M224 mortar

The M224 system is composed of these parts:

• M225 Cannon: 14.4 lb (6.5 kg)
• M170 Bipod: 15.2 lb (6.9 kg)
• M7A1 Baseplate for use in conventional mode: 9.6 lb (4.4 kg) or
  • M8 baseplate for use in handheld mode: 3.6 lb (1.6 kg)
• M64A1 Sight Unit (The M67 Sight Unit is now widely used for the system): 2.5 lb (1.1 kg)

The mount consists of a bipod and a base plate, which is provided with screw type elevating and traversing mechanisms to elevate/traverse the mortar. The M64A1 sight unit is attached to the bipod mount. The mortar can be fired in the conventional mode or the handheld mode. This smooth-bore system can be gravity-fired or fired by using a manual spring-loaded trigger.

It is typically fielded at the infantry company level. A small mortar section with two mortars was organic to Army rifle companies (light, airborne, air assault) and Ranger companies. Marine rifle companies have a section with three 60mm mortars in the company weapons platoon.

The M224 LWCMS (Lightweight Company Mortar System) replaced the older (WWII-era) 60 mm M2 mortar and the inaccurate M19 Mortar and began fielding as prototypes in the mid-1970s during the Vietnam War. The M2s and M19s had an effective range of only 2,000 m (2,187 yd). While the M224s were designed to fire all types of the older ammunition, their primary rounds are of the newer, longer-range type that range out to 3,489 m (3,816 yd).

In 2011, an improved M224A1 version was brought into service.[3] The M224A1 consists of the M225A1 tube, M170A1 bipod assembly, M7A1 baseplate, M8 auxiliary baseplate and the M64A1 sight unit.[3] By reducing the number of components and using lighter materials, the M224A1 mortar system weighs at about 37.5 lbs (17 kg) which is 20% less with a reduction of 9.3 lb (4 kg) compared to the original M224.[3] The US Army plans to replace all legacy M224s with the new M224A1.[3] Concurrently, a lighter version of the 81mm M252 mortar was also developed.

The M224 Mortar can fire the following principal classifications of training and service ammunition:

• High explosive (HE): Designations M888, M720, and M720A1. Used against personnel and light material targets.
  • M1061: Improved HE with insensitive munitions performance-enhancing fragmentation warhead.[4]
• Smoke Cartridge (WP): Designation M722. Used as a screening, signaling, or marking munition.[5]
• Illumination (ILLUM): Used in night missions requiring illumination for assistance in observation.
• Training practice (TP): Designation M50A2/A3. Used for training in limited areas. These rounds are obsolete and no longer used.
• Red Phosphorus: Can not be fired by the 60mm mortar
• Full Range Practice Cartridges (FRPC): Designation M769. This round is used for practice or clearing misfires.
• M1061 MAPAM: SAAB Technologies produced Multi-Purpose Anti-Personnel Anti-Material round.

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  Army mortarman in Afghanistan, 2004. Conventional mode.
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  Marine mortarman in Afghanistan, 2010. Handheld mode.
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  Handheld configuration in Afghanistan, 2010.
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  Massachusetts Mortar Platoon with M224 mortar Fires for Effect at Camp Atterbury.
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  M224A1.
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  M224A1 mortarman in Yakima Training Center, 2013

• General articles:
  • Artillery
  • Military technology and equipment
  • Mortar (weapon)
• Similar weapons:
  • M252 mortar
  • M6 mortar - comparable Austrian 60mm mortar
• Listings:
  • List of artillery
  • List of crew served weapons of the US Armed Forces

Wikimedia Commons has media related to M224 Mortar.

• US Army Fact File: M224
• Operators manual – USMC
• (video) DVIDS: US Marines testing firing M224A1, July 2011