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Post by EXO on Aug 20, 2008 20:57:56 GMT 8
I have completed an article on one of the more curious, but practical weapons of the SWPA - a low trajectory mortar designed to direct fire mortar rounds into caves and tunnels. THIS ISN'T IT! READ THE ARTICLE AT corregidor.org/heritage_battalion/petzelt/petzelt_mortar.htmlDoes anyone have a picture of Petzelt's rare beast?
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Post by Hubert Caloud on Aug 21, 2008 20:47:44 GMT 8
Link to information on prototype shoulder fired tripod mounted 60mm www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/IV/USMC-IV-III-2.htmlRelevent parts down towards bottom of page. I have a picture of practice firing on Pavuvu somewhere.... During the division's training period, two newly developed weapons were received. The Navy Mark I flamethrower was capable of throwing a flame of blazing napalm 24 to a distance of 150 yards and sustaining it for 80 seconds. Three of the flamethrowers were mounted on LVTs, while another LVT was equipped to serve as a supply carrier for the napalm mixture. Although slated for employment primarily against beach pillboxes during the assault landings, the new weapon was to prove its great value in reducing dug-in fortifications farther inland. The other new weapon was the 60mm shoulder mortar, adapted to fire from a light machine gun mount and designed for flat trajectory fire against pillbox and cave openings. Some of its parts, however, proved too weak to stand the rough wear and tear of combat, and Marines who had to lug the weapon around complained of its heaviness. Even more serious was the recoil, which was so severe that the gunner had to be relieved after firing only two to four rounds. Since this new weapon's function duplicated that of the bazooka, which gave a good performance on coral-surfaced Peleliu, Marines were inclined to hold the shoulder mortar in less regard than the older and more familiar weapon. I re-read your article and it called it the M-2 60mm Mortar while I was sure ours were called M-19's. I know ours were WWII Bipods as they had 1945 Brass plates on them. I probably can check my old USMC manuals but am sure they were M-19's as it was drilled into my head. The two entries on Wikepedia make it sound like the M-19 was developed in 1942 but can't really come to conclusions reading the articles.........Anyway just kind of trivia not that important..... Bert
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Post by Martyn Keen on Aug 21, 2008 20:51:24 GMT 8
The newer M224 60mm Light Mortar is both trigger and drop fired. Maybe Petzelt's mortar lives on after all.
With the M224, a good crew of three can get 15 -20 rounds into the air before the first round hits the target. With enough ammunition, the mortar was a deadly weapon.
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Post by Hubert Caloud on Aug 21, 2008 20:59:01 GMT 8
224's though I think were adopted in the 80's not 90's.
I was in 1st Bn 2nd Marines 1986-1989 and that's the first time I was around them. The gunnery problems were significantly more complicated because of the vastly increased range..a very good weapon that has since killed a lot of bad guys!
Bert
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Post by EXO on Aug 21, 2008 21:25:13 GMT 8
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