The M1 mortar is an American 81 millimeter caliber mortar. It was based on the French Brandt mortar. The M1 mortar was used from before World War II until the 1950s when it was replaced by the lighter and longer ranged M29 mortar.
| M1 Mortar | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Infantry mortar |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1935–1952[1] |
| Used by | United States Vietnam Other users |
| Wars | World War II Korean War Algerian War[2] Vietnam War |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | see general data |
| Length | 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) |
| Crew | 8 (squad leader, gunner, assistant gunner, 5 ammunition bearers) |
| Shell | see ammunition |
| Caliber | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Rate of fire | 18 rpm sustained 30-35 rpm maximum |
| Muzzle velocity | 700 ft/s (210 m/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 3,300 yd (3,000 m) |
| Sights | M4 |
Weight:
The M1 Mortar's shells sometimes used the same fuzes as the shells for the M2 60 mm mortar. An adapter collar was added to the smaller fuzes to allow them to fit the larger shells.
It may be found in nearly all the non-Communist countries,[3] including:
Austria: used on M21 Mortar Motor Carriage[4]
Belgium: made under license[3]
Republic of China[5]
Colombia[6]
Dominican Republic[7]
Ethiopia[8]
France[2][9]
Greece[10][11]
Guatemala[12]
Haiti[13][14]
Honduras[15]
Japan[16]
Laos[17]
Libya[18]
Mexico[19]
Myanmar:M-43[20][21][22]
South Korea: The Armed Forces was equipped with 386 M1s before the Korean War, and 822 were in service with the Army by the end of the war. Began replacing with M29A1 or KM29A1 in 1970s.[23]
Turkey[10]
Thailand[citation needed]
United States
Uruguay[24]
South Vietnam[25]
North Vietnam
Vietnam[26]