The M720 60mm High Explosive (HE) cartridge with M734 Multi-Option Fuze is designed for use with the M224 Lightweight Company Mortar System (LWCMS) in all light infantry battalions including Airborne, Air Assault and Ranger. This gives it an effective blast radius of 35 - 40 meters. z9=+Xykm{hNS:Zo6yc!7:#u! >stream endstream endobj 2602 0 obj <>stream The regular baseplate, auxiliary baseplate and sight unit remain unchanged. Full Range Practice Cartridges (FRPC): Designation M769. In one smooth motion, the gunner lifts the base of the mortar with the M8 baseplate to the horizontal position. The base cap end of the cannon has cooling fins on the outside, which reduce heat generated during firing. %%EOF The kill radius of the 10-pound HE round is approximately 35 meters. A snap hook is fixed to the cable to secure the bipod legs when they are collapsed for carrying. Cartridges must be free of such foreign matter before firing. d. Ammunition should always be stored under cover. (d) Placing the mortar in position at night does not relieve the gunner of the responsibility for checking for mask and overhead clearance. Ensure that ammunition does not become water-soaked. The M224 is a 60mm light mortar of US origin. The maximum rate of fire is 30 rounds per minute with 20 rounds per minute being standard. (1) In combat, store ammunition underground such as in bunkers. Also, explosive elements in primers and fuzes are sensitive to strong shock and high temperature. It has a socket in which the barrel can be locked to the baseplate by securing the locking arm. The type of ammunition selected to engage targets depends on the elevation. It is muzzle loaded and drop fired. The tabulated data of the 60-mm mortar are as shown in Table 3-1. - M225A1 lightweight tube The hand crank is turned clockwise to depress, and counterclockwise to elevate. Weapon Info 56 to 538 meters, 75 meters The underside of the baseplate has four spades to stabilize the mortar during firing. Description. He moves forward of the baseplate about 12 to 15 inches and faces the baseplate on line with the left edge (gunner's viewpoint) of the baseplate. Training practice (TP): Designation M50A2/A3. It is used to lock the elevation housing in place. Ranger of the 1st Ranger Battalion firing an M2 60mm mortar , World War II. The gunner announces, "(gun number) up," to his squad leader. (4) The gunner locks the data down on the sight, then removes the sight and places it in a safe location. However, moisture and high temperature can damage ammunition. Baseplate, M7 He aligns the left edge of the cutout portion of the baseplate with the right edge of the baseplate stake. SMALL DEFLECTION AND ELEVATION CHANGES. 3.6 pounds, 70 meters He ensures that the elevation guide barrel is vertical and the locking nut is hand tight. b. The 60-mm mortar, M224, reacts quickly to support infantrymen by engaging the target first. The lower saddle is used when firing at elevations of 1100 to 1511 mils; the upper saddle is used when firing at elevations of 0800 to 1100 mils. The moisture-resistant seal of the shipping container should not be broken until the ammunition is to be used. It can fire the same 60mm ammunition as the older M2 and M19, but normally uses newer long range ammunition. The M224 Mortar is an indirect-fire man-portable artillery weapon, and the first such weapon in H3VR. - M7A1 regular baseplate f. At the first lull in firing, the gunner must determine whether the displacement is caused by traversing the mortar or by displacement of the baseplate assembly. 1. Figure 3-1. The M224 60 mm Lightweight Mortar is a smooth bore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for close-in support of ground troops. The selector switch is on drop-fire mode. He moves to the front of the bipod and faces it, kneels on his right knee with his left hand on the gear case, and loosens the locking nut. The baseplate, M7, (Figure 3-3) is a one-piece, circular, aluminum-forging base. Bipod Assembly, M170 The vertical cross line of the sight is on the left edge of the aiming post. Firing Table 60-P-1 has been published for all ammunition fired in the M224 mortar. . c. The squad leader moves into position to the front of the bipod on either knee and grasps the bipod legs (palms out), lifting until the feet clear the ground enough to permit lateral movement. Place the mortar in the position you want it to be in by slamming the baseplate into the ground. a. Collar Assembly. Procedures for removing a misfire are discussed in paragraph 3-15. b. Hangfire. Ammunition should be protected from mud, dirt, sand, water, and direct sunlight. Vz}f7)[nYv],)lq7@`Yt/$M[,~Ej1_f)YtL>S8x^6n@X7QN?C7rv$0LR q%KQv2ERWcHek#x"VO4sy\$"V.?%&F#9 =:@6]-0J/R-+RTG9~.1 The US Army plans to replace all legacy M224s with the new M224A1. He replaces the locking knob to its original position and makes it hand tight. hb```foB cB&@Pa Zb`!=pKSnc.Rk21]```? h%dv 4x2_eh9 xMA^]noJaci!hH0@82D I8H9 p4"), #$884::84:HBDH s !PHZxg8r8.0`~ ,ZH3.e%Z7Y@a7:TY8@ U When the bipod is positioned in the upper saddle, one turn of the traversing handwheel will move the barrel 10 mils. a. The mount is folded back underneath the barrel until the elevating mechanism latches to the collar assembly. Insert the shell into the barrel. (2) Lays the mortar so that the vertical line of the sight is aligned on the left edge of the far aiming post. )U!$5X3/9 ($5j%V*'&*r" (,!!0b;C2( I8/ If the baseplate moved during the misfire procedure, the mortar must be reciprocally laid. Sightunit, M64A1 d. In laying the mortar for direction, the two aiming posts do not always appear as one when viewed through the sight. It is muzzle loaded and drop fired. The 60mm mortar has a blast radius of about 20 - 25 meters. a. Dismounting. Press again to set the mortar to Drop (the shell will fire as soon as it falls into the barrel). Two shock absorbers located on the underside of the collar assembly protect the bipod and sight from the shock of recoil during firing. The ammunition bearer secures the baseplate. The kill radius of the 10-pound HE round is approximately 35 meters. 15.2 pounds. As the round starts to clear the muzzle, the squad leader squeezes his thumbs against the body of the round--not the fuze--and removes it. Mortar ammunition is painted and marked with a color code for quick, accurate identification. The squad leader performs the premount checks on the barrel so that--, c. The ammunition bearer is responsible for the premount checks on the baseplate ensuring that--, d. When all pieces of equipment are checked, the gunner notifies the section leader by announcing, "All correct.". (7) While the round is being inspected, the gunner lowers the barrel back into the baseplate and remounts the sightunit to the bipod. When the posts still appear separated, the separation is caused by displacement of the baseplate assembly. HUM0+hKZ) ljx{A{,Tzl&c{{3P^\f&.z~E\zOqY~BHSLA,8Ktc/kvztuW-jau pXbk9BYA: Gx\gk+@%)i$$Y(%-Y %dC oq FR7*5}z!Rk0BiSLV#Z",A`dyiu" )a:)=#d/gdCI`4`tc)$2 ZVa\X$^8J&NVKB6{gsfkeC2-5"8&t b=C' The squad leader is in position to best control the mortar squad. He then detaches the hook and unwraps the cable assembly. Used for training in limited areas. The M888 is a standard point-detonating fuze (M935) with both impact and 0.5-second delay settings. Second, the typical mortar ammunition is designed to produce a shower of fragments, able to ta. The company-used 60mm rounds can effectively hit targets 3,490 meters away, while battalion-used rounds can destroy targets over two times the distance with a larger kill radius. It was accepted for service in 1977 and remains in service today. The M224A1 can be identified by its dark green paint, opposed to black on the M224. b. The right leg assembly has no moving parts. It can be drop-fired or trigger-fired and has five major components. This allows infantrymen to confront the enemy while supporting the battle plan. DO NOT MOVE THE BIPOD LEGS OR CHANGE THE FIRING SADDLE DURING THIS PROCEDURE. During peacetime live-fire training, the gunner signals the squad to come forward once the barrel is cool. b. PM Precision Fires and Mortars is currently . He should tap up on the bottom of the sight to ensure proper seating. If the round fails to come out once the barrel is lifted, the barrel is lowered back to the horizontal. Hb``$WR~|@T#2S/`M. 2.5 pounds Any target that requires that elevation or lower cannot be engaged from that position. This fuze for the M888 HE round can be set to function as superquick (SQ) or delay (D) (Figure 3-10). It has a ball socket with a rotating locking cap and a stationary retaining ring held in place by four screws and lock washers. A 60mm M224 mortar being set up by Afghan forces in 2013. M224 60mm Light Mortar Gary's U.S. Infantry Weapons Reference Guide TECHNICAL DATA Complete System Crew 3 . 70 to 1,340 meters Based upon use, the principal classifications of training and service ammunition for the M224 mortar are as follows: (1) High explosive (HE)--Used against personnel and light materiel targets. As soon as the sight data are announced, the gunner places it on the sight, elevates the mortar until the elevation bubble floats freely, and then centers the traversing bearing. If not, he may still fire at the desired range by selecting a charge zone having a higher elevation for that particular range. The ammunition bearer lowers the barrel and places the lower saddle on the lower part of the collar. What is the kill radius of a 60mm mortar? In 2011, an improved M224A1 version was brought into service. endstream endobj 2598 0 obj <>/Metadata 142 0 R/Outlines 172 0 R/PageLayout/OneColumn/Pages 2586 0 R/StructTreeRoot 177 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 2599 0 obj <>/Font<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Type/Page>> endobj 2600 0 obj <>stream Weight of M170 Bipod Assembly. a. Multioption Fuze, M734. d. The gunner pushes down on the shock absorber and raises the collar assembly. b. The mount is attached to the barrel at the lower saddle, and the elevating mechanism is fully depressed. Place the boxes or crates on pallets and cover them with a double thickness of tarpaulin. The M64A1 sight unit is attached to the bipod mount. (These cartridges should be used first in subsequent firings.). The M252 is an adaptation of the British 81mm L16A2 mortar developed in the 1950s. The M224 Mortar can be fired without planting it on the ground. (1) The locking sleeve is near the spiked foot. c. The gunners refer their sights to the announced deflection. A faulty firing pin assembly on a 60-mm mortar, M224, requires that the firing pin be tightened upon completion of firing when frequent trigger firing using M720-, M721-, or M722-series ammunition. The M224 is designed to fire new longer range 60mm ammunition, but can fire the older ammunition of the M2 and M19 as well. The M224 fires 60mm shells at an angle to hit distant targets. The complete round consists of a projectile body, a multi-option fuze, a fin assembly four increments of propellant charge, ignition . Weapon Type "Do not fire." The M224 is mainly used by US armed forces. It can fire the same 60mm ammunition as the older M2 and M19, but normally uses newer long range ammunition. VDHlq*^{}Z&P|]TAA9K|qO^oicZ `& ,lmr4sme.M%dg~z}me\VF/U=S mg w{%"O1SeRHw9Jt=Xd GmjEFys~E&:r eAoQkBan?