ORGANIC SUPPORT WEAPONS: 60-MM MORTAR AND AT4

The mortar is perhaps the oldest type of firearm known to mankind, and its existence dates back as early as the fourteenth century. At that time, it was nothing more than a shallow steel pot filled with gunpowder and rocks that was aimed in the general direction of the target and fired by touching the powder with a red-hot iron rod. As you can guess, it was very inaccurate; however, it did possess one extremely important characteristic that is just as important today as it was then. This characteristic is the high angle of fire that enables it to be fired over obstacles, such as hills, forests, walls, or other defenses. As you can see, this is very important. The weapon can reach and destroy targets beyond the capabilities of flat trajectory weapons, such as a rifle, but the crew firing it is also protected from enemy observation and fire by these same obstacles.

The modern mortar is an extremely accurate and effective weapon that has an adjustable biped and telescopic sight (fig. 14- 1). The modern mortar has a

Figure 14-1.-The 60-mm lightweight mortar (M224).

one- or two-piece baseplate that allows it to be fired in any direction.

A variety of shells and fuzes have been developed to make the 60-mm mortar a versatile weapon. It can be used as either an offensive or a defensive weapon.