Is this an effective weapon in conjunction with other support units in close combat ?
2006-12-09 05:31:45 · 4 answers · asked by 284561 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
i was a number one mortar man with the 1st battalion the cheshire regiment,and i was in charge of a 81mm mortar team,consisting of a) no.1 -in charge of the sight,aiming and all round admin of the team .... no.2, the feeder..this guy was in charge of feeding the mortars into the barrel,this included pulling the pin and checking the charges on the mortar round no.3..this guy was in charge of the amunition,making sure that the no.2 had a steady supply of rounds at all time to keep max fire for effect
we were part of a company in a battalion,and were known as support company,which also had a machine gun platoon,and a anti-tank platoon
with regards to your actual question,we would be located behind the infantry soldiers but forward of the heavy artillery,basically our job was to keep the enemy down by hammering them with as much firepower so the infantry lads could attack them with ease,and the artillery would help us aswell with their 100lb plus shells and from personal experience when you hear a artillery shell explode a mile away,its loud so i could only imagine what it would be like to be hit with one
mortar teams can also be mechanised(i.e in warrior armoured personal veichles) and a mortar team is more versatile this way but the same tactics apply when mechanised
mortars fire 3 types of ammunition 1) H.E or high explosive,are basically the main type we used and contains rdx t.n.t very powerful 2)white phosphorus these were use to lay the battlefield with smoke and can be as deadly as h.e in close proximerty as phosphorus will stick to your skin while still burning..very nasty and finally illuminating round...these were used for lighting up the battlefield and would have a timer on the end of the round which would be set by the number 2 so as to light up at the right moment
i could go on for ever about this subject but i hope this has given you a breif idea of "mortars"
any more info you need just let me know
all the best
2006-12-09 07:02:01 · answer #1 · answered by brianthesnail123 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the rounds used and the situation. For example it can deliver an effective smoke screen which can allow redepoyment of units or give the enemy a constant barrage of HE rounds. It's very handy and portable. Very similar to the one used by the US.
2006-12-09 13:38:41 · answer #2 · answered by Jon B 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when you think the americans are useing uranium missles were not as bad.
2006-12-09 13:50:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not ask the Taleban. They should know.
2006-12-09 13:35:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋