M1 mortar


The M1 mortar is an American 81 millimeter caliber mortar. It was based on the French Brandt mortar. The M1 mortar was used from before World War II until the 1950s when it was replaced by the lighter and longer ranged M29 mortar.
The VPA used many M1 mortars captured from France and self-produced, equipped to battalions and regiments.

General data

Weight:
  • Tube 44.5 lb
  • Mount 46.5 lb
  • Base plate 45 lb
  • *Total

    Ammunition

  • M43A1 light HE: 7.05 lb ; HE filling 1.22 lb ; range min 100 yd ; range max 3300 yd ; 80% frag radius 25 yd . M52 superquick fuze.
  • M43A1 light training: an empty version of the M43A1 light HE with an inert fuze. It was used as a training shell until it was replaced by the M68 training practice shell.
  • M45 heavy HE: 15.10 lb ; HE filling 4.48 lb ; range max 1275 yd ; bursting radius comparable to the 105 mm howitzer. Equipped with M45 or M53 P.D. fuze.
  • M56 heavy HE: 10.77 lb ; HE filling 4.31 lb ; range max 2655 yd, standard for issue and manufacture shell replacing M45. It used the M53 fuze back in 1944, but it was at some point replaced by the M77 Timed Super Quick fuze.
  • M57 WP "bursting smoke": 10.74 lb ; range max 2470 yd ; designed to lay down screening smoke, but had definite anti-personnel and incendiary applications.
  • M57 FS chemical smoke: 10.74 lb, range max 2470 yd ; laid down dense white fog consisting of small droplets of hydrochloric and sulfuric acids. In moderate concentrations, it is highly irritating to the eyes, nose, and skin.
  • M68 training practice: 9.50 lb to 10.10 lb. An inert teardrop-shaped cast iron shell without provision for a fuze well that was used to simulate the M43 light HE shell. The casing on early models was painted black but post-World War 2 versions are painted blue. It came in 9 different weights to allow it to simulate shell firing with and without booster charges. Weight zone one simulated a shell with the maximum of 8 booster charges and weight zone nine simulated the shell being fired without booster charges.
  • M301 illuminating shell: range max 2200 yd ; attached to parachute; burned brightly for about 60 seconds, illuminating an area of about 150 yards diameter. It used the M84 time fuze, which was adjustable from 5 to 25 seconds before priming charge detonated, releasing the illuminator and chute.

    Fuzes

The M1 mortar's shells sometimes used the same fuzes as the shells for the M2 60 mm mortar. An adapter collar was added to the smaller fuzes to allow them to fit the larger shells.
  • M43 mechanical timing fuze: clockwork timed delay fuze. Models M43A5.
  • M45 point detonating fuze: selective fuze that could be set for time delay or super-quick detonation on impact. Replaced by the M52 and M53 fuzes.
  • M48 point detonating fuze: selective powder train burning fuze that can be set to super quick or delay ignition on impact. The factory pre-set delay time was stamped on the shell body. If the super-quick flash ignition failed, the delay fuse kicked in. If set on delay, the super-quick flash igniter mechanism was immobilized to prevent premature ignition. Models: M48, M48A1, M48A2, & M48A3.
  • M51 point detonating fuze: selective powder train burning fuze that can be set to super quick or delay ignition after impact. It is a modification of the M48 fuze with the addition of a booster charge. Models: M51A4, M51A5.
  • M52 point detonating super-quick fuze: super-quick fuze that activates less than a second after impact. The pre-war M52 was made of aluminum, the M52B1 model was made of Bakelite, and the M52B2 model had a Bakelite body and an aluminum head; the suffix would be added to the shell designation.
  • M53 point detonating delay fuze: delay fuze that activates after impact.
  • M54 time and super-quick fuze: powder train burning fuze that can be set for time delay or super-quick detonation on impact.
  • M77 time and super quick fuze: powder train burning fuze that can be set for time delay or super-quick detonation on impact.
  • M78 concrete penetrating fuze: delay fuze that was set off after the shell had impacted and buried itself to increase the damage done.
  • M84 mechanical timing fuze: clockwork fuze that can be set from 0 to 25 seconds in 1-second intervals; seconds were indicated by vertical lines and 5-second intervals were indicated by metal bosses to allow it to be set in low-light or night-time conditions.
  • M84A1 mechanical timing fuze: clockwork fuze that can be set from 0 to 50 seconds in 2-second intervals.

    Users

It may be found in nearly all the non-Communist countries, including: