100Close Combat

81-mm Mortar (81-mm Mortar,

M1 with Mount M1)

Standard and Short 8-cm Mortars

Caliber 81.4 mm (3.2 in.)

Weight 56.4 kg (124 lbs)/28.2 kg (62 lbs) Overall length 123 cm (48 in.)/96 cm (37.8 in.) Rate of fire 18 to 35 rounds per minute

Range 2,400 m (2,625 yds)/1,100 m (1,200 yds)

When the war began, the German army’s primary mortar was the 8-cm Schwerer Granatenwerfer 34 (8-cm heavy mortar, model 34). As the war pro- gressed, the Germans developed a short 81-mm mortar, the 8-cm Kurzer Granatenwerfer 42 (8-cm short mortar, model 42) in order to retain the firepower of the standard 8-cm mortar in a lighter, more easily portable weapon. Weighing half as much as the standard mortar, this shorter weapon had about half its range, but all of its destructive power. Weapons like this were ideal for close-in artillery support and for laying down harassing fire in the constricted hedgerow country of Normandy.

Caliber 81 mm (3.18 in.)

Muzzle velocity 213 mps (700 fps) Weight 61.2 kg (136 lbs)

Overall length 115.6 cm (45.5 in.)

Rate of fire 18 rounds per minute (normal), 35 rounds per minute (maximum)

Range 2,994 m (3,290 yds)

The 81-mm mortar used by the Americans had its roots in the mortar invented by Sir Frederick Wilfrid Scott Stokes, known as the “British Stokes” mortar. This earlier mortar consisted of a smoothbore tube with a fixed firing pin at the bottom. The tube was fitted into a base plate that rested on the ground; the plate helped dissipate the recoil shock. A bipod, which was adjustable for elevation, supported the front end of the tube. The 81-mm mortar used during World War II was similar to the Stokes, although this newer mortar embodied a number of important improvements. The tube was strengthened to handle the higher pressures created by modern ammunition, a cross-leveling mechanism was added, and the sight was much improved. The mortar crew usually consisted of three men, although two men could carry, set up, and fire this mortar. Hand carts were often issued with the 81-mm mortar; some were even mounted on halftracks.

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Microsoft Close Combat manual