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Abstract. Mortar weapons have traditionally provided the infantry commander with indirect
fire that is immediately available. While the introduction of mechanised
forces during the 1960s and 1970s provided the impetus to
mount traditional ground-based mortars into armoured personnel carriers, the weapons
systems have undergone little further development. Organisational studies to support
the recent drive to restructure armies into lighter, more mobile
and deployable forces are showing a considerable increase in the
quantity of mortars, especially heavy mortar weapon systems, that are
being considered for inclusion in light armoured and mechanised infantry
units. This paper discusses some of the technical methods that
might be employed by designers to provide mortar weapons and
mortar ammunition with increased capabilities to meet the firepower needs
of these new lighter, but more capable, forces. The paper
also discusses other aspects, which will arguably provide a greater
improvement, such as the provision of position and pointing information
for mortar weapons, accurate target survey information and the integration
of mortar weapons into vehicles that have common mobility with
the remainder of the force.
Related topics:
mortar, ammunition, armoured vehicles, firepower and protection
View first page of "Pape: Technology Insertion to Develop Mortar Systems for the Modern Battlefield"
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