What's a Mortar Attack?

Answer 1

A mortar is a devise that launches explosive tipped shells up to a mile away.

Imagine a tube with bi fold legs. One person sets the range and trajectory, and the other feeds the shell into the tube. There is a firing mechanism that cause the shell to fire off and fly out of the tube at an intended target.

This is known as a mortar attack.

Answer 2

A mortor is a type of artillary. Typically smaller than most artillary, many are small, man-portable, crew-served weapons. They operate by lauching a shell at a very high tragetory. Essentially "lobbing" the shell towards the enemy.

These weapons can be fired from fixed positions or from the back of specially modified vehicals. There have been reports of mortars being fired from the back of pickup trucks in Iraq, Afghanistan, and by other non-state military forces.

I believe the United States uses 60mm, 81mm and 120mm mortars. Common Russian bore sizes range from 50mm to 155 mm.

A typical mortar attack involves one or more units supplying indirect fire to a general area and are not normally used to attack a single specific target. This is done with the help of a forward observer (FO) who monitors where the shells are landing and advises the mortar crews on how to adjust their aim accordingly. There has been deviation from this practice seen in Iraq and Afghanistan where are mortar crew will attack an area or base with 2 or three shell and then retreat in a hit-and-run fashion.

Answer 3

Well, you know the mortar and pestle in the kitchen? The mortar is the hand-held bit and the pestle is the bowl-y bit ... but a mortar with which you would attack someone (well, hopefully not YOU) is the military type of mortar, shaped like a kitchen mortar only much bigger and more dangerous.

The mortars in military use are relatively low velocity shells which are lobbed onto the enemy position, where they explode.

A mortar attack is thus the aggressive delivery of lobbed, explosive missiles into enemy territory.

Answer 4

An attack from a mortar.

Answer 5

I must say that I also agree with sfcjcl. On here you will only get the answers which will only prove to worry you more and raise more questions. I would definitely encourage you to contact your support group if you have one or the base should be able to help you find one. They will be able to answer all your questions and also be able to put you more at ease than some of the clowns that will answer you on here. The last thing you need right now is for someone to tell you something that will unnerve you.

Answer 6

I agree with sfcjcl. Assuming you have a loved one serving in Iraq you are going to drive yourself insane with info like this. Instead spend time writing or sending care packages. I can tell you, from experience that those are the things that meant the most to me. Nothing beat getting a letter or package from home when I was deployed. The more the better so get friends and family involved. Focus on the positive.

Answer 7

mortar is a muzzle-loading artillery piece that fires indirect shells
to destroy an area target good at taking out troops in the open
DONT WORRY :)

Answer 8

Ma'am, you might want to sit back and consider other events going on in your life. I realize this sounds a little mean, but you REALLY need to talk with some of the other wives. Please, reserve your questions to the Family Support Group. They will explain things like this and others in a very clear form. I cannot stress to you enough that any YAHOO can type in things on the Internet which will only serve to upset your nerves even more. Please, contact your husband's Family Support Group.

Answer 9

dont worry the Iraqis dont have aim of there mortars they just prop them up and hit them with a crappy made firing device they have no idea where they are going and they often kill themselves trying to fire them.

Answer 10

something you don't want to be in.