title="මෝටාර්" data-language-autonym="සිංහල" data-language-local-name="Sinhala" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>සිංහල</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple mw-list-item"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortar_(weapon)" title="Mortar (weapon) – Simple English" lang="en-simple" hreflang="en-simple" data-title="Mortar (weapon)" data-language-autonym="Simple English" data-language-local-name="Simple English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Simple English</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk mw-list-item"><a href="https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma%C5%BEiar" title="Mažiar – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk" data-title="Mažiar" data-language-autonym="Slovenčina" data-language-local-name="Slovak" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenčina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sl mw-list-item"><a href="https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo%C5%BEnar" title="Možnar – Slovenian" lang="sl" hreflang="sl" data-title="Možnar" data-language-autonym="Slovenščina" data-language-local-name="Slovenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenščina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B7%D0%B5%D1%80" title="Мерзер – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="Мерзер" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sh mw-list-item"><a href="https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merzer" title="Merzer – Serbo-Croatian" lang="sh" hreflang="sh" data-title="Merzer" data-language-autonym="Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски" data-language-local-name="Serbo-Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%B6rss%C3%A4ri" title="Mörssäri – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Mörssäri" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%B6rsare" title="Mörsare – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Mörsare" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ta mw-list-item"><a href="https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF" title="கணையெக்கி – Tamil" lang="ta" hreflang="ta" data-title="கணையெக்கி" data-language-autonym="தமிழ்" data-language-local-name="Tamil" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>தமிழ்</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-th mw-list-item"><a href="https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B7%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%81" title="ปืนครก – Thai" lang="th" hreflang="th" data-title="ปืนครก" data-language-autonym="ไทย" data-language-local-name="Thai" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ไทย</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tr mw-list-item"><a href="https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havan" title="Havan – Turkish" lang="tr" hreflang="tr" data-title="Havan" data-language-autonym="Türkçe" data-language-local-name="Turkish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Türkçe</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Мортира – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Мортира" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi mw-list-item"><a href="https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%BAng_c%E1%BB%91i" title="Súng cối – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" data-title="Súng cối" data-language-autonym="Tiếng Việt" data-language-local-name="Vietnamese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tiếng Việt</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-yue mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%BF%AB%E6%93%8A%E7%82%AE" title="迫擊炮 – Cantonese" lang="yue" hreflang="yue" data-title="迫擊炮" data-language-autonym="粵語" data-language-local-name="Cantonese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>粵語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%BF%AB%E5%87%BB%E7%82%AE" title="迫击炮 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="迫击炮" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" 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id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Artillery weapon that launches explosive projectiles at a range of angles</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1251242444">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-More_citations_needed plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This article <b>needs additional citations for <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">verification</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help <a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Mortar_(weapon)" title="Special:EditPage/Mortar (weapon)">improve this article</a> by <a href="/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners" title="Help:Referencing for beginners">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.<br /><small><span class="plainlinks"><i>Find sources:</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&q=%22Mortar%22+weapon">"Mortar" weapon</a> – <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&q=%22Mortar%22+weapon+-wikipedia&tbs=ar:1">news</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?&q=%22Mortar%22+weapon&tbs=bkt:s&tbm=bks">newspapers</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&q=%22Mortar%22+weapon+-wikipedia">books</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Mortar%22+weapon">scholar</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22Mortar%22+weapon&acc=on&wc=on">JSTOR</a></span></small></span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">August 2023</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:M120_Mortar_in_Zabol_Province,_Afghanistan.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/M120_Mortar_in_Zabol_Province%2C_Afghanistan.jpg/220px-M120_Mortar_in_Zabol_Province%2C_Afghanistan.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="331" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/M120_Mortar_in_Zabol_Province%2C_Afghanistan.jpg/330px-M120_Mortar_in_Zabol_Province%2C_Afghanistan.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/M120_Mortar_in_Zabol_Province%2C_Afghanistan.jpg/440px-M120_Mortar_in_Zabol_Province%2C_Afghanistan.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2000" data-file-height="3008" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/United_States_Army" title="United States Army">United States Army</a> soldiers firing an <a href="/wiki/Soltam_K6" title="Soltam K6">M120</a> mortar (round visible in smoke) during the <a href="/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%932021)" title="War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)">War in Afghanistan</a></figcaption></figure> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol 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3.3em}@media(max-width:640px){body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .sidebar{width:100%!important;clear:both;float:none!important;margin-left:0!important;margin-right:0!important}}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .sidebar a>img{max-width:none!important}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:none!important}}</style><table class="sidebar sidebar-collapse nomobile nowraplinks hlist"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebar-pretitle">Part of a series on</td></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-title-with-pretitle"><a href="/wiki/Cannon" title="Cannon">Cannons</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-image"><figure class="mw-halign-center notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:(Saint-Lys)_Fauconneau_de_1589.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/%28Saint-Lys%29_Fauconneau_de_1589.jpg/200px-%28Saint-Lys%29_Fauconneau_de_1589.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="141" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/%28Saint-Lys%29_Fauconneau_de_1589.jpg/300px-%28Saint-Lys%29_Fauconneau_de_1589.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/%28Saint-Lys%29_Fauconneau_de_1589.jpg/400px-%28Saint-Lys%29_Fauconneau_de_1589.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6832" data-file-height="4828" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/History_of_cannons" title="History of cannons">History</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Gunpowder_artillery_in_the_Song_dynasty" class="mw-redirect" title="Gunpowder artillery in the Song dynasty">Artillery in the Song dynasty</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gunpowder_artillery_in_the_Middle_Ages" title="Gunpowder artillery in the Middle Ages">Artillery in the Middle Ages</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Naval_artillery_in_the_Age_of_Sail" title="Naval artillery in the Age of Sail">Naval artillery in the Age of Sail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Field_artillery_in_the_American_Civil_War" title="Field artillery in the American Civil War">Field artillery in the US Civil War</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Siege_artillery_in_the_American_Civil_War" title="Siege artillery in the American Civil War">Siege artillery in the US Civil War</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Cannon_operation" title="Cannon operation">Operation</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Rifled_breech_loader" title="Rifled breech loader">Breech-loading</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_cannon_projectiles" title="List of cannon projectiles">List of cannon projectiles</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Muzzleloader" title="Muzzleloader">Muzzleloading</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)">By country</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/English_cannon" title="English cannon">English cannon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bedil_(term)" title="Bedil (term)">Cannons of Maritime Southeast Asia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Artillery_of_Japan" title="Artillery of Japan">Japanese cannon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lantaka" title="Lantaka">Filipino cannon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Korean_cannon" title="Korean cannon">Korean cannon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cetbang" title="Cetbang">Majapahit cannon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mughal_artillery" title="Mughal artillery">Mughal cannon</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)">By type</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Anti-tank_gun" title="Anti-tank gun">Anti-tank gun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Artillery" title="Artillery">Artillery</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Autocannon" title="Autocannon">Autocannon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Basilisk_(cannon)" title="Basilisk (cannon)">Basilisk</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bombard_(weapon)" title="Bombard (weapon)">Bombard</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Breech-loading_swivel_gun" title="Breech-loading swivel gun">Breech-loading swivel gun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Carronade" title="Carronade">Carronade</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Coastal_artillery" title="Coastal artillery">Coastal artillery</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Coilgun" title="Coilgun">Coilgun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Culverin" title="Culverin">Culverin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Demi-cannon" title="Demi-cannon">Demi-cannon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Demi-culverin" title="Demi-culverin">Demi-culverin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Double-barreled_cannon" title="Double-barreled cannon">Double-barreled cannon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Falconet_(cannon)" title="Falconet (cannon)">Falconet</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Field_gun" title="Field gun">Field gun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gun-howitzer" title="Gun-howitzer">Gun-howitzer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gun-mortar" class="mw-redirect" title="Gun-mortar">Gun-mortar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hand_cannon" title="Hand cannon">Hand cannon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hand_mortar" title="Hand mortar">Hand mortar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Helical_railgun" title="Helical railgun">Helical railgun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Howitzer" title="Howitzer">Howitzer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Infantry_support_gun" title="Infantry support gun">Infantry support gun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Large-calibre_artillery" title="Large-calibre artillery">Large-calibre artillery</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Minion_(cannon)" title="Minion (cannon)">Minion</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Mortar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mountain_gun" title="Mountain gun">Mountain gun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Naval_artillery" title="Naval artillery">Naval artillery</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railgun" title="Railgun">Railgun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_gun" title="Railway gun">Railway gun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Recoilless_rifle" title="Recoilless rifle">Recoilless rifle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rifling" title="Rifling">Rifled gun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Saker_(cannon)" title="Saker (cannon)">Saker</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Self-propelled_artillery" title="Self-propelled artillery">Self-propelled artillery</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Siege_cannon" class="mw-redirect" title="Siege cannon">Siege cannon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Smoothbore" title="Smoothbore">Smoothbore</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swivel_gun" title="Swivel gun">Swivel gun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tank_gun" title="Tank gun">Tank gun</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Cannons" title="Template:Cannons"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Cannons" title="Template talk:Cannons"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Cannons" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Cannons"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>A <b>mortar</b> today is usually a simple, lightweight, man-portable, <a href="/wiki/Muzzleloader" title="Muzzleloader">muzzle-loaded</a> <a href="/wiki/Cannon" title="Cannon">cannon</a>, consisting of a <a href="/wiki/Smoothbore" title="Smoothbore">smooth-bore</a> (although some models use a <a href="/wiki/Rifling" title="Rifling">rifled barrel</a>) metal tube fixed to a base plate (to spread out the <a href="/wiki/Recoil" title="Recoil">recoil</a>) with a lightweight <a href="/wiki/Bipod" title="Bipod">bipod</a> mount and a <a href="/wiki/Sight_(device)" title="Sight (device)">sight</a>. Mortars are typically used as <a href="/wiki/Indirect_fire" title="Indirect fire">indirect fire</a> weapons for close <a href="/wiki/Fire_support" title="Fire support">fire support</a> with a variety of ammunition. Historically mortars were heavy <a href="/wiki/Siege" title="Siege">siege artillery</a>. Mortars launch explosive <a href="/wiki/Shell_(projectile)" title="Shell (projectile)">shells</a> (technically called bombs)<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> in high-arching <a href="/wiki/Projectile_motion" title="Projectile motion">ballistic trajectories</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Mortars have been used for hundreds of years. The earliest reported use of mortars was in Korea in a 1413 naval battle when Korean gunsmiths developed the <i>wan'gu</i> (gourd-shaped mortar) (완구, 碗口).<sup id="cite_ref-Turnbull2002_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Turnbull2002-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The earliest version of the <i>wan'gu</i> dates back to 1407.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Ch%27oe_Hae-san" class="mw-redirect" title="Ch'oe Hae-san">Ch'oe Hae-san</a> (1380–1443), the son of <a href="/wiki/Ch%27oe_Mu-s%C5%8Fn" class="mw-redirect" title="Ch'oe Mu-sŏn">Ch'oe Mu-sŏn</a> (1325–1395), is generally credited with inventing the <i>wan'gu</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the <a href="/wiki/Ming_dynasty" title="Ming dynasty">Ming dynasty</a>, general <a href="/wiki/Qi_Jiguang" title="Qi Jiguang">Qi Jiguang</a> recorded the use of a mini cannon called the <a href="/wiki/Hu_dun_pao" title="Hu dun pao">hu dun pao</a> that was similar to the mortar.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The first use in <a href="/wiki/Siege" title="Siege">siege warfare</a> was at the <a href="/wiki/Fall_of_Constantinople" title="Fall of Constantinople">1453 siege of Constantinople</a> by <a href="/wiki/Mehmed_the_Conqueror" class="mw-redirect" title="Mehmed the Conqueror">Mehmed the Conqueror</a>. An Italian account of the <a href="/wiki/Siege_of_Belgrade_(1456)" title="Siege of Belgrade (1456)">1456 siege of Belgrade</a> by Giovanni da Tagliacozzo states that the <a href="/wiki/Ottoman_Turks" title="Ottoman Turks">Ottoman Turks</a> used seven mortars that fired "stone shots one <a href="/wiki/Italian_mile" class="mw-redirect" title="Italian mile">Italian mile</a> high".<sup id="cite_ref-Ágoston2005_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ágoston2005-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The time of flight of these was apparently long enough that casualties could be avoided by posting observers to give warning of their trajectories.<sup id="cite_ref-Babinger1992_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Babinger1992-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Venetian_siege_of_Acropolis.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Venetian_siege_of_Acropolis.jpg/220px-Venetian_siege_of_Acropolis.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="161" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Venetian_siege_of_Acropolis.jpg/330px-Venetian_siege_of_Acropolis.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Venetian_siege_of_Acropolis.jpg/440px-Venetian_siege_of_Acropolis.jpg 2x" data-file-width="626" data-file-height="457" /></a><figcaption>Engraving depicting the Venetian siege of the <a href="/wiki/Acropolis_of_Athens" title="Acropolis of Athens">Acropolis of Athens</a>, September 1687. The trajectory of the shell that hit the Parthenon, causing its explosion, is marked.</figcaption></figure> <p>Early mortars, such as the <a href="/wiki/Pumhart_von_Steyr" title="Pumhart von Steyr">Pumhart von Steyr</a>, were large and heavy and could not be easily transported. Simply made, these weapons were no more than iron bowls reminiscent of the kitchen and apothecary <a href="/wiki/Mortar_and_pestle" title="Mortar and pestle">mortars</a> whence they drew their name. An early transportable mortar was invented by Baron <a href="/wiki/Menno_van_Coehoorn" title="Menno van Coehoorn">Menno van Coehoorn</a> in 1701.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This mortar fired an exploding shell, which had a <a href="/wiki/Fuse_(explosives)" title="Fuse (explosives)">fuse</a> that was lit by the hot gases when fired. The <a href="/wiki/Coehorn" title="Coehorn">Coehorn</a> mortar gained quick popularity, necessitating a new form of naval ship, the <a href="/wiki/Bomb_vessel" title="Bomb vessel">bomb vessel</a>. Mortars played a significant role in the Venetian conquest of <a href="/wiki/Morea" title="Morea">Morea</a>, and in the course of this campaign an <a href="/wiki/Ammunition_depot" class="mw-redirect" title="Ammunition depot">ammunition depot</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Parthenon" title="Parthenon">Parthenon</a> was blown up. An early use of these more mobile mortars as <a href="/wiki/Field_artillery" title="Field artillery">field artillery</a> (rather than <a href="/wiki/Siege_artillery" class="mw-redirect" title="Siege artillery">siege artillery</a>) was by British forces in the suppression of the <a href="/wiki/Jacobite_rising_of_1719" title="Jacobite rising of 1719">Jacobite rising of 1719</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Battle_of_Glen_Shiel" title="Battle of Glen Shiel">Battle of Glen Shiel</a>. High angle trajectory mortars held a great advantage over standard <a href="/wiki/Field_gun" title="Field gun">field guns</a> in the rough terrain of the <a href="/wiki/West_Highlands" class="mw-redirect" title="West Highlands">West Highlands</a> of Scotland. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Virginia,_Petersburg,_Mortar_Dictator_-_NARA_-_533349.tif" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Virginia%2C_Petersburg%2C_Mortar_Dictator_-_NARA_-_533349.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Virginia%2C_Petersburg%2C_Mortar_Dictator_-_NARA_-_533349.tif.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="180" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Virginia%2C_Petersburg%2C_Mortar_Dictator_-_NARA_-_533349.tif/lossy-page1-330px-Virginia%2C_Petersburg%2C_Mortar_Dictator_-_NARA_-_533349.tif.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Virginia%2C_Petersburg%2C_Mortar_Dictator_-_NARA_-_533349.tif/lossy-page1-440px-Virginia%2C_Petersburg%2C_Mortar_Dictator_-_NARA_-_533349.tif.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3000" data-file-height="2456" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/US_Army" class="mw-redirect" title="US Army">US Army</a> 13-inch mortar "Dictator" was a rail-mounted gun of the <a href="/wiki/American_Civil_War" title="American Civil War">American Civil War</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>The mortar had fallen out of general use in Europe by the <a href="/wiki/Napoleonic_era" title="Napoleonic era">Napoleonic era</a>, although <a href="/wiki/Manby_Mortar" class="mw-redirect" title="Manby Mortar">Manby Mortars</a> were widely used on the coast to launch lines to ships in distress, and interest in their use as a weapon was not revived until the beginning of the 20th century. Mortars were heavily used by both sides during the <a href="/wiki/American_Civil_War" title="American Civil War">American Civil War</a>. At the <a href="/wiki/Siege_of_Vicksburg" title="Siege of Vicksburg">Siege of Vicksburg</a>, General <a href="/wiki/Ulysses_S._Grant" title="Ulysses S. Grant">Ulysses S. Grant</a> reported making mortars "by taking logs of the toughest wood that could be found, boring them out for 6 or 12 lb (2.7 or 5.4 kg) shells and binding them with strong iron bands. These answered as <a href="/wiki/Coehorn" title="Coehorn">Coehorns</a>, and shells were successfully thrown from them into the trenches of the enemy".<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>During the <a href="/wiki/Russo-Japanese_War" title="Russo-Japanese War">Russo-Japanese War</a>, Lieutenant General <a href="/wiki/Leonid_Gobyato" title="Leonid Gobyato">Leonid Gobyato</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Imperial_Russian_Army" title="Imperial Russian Army">Imperial Russian Army</a> applied the principles of <a href="/wiki/Indirect_fire" title="Indirect fire">indirect fire</a> from closed firing positions in the field; and with the collaboration of General <a href="/wiki/Roman_Kondratenko" title="Roman Kondratenko">Roman Kondratenko</a>, he designed the first mortar that fired navy shells. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:German_7.58_cm_minenwerfer.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/German_7.58_cm_minenwerfer.jpg/220px-German_7.58_cm_minenwerfer.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="174" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/German_7.58_cm_minenwerfer.jpg/330px-German_7.58_cm_minenwerfer.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/German_7.58_cm_minenwerfer.jpg/440px-German_7.58_cm_minenwerfer.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3324" data-file-height="2626" /></a><figcaption>German 7.5 cm <i>Minenwerfer</i></figcaption></figure> <p>The <a href="/wiki/German_Army_(German_Empire)" class="mw-redirect" title="German Army (German Empire)">German Army</a> studied the <a href="/wiki/Siege_of_Port_Arthur" title="Siege of Port Arthur">Siege of Port Arthur</a>, where heavy artillery had been unable to destroy defensive structures like barbed wire and bunkers. Consequently they developed a short-barrelled rifled muzzle-loading mortar called the <i><a href="/wiki/Minenwerfer" title="Minenwerfer">Minenwerfer</a></i>. Heavily used during <a href="/wiki/World_War_I" title="World War I">World War I</a>, they were made in three sizes: 7.58 cm (2.98 in), 17 cm (6.7 in), and 25 cm (9.8 in). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Types">Types</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Types"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Stokes_mortar">Stokes mortar</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Stokes mortar"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:WilfredStokeswithMortar.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/WilfredStokeswithMortar.jpg/170px-WilfredStokeswithMortar.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="258" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/WilfredStokeswithMortar.jpg/255px-WilfredStokeswithMortar.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/WilfredStokeswithMortar.jpg 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="456" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Wilfred_Stokes" title="Wilfred Stokes">Wilfred Stokes</a> with example of his WWI mortar and bombs</figcaption></figure> <p>It was not until the <a href="/wiki/Stokes_mortar" title="Stokes mortar">Stokes mortar</a> was devised by Sir <a href="/wiki/Wilfred_Stokes" title="Wilfred Stokes">Wilfred Stokes</a> in 1915 during the First World War that the modern mortar transportable by one person was born. In the conditions of <a href="/wiki/Trench_warfare" title="Trench warfare">trench warfare</a>, there was a great need for a versatile and easily portable weapon that could be manned by troops under cover in the trenches. Stokes' design was initially rejected in June 1915 because it was unable to use existing stocks of British mortar ammunition, and it took the intervention of <a href="/wiki/David_Lloyd_George" title="David Lloyd George">David Lloyd George</a> (at that time <a href="/wiki/Minister_of_Munitions" title="Minister of Munitions">Minister of Munitions</a>) and Lieutenant Colonel J. C. Matheson of the Trench Warfare Supply Department (who reported to Lloyd George) to expedite manufacture of the Stokes mortar. The weapon proved to be extremely useful in the muddy trenches of the <a href="/wiki/Western_Front_(World_War_I)" title="Western Front (World War I)">Western Front</a>, as a mortar round could be aimed to fall directly into <a href="/wiki/Trench" title="Trench">trenches</a>, where artillery shells, because of their low angle of flight, could not possibly go.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Stokes mortar was a simple muzzle-loaded weapon, consisting of a smoothbore metal tube fixed to a base plate (to absorb recoil) with a lightweight <a href="/wiki/Bipod" title="Bipod">bipod</a> mount. When a mortar bomb was dropped into the tube, an impact sensitive <a href="/wiki/Percussion_cap#Primers" title="Percussion cap">primer</a> in the base of the bomb would make contact with a firing pin at the base of the tube and detonate, firing the bomb towards the target. The Stokes mortar could fire as many as 25 bombs per minute and had a maximum range of 800 yd (730 m), firing the original cylindrical unstabilised projectile.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A modified version of the mortar, which fired a modern <a href="/wiki/Vertical_stabilizer" title="Vertical stabilizer">fin-stabilised</a> streamlined <a href="/wiki/Projectile" title="Projectile">projectile</a> and had a booster charge for longer range, was developed after World War I;<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> this was in effect a new weapon. By World War II, it could fire as many as 30 bombs per minute and had a range of over 2,500 yd (2,300 m) with some shell types.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The French developed an improved version of the Stokes mortar as the <a href="/wiki/Brandt_Mle_27/31" title="Brandt Mle 27/31">Brandt Mle 27</a>, further refined as the <a href="/wiki/Brandt_Mle_27/31" title="Brandt Mle 27/31">Brandt Mle 31</a>; this design was widely copied with and without license.<sup id="cite_ref-Bishop2002_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Bishop2002-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Norris2002_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Norris2002-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These weapons were the prototypes for all subsequent light mortar developments around the world. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Mortar_carrier">Mortar carrier</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Mortar carrier"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Karl6.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Karl6.jpg/220px-Karl6.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="119" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Karl6.jpg/330px-Karl6.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Karl6.jpg/440px-Karl6.jpg 2x" data-file-width="640" data-file-height="347" /></a><figcaption>The German 60 cm <a href="/wiki/Karl-Ger%C3%A4t" title="Karl-Gerät">Karl-Gerät</a> heavy siege mortar in August 1944</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:M113-mortar-carrier-id2008-5.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/M113-mortar-carrier-id2008-5.jpg/170px-M113-mortar-carrier-id2008-5.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="227" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/M113-mortar-carrier-id2008-5.jpg/255px-M113-mortar-carrier-id2008-5.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/M113-mortar-carrier-id2008-5.jpg/340px-M113-mortar-carrier-id2008-5.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1944" data-file-height="2592" /></a><figcaption>Interior of an <a href="/wiki/Israeli_Defence_Force" class="mw-redirect" title="Israeli Defence Force">Israeli Defence Force</a> M113 mortar carrier showing the placement of an 81 mm mortar</figcaption></figure> <p><a href="/wiki/Mortar_carrier" title="Mortar carrier">Mortar carriers</a> are vehicles which carry a mortar as a primary weapon. Numerous vehicles have been used to mount mortars, from <a href="/wiki/Technical_(vehicle)" title="Technical (vehicle)">improvised civilian trucks</a> used by <a href="/wiki/Insurgency" title="Insurgency">insurgents</a>, to modified <a href="/wiki/Infantry_fighting_vehicle" title="Infantry fighting vehicle">infantry fighting vehicles</a>, such as variants of the <a href="/wiki/M3_half-track" title="M3 half-track">M3 half-track</a> and <a href="/wiki/M113_armored_personnel_carrier" title="M113 armored personnel carrier">M113 armored personnel carrier</a>, to vehicles specifically intended to carry a mortar. Simpler vehicles carry a standard infantry mortar while in more complex vehicles the mortar is fully integrated into the vehicle and cannot be dismounted from the vehicle. Mortar carriers cannot be fired while on the move, and some must be dismounted to fire. </p><p>There are numerous <a href="/wiki/Armoured_fighting_vehicle" title="Armoured fighting vehicle">armoured fighting vehicles</a> and even <a href="/wiki/Main_battle_tank" title="Main battle tank">main battle tanks</a> that can be equipped with a mortar, either outside or inside of the cabin. The Israeli <a href="/wiki/Merkava" title="Merkava">Merkava</a> tank uses a 60 mm (2.4 in) mortar as a secondary armament. The <a href="/wiki/Russian_Ground_Forces" title="Russian Ground Forces">Russian army</a> uses the <i><a href="/wiki/2S4_Tyulpan" title="2S4 Tyulpan">2S4 Tyulpan</a></i> self-propelled 240 mm (9.4 in) heavy mortar which is one of the largest mortars in current use. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Gun-mortars">Gun-mortars</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Gun-mortars"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:2B9_Vasilek_mortar-4058.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/2B9_Vasilek_mortar-4058.JPG/220px-2B9_Vasilek_mortar-4058.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/2B9_Vasilek_mortar-4058.JPG/330px-2B9_Vasilek_mortar-4058.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/2B9_Vasilek_mortar-4058.JPG/440px-2B9_Vasilek_mortar-4058.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2592" data-file-height="1944" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/2B9_Vasilek" title="2B9 Vasilek">2B9 Vasilek 82 mm gun mortar</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Gun-mortars are breech-loaded mortars usually equipped with a <a href="/wiki/Hydraulic_recoil_mechanism" title="Hydraulic recoil mechanism">hydraulic recoil mechanism</a>, and sometimes equipped with an <a href="/wiki/Autoloader" title="Autoloader">autoloader</a>. They are usually mounted on an armoured vehicle and are capable of both <a href="/wiki/Direct_fire" title="Direct fire">direct fire</a> and <a href="/wiki/Indirect_fire" title="Indirect fire">indirect fire</a>. The archetypes are the <a href="/wiki/Brandt_Mle_CM60A1" title="Brandt Mle CM60A1">Brandt Mle CM60A1</a> and <a href="/wiki/Brandt_60_mm_LR_Gun-mortar" class="mw-redirect" title="Brandt 60 mm LR Gun-mortar">Brandt 60 mm LR</a>, which combine features of modern infantry mortars together with those of modern cannon. Such weapons are most commonly smoothbore, firing fin-stabilised rounds, using relatively small propellant charges in comparison to projectile weight. While some have been fitted with rifled barrels, such as the <a href="/wiki/2S31_Vena" title="2S31 Vena">2S31 Vena</a> and <a href="/wiki/2S9_Nona" title="2S9 Nona">2S9 Nona</a>. They have short barrels in comparison to guns and are much more lightly built than guns of a similar calibre – all characteristics of infantry mortars. This produces a hybrid weapon capable of engaging area targets with indirect high-angle fire, and also specific targets such as vehicles and bunkers with direct fire. Such hybrids are much heavier and more complicated than infantry mortars, superior to <a href="/wiki/Rocket-propelled_grenade" title="Rocket-propelled grenade">rocket-propelled grenades</a> in the anti-armour and <a href="/wiki/Bunker_buster" title="Bunker buster">bunker-busting</a> role, but have a reduced range compared to modern gun-<a href="/wiki/Howitzer" title="Howitzer">howitzers</a> and inferior anti-tank capability compared to modern anti-tank <a href="/wiki/Precision-guided_munition" title="Precision-guided munition">guided weapons</a>. However, they do have a niche in, for example, providing a multi-role anti-personnel, anti-armour capability in light mobile formations. Such systems, like the Soviet 120 mm <a href="/wiki/2S9_Nona" title="2S9 Nona">2S9 Nona</a>, are mostly self-propelled (although a towed variant exists). The <a href="/wiki/AMOS" title="AMOS">AMOS</a> (Advanced Mortar System) is an example of an even more advanced gun mortar system. It uses a 120 mm automatic twin-barrelled, breech-loaded mortar turret, which can be mounted on a variety of armoured vehicles and attack boats. A modern example of a gun-mortar is the <a href="/wiki/2B9_Vasilek" title="2B9 Vasilek">2B9 Vasilek</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Spigot_mortar">Spigot mortar</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Spigot mortar"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Blacker_Bombard.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Blacker_Bombard.jpg/220px-Blacker_Bombard.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="221" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Blacker_Bombard.jpg/330px-Blacker_Bombard.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Blacker_Bombard.jpg/440px-Blacker_Bombard.jpg 2x" data-file-width="798" data-file-height="800" /></a><figcaption>A Blacker Bombard during training</figcaption></figure> <p>A spigot mortar consists mainly of a solid rod or <a href="/wiki/Ductile_iron_pipe#Spigot_and_socket" title="Ductile iron pipe">spigot</a>, onto which a hollow tube in the projectile fits—inverting the normal tube-mortar arrangement. At the top of the tube in the projectile, a cavity contains <a href="/wiki/Propellant" title="Propellant">propellant</a>, such as <a href="/wiki/Cordite" title="Cordite">cordite</a>. There is usually a trigger mechanism built into the base of the spigot, with a long firing pin running up the length of the spigot activating a <a href="/wiki/Percussion_cap" title="Percussion cap">primer</a> inside the projectile and firing the propellant charge. The advantage of a spigot mortar is that the firing unit (baseplate and spigot) is smaller and lighter than a conventional tube mortar of equivalent payload and range. It is also somewhat simpler to manufacture. Further, most spigot mortars have no barrel in the conventional sense, which means ammunition of almost any weight and diameter can be fired from the same mortar. </p><p>The disadvantage is that while most mortar bombs have a streamlined shape towards the back that fits a spigot mortar application well, using that space for the spigot mortar tube takes volume and mass away from the payload of the projectile. If a soldier is carrying only a few projectiles, the projectile weight disadvantage is not significant. However, the weight of a large quantity of the heavier and more complex spigot projectiles offsets the weight saved. </p><p>A near-silent mortar can operate using the spigot principle. Each round has a close-fitting sliding plug in the tube that fits over the spigot. When the round is fired, the projectile is pushed off the spigot, but before the plug clears the spigot it is caught by a constriction at the base of the tube. This traps the gases from the propelling charge and hence the sound of the firing. After World War II the Belgium Fly-K silent spigot mortar was accepted into French service as the TN-8111.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:A_hedgehog_launcher_on_display.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/A_hedgehog_launcher_on_display.jpg/220px-A_hedgehog_launcher_on_display.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="146" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/A_hedgehog_launcher_on_display.jpg/330px-A_hedgehog_launcher_on_display.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/A_hedgehog_launcher_on_display.jpg/440px-A_hedgehog_launcher_on_display.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3129" data-file-height="2071" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/Hedgehog_(weapon)" title="Hedgehog (weapon)">hedgehog</a> launcher on display. Note the exposed spigot on the lower left launcher.</figcaption></figure> <p>Spigot mortars generally fell out of favour after World War II and were replaced by smaller conventional mortars. Military applications of spigot mortars include: </p> <ul><li>The 230 mm (9.1 in) petard mortar used on the <a href="/wiki/Churchill_tank#Churchill_AVRE_(Assault_Vehicle_Royal_Engineers)" title="Churchill tank">Churchill AVRE</a> by Britain in World War II.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/320_mm_Type_98_mortar" class="mw-redirect" title="320 mm Type 98 mortar">320 mm (13 in) Type 98 mortar</a> used by Japan in World War II to some psychological effect in the battles of <a href="/wiki/Iwo_Jima" title="Iwo Jima">Iwo Jima</a> and <a href="/wiki/Okinawa_Island" title="Okinawa Island">Okinawa</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Blacker_Bombard" title="Blacker Bombard">Blacker Bombard</a> and <a href="/wiki/PIAT" title="PIAT">PIAT</a> anti-tank launchers used by Britain in World War II.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Hedgehog_(weapon)" title="Hedgehog (weapon)">Hedgehog</a> launcher, used from the deck of a ship, used 24 spigot mortars which fired a diamond pattern of anti-submarine projectiles into the sea ahead of the ship. A sinking projectile detonated if it struck a submarine, and the pattern was such that any submarine partly in the landing zone of the projectiles would be struck one or more times.</li></ul> <p>Non-military applications include the use of small-calibre spigot mortars to launch lightweight, low-velocity foam dummy targets used for training <a href="/wiki/Retriever" title="Retriever">retriever</a> dogs for bird hunting. Simple launchers use a separate small primer cap as the sole propellant (similar or identical to the cartridges used in industrial <a href="/wiki/Nail_gun" title="Nail gun">nail guns</a>). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Improvised">Improvised</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Improvised"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Improvised-mortars-batey-haosef-1-1.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Improvised-mortars-batey-haosef-1-1.jpg/220px-Improvised-mortars-batey-haosef-1-1.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="167" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Improvised-mortars-batey-haosef-1-1.jpg/330px-Improvised-mortars-batey-haosef-1-1.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Improvised-mortars-batey-haosef-1-1.jpg/440px-Improvised-mortars-batey-haosef-1-1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2142" data-file-height="1624" /></a><figcaption>Improvised mortars in Batey ha-Osef Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel</figcaption></figure> <p>Insurgent groups often use improvised, or "homemade" mortars to attack fortified military installations or terrorise civilians. They are usually constructed from heavy steel piping mounted on a steel frame. These weapons may fire standard mortar rounds, purpose-made shells, repurposed gas cylinders filled with explosives and shrapnel, or any other type of improvised explosive, incendiary or chemical munitions. These were called "<a href="/wiki/Barrack_buster" title="Barrack buster">barrack busters</a>" by the <a href="/wiki/Provisional_Irish_Republican_Army" title="Provisional Irish Republican Army">Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA)</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Syrian_civil_war">Syrian civil war</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Syrian civil war"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Improvised mortars used by insurgents in the <a href="/wiki/Syrian_civil_war" title="Syrian civil war">Syrian civil war</a> are known as <a href="/wiki/Improvised_artillery_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Improvised artillery in the Syrian civil war"><i> hell cannons</i></a>. Observers have noted that they are "wildly inaccurate" and responsible for hundreds of civilian deaths.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Sri_Lankan_civil_war">Sri Lankan civil war</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Sri Lankan civil war"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Improvised mortars used in the <a href="/wiki/Sri_Lankan_civil_war" title="Sri Lankan civil war">Sri Lankan civil war</a> by the rebel <a href="/wiki/Tamil_Tigers" class="mw-redirect" title="Tamil Tigers">Tamil Tigers</a> are known as "Pasilan 2000", also known as a "rocket mortar" or "Arti-mortar" like the 122 mm (4.8 in) cannon, successor to the <b>Baba mortar</b> used by the LTTE for ground operations since the 1980s. As Baba mortar rounds contained tar, they caused a fire when they hit the ground.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Baba, the prototype mortar, was crude. But with time the weapon has improved. </p><p>The Pasilan 2000, the improved version, has been developed with characteristics similar to a rocket launcher. The Pasilan 2000 was a heavy mortar fired from a mobile launcher mounted on a tractor. The shell does not emit constant muzzle flares like <a href="/wiki/Artillery" title="Artillery">artillery</a> or MBRL. This is ideal for LTTE's camouflage and conceals attacking style. Once a round is fired, forward observers/spies/civilian spotters can correct the fire. The way the tube is installed is similar to the positioning of rocket pods. The length and calibre of the barrel indicate Pasilan 2000 system has common features to the Chinese made Type 82 130 mm (5.1 in) 30-tube MLRS (introduced by the Palestinian Liberation Army (PLA) in the early 1980s) rather than rail-guided Katyusha variants such as the Qassam Rocket. The warhead weight is 70 kg (150 lb) and it is filled with TNT. It had a range of 15 to 25 km (9.3 to 15.5 mi). The rocket has since then undergone some modifications. The Pasilan 2000 was more lethal than Baba mortar. But it was not heavily used for ground attacks during the <a href="/wiki/Eelam_War_IV" title="Eelam War IV">Eelam War IV</a>. <sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Modern">Modern</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Modern"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Design">Design</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Design"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:81mmMORT_L16.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/81mmMORT_L16.png/170px-81mmMORT_L16.png" decoding="async" width="170" height="249" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/81mmMORT_L16.png/255px-81mmMORT_L16.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/81mmMORT_L16.png/340px-81mmMORT_L16.png 2x" data-file-width="1020" data-file-height="1491" /></a><figcaption>L16 mortar consisting of barrel, base plate and bipod</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:L16_smoothbore.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/L16_smoothbore.png/220px-L16_smoothbore.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="124" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/L16_smoothbore.png/330px-L16_smoothbore.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/L16_smoothbore.png/440px-L16_smoothbore.png 2x" data-file-width="1280" data-file-height="720" /></a><figcaption>Looking down an L16 mortar barrel. Note: fixed firing pin.</figcaption></figure> <p>Most modern mortar systems consist of four main components: a barrel, a base plate, a bipod and a sight. Modern mortars normally range in <a href="/wiki/Caliber" title="Caliber">calibre</a> from 60 mm (2.36 in) to 120 mm (4.72 in). However, both larger and smaller mortars have been produced. The modern mortar is a muzzle-loaded weapon and relatively simple to operate. It consists of a barrel into which the gunners drop a mortar round. When the round reaches the base of the barrel it hits a fixed <a href="/wiki/Firing_pin" title="Firing pin">firing pin</a> that fires the round. The barrel is generally set at an angle of between 45 and 85 degrees (800 to 1500 mils), with the higher angle producing a shorter horizontal trajectory. Some mortars have a moving firing pin, operated by a <a href="/wiki/Lanyard" title="Lanyard">lanyard</a> or <a href="/wiki/Trigger_(firearms)" title="Trigger (firearms)">trigger mechanism</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ammunition">Ammunition</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Ammunition"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><span class="anchor" id="mortar_bomb"></span> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:40th_Cavalry_Regiment_soldier_loads_120_mm_mortar_round_120208-A-ZU930-014.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/40th_Cavalry_Regiment_soldier_loads_120_mm_mortar_round_120208-A-ZU930-014.jpg/220px-40th_Cavalry_Regiment_soldier_loads_120_mm_mortar_round_120208-A-ZU930-014.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/40th_Cavalry_Regiment_soldier_loads_120_mm_mortar_round_120208-A-ZU930-014.jpg/330px-40th_Cavalry_Regiment_soldier_loads_120_mm_mortar_round_120208-A-ZU930-014.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/40th_Cavalry_Regiment_soldier_loads_120_mm_mortar_round_120208-A-ZU930-014.jpg/440px-40th_Cavalry_Regiment_soldier_loads_120_mm_mortar_round_120208-A-ZU930-014.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2790" data-file-height="1860" /></a><figcaption>Mortar round with propellant rings about to be fired</figcaption></figure> <p><a href="/wiki/Ammunition" title="Ammunition">Ammunition</a> for mortars generally comes in two main varieties: fin-stabilised and spin-stabilised. Examples of the former have short fins on their posterior portion, which control the path of the bomb in flight. Spin-stabilised mortar bombs rotate as they travel along and leave the mortar tube, which stabilises them in much the same way as a rifle bullet. Both types of rounds can be either <a href="/wiki/Shell_(projectile)#Illumination" title="Shell (projectile)">illumination</a> (<a href="/wiki/Infrared" title="Infrared">infrared</a> or visible illumination), <a href="/wiki/Shell_(projectile)#Smoke" title="Shell (projectile)">smoke</a>, <a href="/wiki/Shell_(projectile)#High-explosive" title="Shell (projectile)">high explosive</a>, and training rounds. Mortar bombs are often referred to, incorrectly, as "mortars".<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Operators may fire spin-stabilised rounds from either a smoothbore or a rifled barrel. Rifled mortars are more accurate but slower to load. Since mortars are generally muzzle-loaded, mortar bombs for rifled barrels usually have a pre-engraved band, called an obturator, that engages with the rifling of the barrel. Exceptions to this are the U.S. <a href="/wiki/M2_4.2-inch_mortar" title="M2 4.2-inch mortar">M2 4.2-inch mortar</a> and <a href="/wiki/M30_mortar" title="M30 mortar">M30 mortar</a>, whose ammunition has a sub-calibre expandable ring that enlarged when fired. This allows the projectile to slide down the barrel freely but grip the rifling when fired. The system resembles the <a href="/wiki/Mini%C3%A9_ball" title="Minié ball">Minié ball</a> for muzzle-loading rifles. For extra range, propellant rings (augmentation charges) are attached to the bomb's fins. The rings are usually easy to remove, because they have a major influence on the speed and thus the range of the bomb. Some mortar rounds can be fired without any augmentation charges, e.g., the <a href="/wiki/L16_81mm_mortar" title="L16 81mm mortar">81 mm L16 mortar</a>. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><span><video id="mwe_player_1" poster="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm/220px--L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm.jpg" controls="" preload="none" data-mw-tmh="" class="mw-file-element" width="220" height="124" data-durationhint="42" data-mwtitle="L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012,_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons" resource="/wiki/File:L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012,_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a8/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm.480p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="480p.vp9.webm" data-width="854" data-height="480" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a8/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm.720p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="720p.vp9.webm" data-width="1280" data-height="720" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-width="1280" data-height="720" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a8/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm.144p.mjpeg.mov" type="video/quicktime" data-transcodekey="144p.mjpeg.mov" data-width="256" data-height="144" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a8/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm.240p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="240p.vp9.webm" data-width="426" data-height="240" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a8/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm.360p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-transcodekey="360p.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a8/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm/L16_81mm_mortar_fired_by_JGSDF_soldiers_during_Orient_Shield_2012%2C_-31_Oct._2012_a.webm.360p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="360p.vp9.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" /></video></span><figcaption>L16 81 mm mortar fired by <a href="/wiki/JGSDF" class="mw-redirect" title="JGSDF">JGSDF</a> soldiers</figcaption></figure> <table class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"> <caption>Data for 81 mm L16 mortar <sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </caption> <tbody><tr> <th>Charge </th> <th>Muzzle velocity <br /> m/s (ft/s) </th> <th>Range <br /> m (yd) </th></tr> <tr> <td>Primary </td> <td>73 (240) </td> <td>180–520 (200–570) </td></tr> <tr> <td>Charge 1 </td> <td>110 (360) </td> <td>390–1,120 (430–1,220) </td></tr> <tr> <td>Charge 2 </td> <td>137 (450) </td> <td>580–1,710 (630–1,870) </td></tr> <tr> <td>Charge 3 </td> <td>162 (530) </td> <td>780–2,265 (853–2,477) </td></tr> <tr> <td>Charge 4 </td> <td>195 (640) </td> <td>1,070–3,080 (1,170–3,370) </td></tr> <tr> <td>Charge 5 </td> <td>224 (730) </td> <td>1,340–3,850 (1,470–4,210) </td></tr> <tr> <td>Charge 6 </td> <td>250 (820) </td> <td>1,700–4,680 (1,860–5,120) </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Precision_guided">Precision guided</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Precision guided"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:XM395_Precision_Guided_Mortar_Munition.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/XM395_Precision_Guided_Mortar_Munition.jpg/220px-XM395_Precision_Guided_Mortar_Munition.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/XM395_Precision_Guided_Mortar_Munition.jpg/330px-XM395_Precision_Guided_Mortar_Munition.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/XM395_Precision_Guided_Mortar_Munition.jpg/440px-XM395_Precision_Guided_Mortar_Munition.jpg 2x" data-file-width="450" data-file-height="300" /></a><figcaption>Soldiers standing in front of an <a href="/wiki/M1064_mortar_carrier" title="M1064 mortar carrier">M1064 mortar carrier</a>, holding a XM395 Precision Guided Mortar Munition prototype at Fort Benning, Georgia, February 2006</figcaption></figure> <p>The <a href="/wiki/XM395_Precision_Guided_Mortar_Munition" title="XM395 Precision Guided Mortar Munition">XM395 Precision Guided Mortar Munition (PGMM)</a> is a 120 mm <a href="/wiki/Precision-guided_munition" title="Precision-guided munition">guided</a> mortar round developed by <a href="/wiki/Alliant_Techsystems" title="Alliant Techsystems">Alliant Techsystems</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-DID_27-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-DID-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Based on Orbital ATK's Precision Guidance Kit for 155 mm artillery projectiles, XM395 combines <a href="/wiki/Global_Positioning_System" title="Global Positioning System">GPS</a> guidance and directional control surfaces into a package that replaces standard fuses, transforming existing 120 mm mortar bodies into precision-guided munitions.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The XM395 munition consists of a GPS-guided kit fitted to standard 120 mm smoothbore mortar rounds that includes the fitting of a nose and tail subsystem containing the maneuvering parts.<sup id="cite_ref-army29march11_29-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-army29march11-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Strix_mortar_round" class="mw-redirect" title="Strix mortar round">Strix mortar round</a> is a Swedish endphase-guided projectile fired from a 120 mm mortar currently manufactured by <a href="/wiki/Saab_Bofors_Dynamics" title="Saab Bofors Dynamics">Saab Bofors Dynamics</a>. STRIX is fired like a conventional mortar round. The round contains an <a href="/wiki/Infrared" title="Infrared">infrared</a> imaging sensor that it uses to guide itself onto any tank or armoured fighting vehicle in the vicinity where it lands. The seeker is designed to ignore targets that are already burning. Launched from any 120 mm mortar, STRIX has a normal range of up to 4.5 km (2.8 mi). The addition of a special sustainer motor increases the range to 7.5 km (4.7 mi). </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/GMM_120" title="GMM 120">GMM 120</a> (<i>Guided Mortar Munition 120</i>; known as <b>Patzmi</b>; also referred to as <b>Morty</b>) is a GPS and/or <a href="/wiki/Laser" title="Laser">laser</a>-guided mortar munition, which was developed by <a href="/wiki/IMI_Systems" title="IMI Systems">Israel Military Industries</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Another Israeli guided mortar is <a href="/wiki/Iron_Sting" title="Iron Sting">Iron Sting</a>, developed by <a href="/wiki/Elbit" class="mw-redirect" title="Elbit">Elbit</a>. The Russian <a href="/wiki/KM-8_Gran" title="KM-8 Gran">KM-8 Gran</a> is also laser-guided.<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Compared_to_long_range_artillery">Compared to long range artillery</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Compared to long range artillery"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Self-propelled_mortar_based_on_K-4386_during_the_%22Armiya_2020%22_exhibition.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Self-propelled_mortar_based_on_K-4386_during_the_%22Armiya_2020%22_exhibition.jpg/220px-Self-propelled_mortar_based_on_K-4386_during_the_%22Armiya_2020%22_exhibition.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="124" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Self-propelled_mortar_based_on_K-4386_during_the_%22Armiya_2020%22_exhibition.jpg/330px-Self-propelled_mortar_based_on_K-4386_during_the_%22Armiya_2020%22_exhibition.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Self-propelled_mortar_based_on_K-4386_during_the_%22Armiya_2020%22_exhibition.jpg/440px-Self-propelled_mortar_based_on_K-4386_during_the_%22Armiya_2020%22_exhibition.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4608" data-file-height="2592" /></a><figcaption>Self-propelled mortar based on <a href="/wiki/Kamaz_Typhoon#Variants" title="Kamaz Typhoon">K-4386</a> during the "Armiya 2020" exhibition</figcaption></figure> <p>Modern mortars and their ammunition are generally much smaller and lighter than long range <a href="/wiki/Artillery" title="Artillery">artillery</a>, such as <a href="/wiki/Field_gun" title="Field gun">field guns</a> and <a href="/wiki/Howitzer" title="Howitzer">howitzers</a>, which allows light (60 mm (2.4 in)) and medium (81 mm (3.2 in)/82 mm (3.2 in)) mortars to be considered light weapons; i.e. capable of transport by personnel without vehicle assistance. </p><p>Mortars are short-range weapons and often more effective than long range artillery for many purposes within their shorter range. In particular, because of its high, <a href="/wiki/Parabolic_trajectory" title="Parabolic trajectory">parabolic trajectory</a> with a near vertical descent, the mortar can land bombs on nearby targets, including those behind obstacles or in <a href="/wiki/Fortification" title="Fortification">fortifications</a>, such as light vehicles behind hills or structures, or infantry in <a href="/wiki/Trench" title="Trench">trenches</a> or <a href="/wiki/Spider_hole" title="Spider hole">spider holes</a>. This also makes it possible to launch attacks from positions lower than the target of the attack. (For example, long-range artillery could not shell a target 1 km (0.62 mi) away and 30 m (98 ft) higher, a target easily accessible to a mortar.) </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:ATP_3-21.90_Figure_5.1_Example_of_range_coverage_from_defilade.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/ATP_3-21.90_Figure_5.1_Example_of_range_coverage_from_defilade.png/300px-ATP_3-21.90_Figure_5.1_Example_of_range_coverage_from_defilade.png" decoding="async" width="300" height="234" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/ATP_3-21.90_Figure_5.1_Example_of_range_coverage_from_defilade.png/450px-ATP_3-21.90_Figure_5.1_Example_of_range_coverage_from_defilade.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/ATP_3-21.90_Figure_5.1_Example_of_range_coverage_from_defilade.png/600px-ATP_3-21.90_Figure_5.1_Example_of_range_coverage_from_defilade.png 2x" data-file-width="1090" data-file-height="851" /></a><figcaption>Mortar trajectory comparison</figcaption></figure> <p>In <a href="/wiki/Trench_warfare" title="Trench warfare">trench warfare</a>, mortars can use <a href="/wiki/Plunging_fire" title="Plunging fire">plunging fire</a> directly into the enemy <a href="/wiki/Trench" title="Trench">trenches</a>, which is very hard or impossible to accomplish with long range artillery because of its much flatter trajectory. Mortars are also highly effective when used from concealed positions, such as the natural escarpments on hillsides or from woods, especially if <a href="/wiki/Artillery_observer" title="Artillery observer">forward observers</a> are being employed in strategic positions to direct fire, an arrangement where the mortar is in relatively close proximity both to its forward observer and its target, allowing for fire to be quickly and accurately delivered with lethal effect. Mortars suffer from instability when used on snow or soft ground, because the recoil pushes them into the ground or snow unevenly. A <a href="/wiki/Raschen_bag" title="Raschen bag">Raschen bag</a> addresses this problem. </p><p>Fin-stabilised mortar bombs do not have to withstand the <a href="/wiki/Torque" title="Torque">rotational forces</a> placed upon them by rifling or greater pressures, and can therefore carry a higher <a href="/wiki/Payload" title="Payload">payload</a> in a thinner skin than rifled artillery ammunition. Because of the difference in available volume, a smooth-bore mortar of a given diameter will have a greater explosive yield than a similarly sized artillery shell of a gun or howitzer. For example, a 120 mm mortar bomb has approximately the same explosive capability as a 152 mm/155 mm artillery shell. Also, fin-stabilised munitions fired from a smooth-bore, which do not rely on the spin imparted by a rifled bore for greater accuracy, do not have the drawback of veering in the direction of the spin. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Largest_mortars">Largest mortars</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Largest mortars"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">For the largest mortars, see <a href="/wiki/List_of_the_largest_cannon_by_caliber" title="List of the largest cannon by caliber">list of the largest cannon by caliber</a>.</div> <p>From the 17th to the mid-20th century, very heavy, relatively immobile siege mortars were used, of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) calibre, often made of cast iron and with an outside barrel diameter many times that of the bore diameter. An early example was <a href="/wiki/Roaring_Meg_(cannon)" title="Roaring Meg (cannon)">Roaring Meg</a>, with a 15.5 in (390 mm) barrel diameter and firing a 220 lb (100 kg) hollow ball filled with gunpowder and used during the <a href="/wiki/English_Civil_War" title="English Civil War">English Civil War</a> in 1646. </p><p>The largest mortars ever developed were the Belgian "<a href="/wiki/Monster_Mortar" title="Monster Mortar">Monster Mortar</a>" (24 in (610 mm)) developed by <a href="/wiki/Henri-Joseph_Paixhans" title="Henri-Joseph Paixhans">Henri-Joseph Paixhans</a> in 1832, <a href="/wiki/Mallet%27s_Mortar" title="Mallet's Mortar">Mallet's Mortar</a> (36 in (910 mm)) developed by <a href="/wiki/Robert_Mallet" title="Robert Mallet">Robert Mallet</a> in 1857, and the "<a href="/wiki/Little_David" title="Little David">Little David</a>" ((36 in (910 mm)) developed in the United States for use in World War II. Although the latter two had a calibre of 36 in (910 mm), only the "Monster Mortar" was used in combat (at the <a href="/wiki/Siege_of_Antwerp_(1832)" title="Siege of Antwerp (1832)">Battle of Antwerp</a> in 1832).<sup id="cite_ref-Guiness_34-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Guiness-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The World War II German <a href="/wiki/Karl-Ger%C3%A4t" title="Karl-Gerät">Karl-Gerät</a> was a 60 cm (24 in) mortar and the largest to see combat in modern warfare. </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:RoaringMegFront.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Roaring Meg on display at Goodrich Castle"><img alt="Roaring Meg on display at Goodrich Castle" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/RoaringMegFront.jpg/90px-RoaringMegFront.jpg" decoding="async" width="90" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/RoaringMegFront.jpg/135px-RoaringMegFront.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/RoaringMegFront.jpg/180px-RoaringMegFront.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2304" data-file-height="3072" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Roaring Meg on display at Goodrich Castle</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><video id="mwe_player_0" poster="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/LittleDavid.ogv/120px--LittleDavid.ogv.jpg" controls="" preload="none" data-mw-tmh="" class="mw-file-element" width="120" height="90" data-durationhint="207" data-mwtitle="LittleDavid.ogv" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/24/LittleDavid.ogv/LittleDavid.ogv.360p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-transcodekey="360p.webm" data-width="384" data-height="288" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/LittleDavid.ogv" type="video/ogg; codecs="theora, vorbis"" data-width="384" data-height="288" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/24/LittleDavid.ogv/LittleDavid.ogv.144p.mjpeg.mov" type="video/quicktime" data-transcodekey="144p.mjpeg.mov" data-width="192" data-height="144" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/24/LittleDavid.ogv/LittleDavid.ogv.240p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="240p.vp9.webm" data-width="320" data-height="240" /><track src="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/api.php?action=timedtext&title=File%3ALittleDavid.ogv&lang=en&trackformat=vtt&origin=%2A" kind="subtitles" type="text/vtt" srclang="en" label="English ‪(en)‬" data-dir="ltr" /></video></span></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">World War II US Army movie footage of the 914 mm "Little David" mortar</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Carcass_(projectile)" title="Carcass (projectile)">Carcass (projectile)</a>, used in mortars before the modern age</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chemical_mortar_battalion" title="Chemical mortar battalion">Chemical mortar battalion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Coehorn" title="Coehorn">Coehorn</a> a lightweight mortar, sometimes improvised</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Eprouvette" title="Eprouvette">Eprouvette</a></i>, a mortar used to test the strength of gunpowder</li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_heavy_mortars" title="List of heavy mortars">List of heavy mortars</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_infantry_mortars" title="List of infantry mortars">List of infantry mortars</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Livens_Projector" title="Livens Projector">Livens Projector</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191009230638/https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/mortar">"mortar definition"</a>. <i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>. Oxford University Press. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/mortar">the original</a> on October 9, 2019<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">10 October</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Oxford+Dictionary+of+English&rft.atitle=mortar+definition&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lexico.com%2Fen%2Fdefinition%2Fmortar&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Turnbull2002-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Turnbull2002_2-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFStephen_Turnbull2002" class="citation book cs1">Stephen Turnbull (2002). <i>Siege Weapons of the Far East (2): AD 960–1644</i>. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Data.kdata.kr&rft.atitle=%EB%8C%80%EC%99%84%EA%B5%AC&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fdata.kdata.kr%2Fpage%2FDaewangu&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNeedham1987" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Joseph_Needham" title="Joseph Needham">Needham, Joseph</a> (1987). <i><a href="/wiki/Science_and_Civilisation_in_China" title="Science and Civilisation in China">Science and Civilisation in China</a>. Volume 5. Chemistry and Chemical Technology. Part 7. Military Technology: The Gunpowder Epic</i>. Cambridge: <a href="/wiki/Cambridge_University_Press" title="Cambridge University Press">Cambridge University Press</a>. p. 313. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780521303583" title="Special:BookSources/9780521303583"><bdi>9780521303583</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Science+and+Civilisation+in+China.+Volume+5.+Chemistry+and+Chemical+Technology.+Part+7.+Military+Technology%3A+The+Gunpowder+Epic&rft.place=Cambridge&rft.pages=313&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft.date=1987&rft.isbn=9780521303583&rft.aulast=Needham&rft.aufirst=Joseph&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Ágoston2005-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Ágoston2005_6-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGábor_Ágoston2005" class="citation book cs1">Gábor Ágoston (2005). <i>Guns for the Sultan: Military Power and the Weapons Industry in the Ottoman Empire</i>. Cambridge University Press. p. 68. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-84313-3" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-521-84313-3"><bdi>978-0-521-84313-3</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Guns+for+the+Sultan%3A+Military+Power+and+the+Weapons+Industry+in+the+Ottoman+Empire&rft.pages=68&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft.date=2005&rft.isbn=978-0-521-84313-3&rft.au=G%C3%A1bor+%C3%81goston&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Babinger1992-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Babinger1992_7-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFranz_Babinger1992" class="citation book cs1">Franz Babinger (1992). <i>Mehmed the Conqueror and His Time</i>. Princeton University Press. p. 140. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-691-01078-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-691-01078-6"><bdi>978-0-691-01078-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Mehmed+the+Conqueror+and+His+Time&rft.pages=140&rft.pub=Princeton+University+Press&rft.date=1992&rft.isbn=978-0-691-01078-6&rft.au=Franz+Babinger&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFChisholm1911" class="citation encyclopaedia cs1"><a href="/wiki/Hugh_Chisholm" title="Hugh Chisholm">Chisholm, Hugh</a>, ed. (1911). <span class="cs1-ws-icon" title="s:1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Coehoorn, Menno, Baron van"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Coehoorn,_Menno,_Baron_van">"Coehoorn, Menno, Baron van" </a></span>. <i><a href="/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition" title="Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition">Encyclopædia Britannica</a></i>. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 40.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Coehoorn%2C+Menno%2C+Baron+van&rft.btitle=Encyclop%C3%A6dia+Britannica&rft.pages=40&rft.edition=11th&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft.date=1911&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDuffy1985" class="citation book cs1">Duffy, Christopher (1985). <i>The Fortress in the Age of Vauban and Frederick the Great 1660–1789</i> (2017 ed.). Routledge. p. 65. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1138924644" title="Special:BookSources/1138924644"><bdi>1138924644</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Fortress+in+the+Age+of+Vauban+and+Frederick+the+Great+1660%E2%80%931789&rft.pages=65&rft.edition=2017&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=1985&rft.isbn=1138924644&rft.aulast=Duffy&rft.aufirst=Christopher&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S Grant</i>, by Sam Grant, Kindle location 12783,</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.naval-military-press.com/FMPro?-db=nmp%5fproducts.fp5&-format=nmpweb%2fdetail.htm&-lay=cgi&-sortfield=date&Co=NMP&search=History%20of%20the%20Royal%20Regiment%20of%20Artillery.%20Western%20Front%201914-18&-max=20&-recid=35933&-token.0=3668698&-find=">naval-military-press.com</a> <sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot"><span title=" Dead link tagged November 2017">dead link</span></a></i><span style="visibility:hidden; color:transparent; padding-left:2px">‍</span>]</span></sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150115122833/http://www.riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/mortar/mort7.htm">"Stokes Mortar - by WL Ruffell"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/mortar/mort7.htm">the original</a> on 2015-01-15<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2014-07-17</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Stokes+Mortar+-+by+WL+Ruffell&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Friv.co.nz%2Frnza%2Fhist%2Fmortar%2Fmort7.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Ruffell</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">War Dept. Technical Manual TM9-2005, Volume 3, Ordnance Materiel – General, Page 17, December 1942</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Bishop2002-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Bishop2002_15-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFChris_Bishop2002" class="citation book cs1">Chris Bishop (2002). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=MuGsf0psjvcC&pg=PA202"><i>The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II</i></a>. Sterling Publishing Company. p. 202. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-58663-762-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-58663-762-0"><bdi>978-1-58663-762-0</bdi></a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320071908/http://books.google.com/books?id=MuGsf0psjvcC&pg=PA202">Archived</a> from the original on 2015-03-20<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2016-03-27</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Encyclopedia+of+Weapons+of+World+War+II&rft.pages=202&rft.pub=Sterling+Publishing+Company&rft.date=2002&rft.isbn=978-1-58663-762-0&rft.au=Chris+Bishop&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DMuGsf0psjvcC%26pg%3DPA202&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=483">"<i>Brandt mle 27 (Mortier Brandt de 81 mm modele 27)</i> Infantry Mortar"</a>. <i>Militaryfactory.com</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171201132204/https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=483">Archived</a> from the original on 1 December 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Militaryfactory.com&rft.atitle=Brandt+mle+27+%28Mortier+Brandt+de+81+mm+modele+27%29+Infantry+Mortar&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.militaryfactory.com%2Fsmallarms%2Fdetail.asp%3Fsmallarms_id%3D483&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Norris2002-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Norris2002_17-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJohn_Norris2002" class="citation book cs1">John Norris (2002). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=x4Imr80itp0C&pg=PA42"><i>Infantry Mortars of World War II</i></a>. Osprey Publishing. pp. 42–43. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84176-414-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-84176-414-6"><bdi>978-1-84176-414-6</bdi></a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320035007/http://books.google.com/books?id=x4Imr80itp0C&pg=PA42">Archived</a> from the original on 2015-03-20<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2016-03-27</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Infantry+Mortars+of+World+War+II&rft.pages=42-43&rft.pub=Osprey+Publishing&rft.date=2002&rft.isbn=978-1-84176-414-6&rft.au=John+Norris&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dx4Imr80itp0C%26pg%3DPA42&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2021/07/infantry-platoon-mortars/">"A Second Wind For The Lightweight Infantry Mortar"</a>, <i>thinkdefence.co.uk</i>, July 19, 2021</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=thinkdefence.co.uk&rft.atitle=A+Second+Wind+For+The+Lightweight+Infantry+Mortar&rft.date=2021-07-19&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thinkdefence.co.uk%2F2021%2F07%2Finfantry-platoon-mortars%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230314190930/https://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/en/rheinmetall_defence/public_relations/news/detail_1436.php"><i>Fly-K mortar systems – excellent stealth capabilities and tremendous tactical potential</i></a>, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/en/rheinmetall_defence/public_relations/news/detail_1436.php">the original</a> on 2023-03-14</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Fly-K+mortar+systems+%E2%80%93+excellent+stealth+capabilities+and+tremendous+tactical+potential&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rheinmetall-defence.com%2Fen%2Frheinmetall_defence%2Fpublic_relations%2Fnews%2Fdetail_1436.php&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=gN8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA7">"Tank Hurls Flying Dust Bins and Lays Tracks"</a>, <i>Popular Mechanics</i>, Hearst Magazines, p. 7, December 1944</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Popular+Mechanics&rft.atitle=Tank+Hurls+Flying+Dust+Bins+and+Lays+Tracks&rft.pages=7&rft.date=1944-12&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DgN8DAAAAMBAJ%26pg%3DRA1-PA7&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFOliver_Holmes2014" class="citation web cs1">Oliver Holmes (December 12, 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://news.yahoo.com/syrian-rebel-hell-cannons-kill-300-civilians-monitoring-122622024.html">"Syrian rebel "hell cannons" kill 300 civilians: monitoring group"</a>. Reuters. <a href="/wiki/Yahoo!_News" class="mw-redirect" title="Yahoo! News">Yahoo! News</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141216164955/https://news.yahoo.com/syrian-rebel-hell-cannons-kill-300-civilians-monitoring-122622024.html">Archived</a> from the original on December 16, 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 13,</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Syrian+rebel+%22hell+cannons%22+kill+300+civilians%3A+monitoring+group&rft.pub=Reuters&rft.date=2014-12-12&rft.au=Oliver+Holmes&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Fsyrian-rebel-hell-cannons-kill-300-civilians-monitoring-122622024.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://pdfs.island.lk/defence/20130621_147.html">"Forign1"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Forign1&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.island.lk%2Fdefence%2F20130621_147.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2008/02/pasilan-2000-used-by-ltte.html">"Pasilan 2000 used by the LTTE"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Pasilan+2000+used+by+the+LTTE&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.srilankaguardian.org%2F2008%2F02%2Fpasilan-2000-used-by-ltte.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://fdocuments.in/document/dossier-on-ltte-weapons.html">"Dossier on LTTE Weapons – PDF document"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Dossier+on+LTTE+Weapons+%E2%80%93+PDF+document&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Ffdocuments.in%2Fdocument%2Fdossier-on-ltte-weapons.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-25">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">For example: <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150618172023/http://www.archive.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2014/10/03/104204-suspected-second-world-war-mortar-exploded-in-windsor-today">"Suspected Second World War mortar exploded in Windsor today"</a>. <i>Slough Observer</i>. 3 October 2014. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.archive.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2014/10/03/104204-suspected-second-world-war-mortar-exploded-in-windsor-today">the original</a> on 2015-06-18.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Slough+Observer&rft.atitle=Suspected+Second+World+War+mortar+exploded+in+Windsor+today&rft.date=2014-10-03&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.archive.sloughobserver.co.uk%2Fnews%2Froundup%2Farticles%2F2014%2F10%2F03%2F104204-suspected-second-world-war-mortar-exploded-in-windsor-today&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-26">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Hogg, Ian V. <i>The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ammunition</i>, p. 126</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-DID-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-DID_27-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060318070519/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2004/12/alliant-techsystems-takes-army-mortar-contract-again/index.php">"Alliant Techsystems Takes Army Mortar Contract (Again)"</a>. <i>Defense Industry Daily</i>. Dec 7, 2004. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2004/12/alliant-techsystems-takes-army-mortar-contract-again/index.php">the original</a> on 2006-03-18<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2018-06-11</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Defense+Industry+Daily&rft.atitle=Alliant+Techsystems+Takes+Army+Mortar+Contract+%28Again%29&rft.date=2004-12-07&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.defenseindustrydaily.com%2F2004%2F12%2Falliant-techsystems-takes-army-mortar-contract-again%2Findex.php&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170910054040/http://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-systems/armament-systems/xm395/">"XM395 Precision Mortar (120mm)"</a>. <i>Northrop Grumman</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-systems/armament-systems/xm395/">the original</a> on 2017-09-10<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2018-06-11</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Northrop+Grumman&rft.atitle=XM395+Precision+Mortar+%28120mm%29&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.orbitalatk.com%2Fdefense-systems%2Farmament-systems%2Fxm395%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-army29march11-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-army29march11_29-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCalloway2011" class="citation web cs1">Calloway, Audra (29 March 2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.army.mil/article/53988/">"Picatinny fields first precision-guided mortars to troops in Afghanistan"</a>. <i>Army.mil</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161230185717/https://www.army.mil/article/53988">Archived</a> from the original on 2016-12-30.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Army.mil&rft.atitle=Picatinny+fields+first+precision-guided+mortars+to+troops+in+Afghanistan&rft.date=2011-03-29&rft.aulast=Calloway&rft.aufirst=Audra&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.army.mil%2Farticle%2F53988%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.atk.com/ts/singaporeairshow/PDF/datasheets/108747_01_XM395%20ds.pdf">"XM395: 120 mm Precision Mortar"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>ATK Advanced Weapon</i>. 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Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy-defense/140404-israeli-army-tests-gps-guided-mortar-shell">the original</a> on 2014-04-07<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">6 April</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Israeli+army+tests+GPS-guided+mortar+shell&rft.pub=i24news&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.i24news.tv%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fisrael%2Fdiplomacy-defense%2F140404-israeli-army-tests-gps-guided-mortar-shell&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-33">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191102184539/http://www.kbptula.ru/index.php/en/productions/artillery-guided-weapon-systems/malakhit">"<span class="cs1-kern-left"></span>"MALAKHIT" AUTOMATED ARTILLERY FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM"</a>. <a href="/wiki/KBP_Instrument_Design_Bureau" title="KBP Instrument Design Bureau">KBP Instrument Design Bureau</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://kbptula.ru/index.php/en/productions/artillery-guided-weapon-systems/malakhit">the original</a> on 2 November 2019<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">8 May</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=%22MALAKHIT%22+AUTOMATED+ARTILLERY+FIRE+CONTROL+SYSTEM&rft.pub=KBP+Instrument+Design+Bureau&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fkbptula.ru%2Findex.php%2Fen%2Fproductions%2Fartillery-guided-weapon-systems%2Fmalakhit&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Guiness-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Guiness_34-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060210055938/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/index.asp?id=46267">"Largest Mortar"</a>. <i>Guinness World Records</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/index.asp?id=46267">the original</a> on 2006-02-10<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2006-04-04</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Guinness+World+Records&rft.atitle=Largest+Mortar&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guinnessworldrecords.com%2Findex.asp%3Fid%3D46267&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mortar_(weapon)&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mortars" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Mortars">Mortars</a></span>.</div></div> </div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://uklandpower.com/2018/01/11/a-guide-to-modern-mortar-systems/amp/">A Guide to Modern Mortar Systems</a></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130217103519/http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/fm3_22x90.pdf">"Field Manual 3-22.90 – Mortars"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 January</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Field+Manual+3-22.91+%E2%80%93+Mortar+Fire+Direction+Procedures&rft.pub=Department+of+the+Army&rft.date=2008-07-17&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Farmypubs.army.mil%2Fdoctrine%2FDR_pubs%2Fdr_a%2Fpdf%2Ffm3_22x91.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/FM%2023-91.pdf">"Field Manual 23-91 – Mortar Gunnery"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. Department of the Army. 1 March 2000<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 January</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Field+Manual+23-91+%E2%80%93+Mortar+Gunnery&rft.pub=Department+of+the+Army&rft.date=2000-03-01&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marines.mil%2FPortals%2F59%2FPublications%2FFM%252023-91.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMortar+%28weapon%29" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060307222151/http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/YourEnvironment/GreenSpace/Monuments/Mallet%E2%80%99sMortar.htm">Mallet's Mortar, the largest British mortar ever made</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080511230338/http://www.defense-update.com/features/du-1-04/feature-mortars.htm">Defense Update: Modern mobile 120 mm mortars</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" 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