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Subject: 120mm mortar or 105mm arty?
Goknub    9/26/2002 12:04:33 AM
Thinking out loud, should Australia ditch the 105s and rely on 120mm mortars instead? For long range work the 155mm arty is best and for shorter distances the lighter weight of the 120mm would be an advantage over the 105s.
 
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macawman    RE:120mm mortar or 105mm arty!   5/11/2004 1:29:47 AM
The Corps Warfighting Lab is working on a follow up to EFSS 120mm mortar that will fire and hit targets ON THE MOVE..
 
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Neanderthal    RE:120mm mortar or 105mm arty!   5/13/2004 8:47:36 PM
Having an on-the-move firing capability sounds like requirements creep to me. The critical requirement for this system is that it be able to accompany the vertical assault element of the MAGTF to the objective. Another requirement is that it fit inside the current MV-22. Why dismounted infantry would want a tank is obvious, but that isn't mentioned in the published requirements documents for EFSS. Sounds like someone is trying to dress up a pig.
 
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51Delta    RE:120mm mortar or 105mm arty!   5/30/2004 7:06:00 AM
I read all postings with great interests. perhaps i could share whatever i know about these lovely weapons. i am a trained operator for 120mm mortar. this was what i encountered during my active service with my military. many infantry commanders as well as GUN (artillery) F.O tends to overlook the usefulness of their own mortar platoon. I ever came across an ADF officer during one of the many live firing exercises, who has never seen any 120mm mortar... fitted and fired from inside a U.S made M113 APC! juz because it was not firing from the ground. this explains why there are many military personels who has no contact or near zero knowledge with this lovely 120mm mortar. the usefulness of mortar, be it small or large bore, lies in the efficiency of its commander or platoon leader. so far from all last postings, no one mentioned about using mortars in tracked APCs. its a misunderstanding that it takes a longer time to fire first bomb out from the moment support fire is requested. in fact, it only takes 3 minutes to lay a platoon of 6 barrels and another 4 minutes to shoot out its first bomb. the entire platoon could scoot out of the area in under 5 minutes! it could even fire while in a stationary convoy! re-supply is not an issue as its ammo supply train will never be far behind. each mortar bearing M113 has the capacity to sustain up to 10 minutes or 60 bombs for FFE with HE and WP. the beauty of mortar is tat it could be fired in less dense jugle where good natural concealment is offered. the hull of M113 provides cover from small arms fire. and for goodness sake.....mortar is an indirect AREA weapon, it is not designed as a direct pin-point weapon. where mobilty is concerned....nothing beats the ability to fire from inside a tracked vehicle with ease as well as the ability to scoot in the shortest warning time given. a mortar platoon could even perform the role of a min-firebase, be it firing from dug-in position or direct from its armoured APCs. comouflaging is a breeze compared to artillery pieces.
 
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Aussiegunner    RE:120mm mortar or 105mm arty! - 51Delta    5/30/2004 8:36:11 AM
"comouflaging is a breeze compared to artillery pieces." I can't imagine it would be any easier to camoflage an M-113 mounted mortar, than it is a 105. It used to take us a couple of minutes to role a camoflage net over our guns, once they were deployed. On one occassion, the cam net was so effective, that I had to wave off a Kiowa that was about to land on the gun!
 
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51Delta    120mm mortar in M113    5/30/2004 3:24:52 PM
you have to see to believe. juz under 5 min is the standard timing to set up comouflage net for the each M113 vehicle. actually these were used by the U.S army before but not sure if they still using it for the marines and airborne forces. M113 is deployable from C-130 and troops landing crafts. otherwise it can swim to shore. if u believe it.
 
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