Improved Japanese small arms

[Cryhavoc101]

I would add that the British had one 2" mortar in each platoon and while it was used to lob HE its main role was as a smoke screen maker to mask known enemy positions to better enable the platoons rifle sections to manoeuvre. And at night it was useful for firing illumination rounds.

Here accuracy is not as important.

From here

The recommended number of mortar rounds on hand would be 12 high explosive (HE) and 18 smoke rounds. Illumination rounds could substitute any number of HE or Smoke rounds as necessary. Generally, 18 HE and 42 smoke rounds were kept in reserve. The distribution within the mortar detachment was as follows:

• Mortar Commander - 3 HE, 9 Smoke
• Mortar No. 1 - 3 HE, 3 Smoke
• Mortar No. 2 - 6 HE, 6 Smoke

The bombs were carried in a pack of 3 tubes each carrying 2 rounds (either 6 HE, 6 Smoke or 6 Illumination rounds) - so the section would carry 5 of these packs (2 x 6 HE and 3 Smoke + I suspect swapping the smoke for Illumination at night).

 

[McPherson]

You do realize the mortar man has to hold the thing on target while he simultaneously check the bubble level, line up the grove used for a sight, use another hand to fire, and then adjust for the miss and re-aim for each following shot? Compare that to the French mortar. It takes no more time to aim. Once you’re on target just drop several more bombs down the muzzle.

Really?

Until one understands that good enough and close enough counts for horseshoes and hand grenades, and pay attention to HOW the damned things were used.

The British did not even use a spirit level. They painted a stripe on it. It was brace the spade into the ground, drop a round, pull the trigger and goodbye to the guys at the other end of the angle solution.

 

[Cryhavoc101]

You do realize the mortar man has to hold the thing on target while he simultaneously check the bubble level, line up the grove used for a sight, use another hand to fire, and then adjust for the miss and re-aim for each following shot? Compare that to the French mortar. It takes no more time to aim. Once you’re on target just drop several more bombs down the muzzle.

3 men on the 2"

Commander, mortar man and assistant

 

[McPherson]

3 men on the 2"

Commander, mortar man and assistant

One to assign and spot.
One to operate.
One to be the mule.

IJA combined it into one man.

 

[Richard V]

Really?

Until one understands that good enough and close enough counts for horseshoes and hand grenades, and pay attention to HOW the damned things were used.

The British did not even use a spirit level. They painted a stripe on it. It was brace the spade into the ground, drop a round, pull the trigger and goodbye to the guys at the other end of the angle solution.

You want to know how the British used them? Mostly for smoke. They didn’t typically issue frag with those.

 

[McPherson]

You want to know how the British used them? Mostly for smoke. They didn’t typically issue frag with those.

I would add that the British had one 2" mortar in each platoon and while it was used to lob HE its main role was as a smoke screen maker to mask known enemy positions to better enable the platoons rifle sections to manoeuvre. And at night it was useful for firing illumination rounds.

Here accuracy is not as important.

From here

The recommended number of mortar rounds on hand would be 12 high explosive (HE) and 18 smoke rounds. Illumination rounds could substitute any number of HE or Smoke rounds as necessary. Generally, 18 HE and 42 smoke rounds were kept in reserve. The distribution within the mortar detachment was as follows:

• Mortar Commander - 3 HE, 9 Smoke
• Mortar No. 1 - 3 HE, 3 Smoke
• Mortar No. 2 - 6 HE, 6 Smoke

The bombs were carried in a pack of 3 tubes each carrying 2 rounds (either 6 HE, 6 Smoke or 6 Illumination rounds) - so the section would carry 5 of these packs (2 x 6 HE and 3 Smoke + I suspect swapping the smoke for Illumination at night).

View attachment 579648

Cryhavoc answered that one. Issued and USED.

 

[yulzari]

2" mortar. Been there. Done that. The white line and a few practice rounds are all you need to drop your rounds of smoke or illumination where you want. I am sure modern materials could make a lighter weight 2" mortar than the old Ordnance Smooth Bore Muzzle Loaded Two Inch Mortar made in 1938 at 10.5lb. but the old boy could do a great job.