| 160 mm mortar M-160 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Mortar |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1953-present |
| Wars |
|
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Tula Plant No. 535 (now Tulamashzavod)[1] V111, V113 and V125 Plant (Vietnam)[2] |
| Produced | 1949-1957 (USSR) 1974 (Vietnam, with support from USSR) |
| No. built | 2,353 (USSR) 100 (Vietnam) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | combat: 1,470 kilograms (3,240 lb) |
| Barrel length | 4.55 metres (14.9 ft)[3] |
| Crew | 7 |
| Shell | 41.5 kilograms (91 lb) bomb |
| Caliber | 160 millimetres (6.3 in)[3] |
| Elevation | +50° to +80°[3] |
| Traverse | 24° |
| Rate of fire | 2-3 rounds/minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 343 metres per second (1,130 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 8,040 metres (8,790 yd) |
The Soviet 160 mm Mortar M-160 is a smoothbore breech loading heavy mortar which fired a 160 mm shell. It replaced the 160mm Mortar M1943 in Soviet service after World War II.
It is very similar to the M1943 mortar but has a longer barrel, thus enabling a greater range.[4] Loading the mortar requires the breech to be released from the baseplate and swung into a horizontal position, after loading the round it is returned to its original position.[3] It is mounted on a wheeled carriage, in order to be towed by trucks such as the GAZ-66. China copied it as the Type 56 mortar.[5]
The M-160 has a minimum range of 750 meters and a maximum range of 8040 meters.[3]
According to the combat doctrine of the Vietnamese People's Army, the 160mm mortar was developed to destroy the enemy's fortified bunkers and trenches, and can also be used to ambush military bases. The mortar can be deployed in all terrains such as hills, urban areas or plains, etc. To be most effective, it is usually deployed in hilly and urban areas where the target is often hidden.[6]
It was introduced in 1953.[5] Originally deployed as a standard mortar for all types of division, it is currently particularly used as mountain or urban artillery. Some countries still use it as field artillery.[4] China originally deployed 12 Type 56 mortars per field division. The M-160 saw service during the Arab–Israeli conflict, including the Lebanese Civil War, with the Indian Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and by North Vietnamese Army in 1975 spring offensive during Vietnam War[5][7]
Cambodia[9]
Mongolia[10]
Myanmar: Type-56 variant.[11][12]
Nicaragua: 4 in store[13]
Syria[14]
People's Republic of China[4]
Egypt[4]
India[4]
Iraq[15]
Poland[4]
Romania[4]
Vietnam: 100 locally-produced[4]
North Korea[4]
