troopwo | 04 Jan 2017 7:53 a.m. PST |
I know that in Afghanistan there was a panic on to get the 120mm mortars. The four deuces were still on the books at least until the eighties. So when did the US Army get rid of them? |
Legion 4 | 04 Jan 2017 8:46 a.m. PST |
Still had 4.2s when I left in '90 in both Mech and Tank Bns. And Cav also, IIRC. 1 Plt of 3 M106s mounting 4.2 plus an 577 FDC. At HHC for the direct support of Bn assets. ghqmodels.com/store/n5.html I have heard the Rangers got the 120 after Mogadishu also. And IIRC the Stryker has a 120mm mounted on one version ? |
Just Jack | 04 Jan 2017 9:17 a.m. PST |
Forgive my ignorance, but is a 4.2" the same weapon as a 120mm mortar? I got to hang and drop a 120mm from one of the 101st Airborne tubes in 2002 ;) V/R, Jack |
Legion 4 | 04 Jan 2017 9:19 a.m. PST |
4.2 is 107mm, IIRC … |
Rakkasan | 04 Jan 2017 9:29 a.m. PST |
Yes, the 4.2in is 107mm. We had 120mm mortars in my Bradley equipped mechanized battalion in '93. Stryker units have the 120mm; the vehicle variant is the M1129. |
Weasel | 04 Jan 2017 9:48 a.m. PST |
As a piece of trivia, the 4.2 was originally intended to fire smoke shells and potentially gas, hence the name of "chemical mortar". |
Just Jack | 04 Jan 2017 9:56 a.m. PST |
Rakkasan, You weren't with 3rd Brigade, 101st Abn in 2002, were you? I was a Marine, but we ended up in the same place, and those guys called themselves Rakkasans. V/R, Jack |
Lion in the Stars | 04 Jan 2017 11:25 a.m. PST |
Yes, the Strykers have a 120mm mortar mounted in the truck, and either a 60mm (company mortar section) or 81mm (battalion mortar platoon) dismounted. Not enough crew to run both tubes at the same time, though. |
troopwo | 04 Jan 2017 1:01 p.m. PST |
I never thought that they had the 120mm mortar as early as '93. |
Mako11 | 04 Jan 2017 2:57 p.m. PST |
4.2" Mortars were available back as far as at least the 1970s, if I'm not mistaken. Perhaps even the 1960s. According to this, dates back to WWII (1943): link |
Legion 4 | 04 Jan 2017 4:59 p.m. PST |
Yes, 4.2s had been around since Vietnam at least, IIRC ? You weren't with 3rd Brigade, 101st Abn in 2002, were you? I was in 3d Bde, 101 … '80-'83 … I was in 3d Bn, 187 Inf. A Rifle Plt Ldr in B Co., then Bn Air Ops Ofr/S-3 Air. The 187 was called the Rakkasans after them being deployed to Japan after WWII. IIRC, Rakkasan means something like "Umbrella Men (?)" in Japanese, IIRC. That was what the Japanese civilians called the 187 RCT. When seeing them doing training jumps across the Japanese countryside. In WWII the 187 was with the 11th ABN Div in the PTO. Then was a separate RCT in Japan. And made 2 Combat Jumps during the Korean War. [Sorry if I upset any one for going OT and talking about the 187 and a little of my time with them. ] |
jekinder6 | 04 Jan 2017 5:52 p.m. PST |
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jekinder6 | 04 Jan 2017 5:56 p.m. PST |
This site also claims 4.2" M-30 mortar phased out from 1991. link |
Blutarski | 05 Jan 2017 3:53 a.m. PST |
The original 4.2in mortar entered service in 1943, most notably as the armament of the US Army chemical mortar battalion (36 per battalion). They were one of the best buys in Barker's 1925-1950 Infantry-Armour Rules in terms of inexpensive heavy hitting support fire. Anything and everything you ever wanted to know about the "Four-deuce" can be found at this really great website – 4point2.org FWIW. B |
Weasel | 05 Jan 2017 6:57 a.m. PST |
What's the general call on these "intermediate" mortars? The Soviets had a similar weapon in WW2 for mountain use, but it doesn't seem to have been as prevalent as the 120mm types. |
Legion 4 | 05 Jan 2017 8:18 a.m. PST |
Good intel jekinder, & B, thanks. When I use to do a lot of board wargaming, you'd get a good idea of what was used and when, etc. |
The Archer | 06 Jan 2017 6:35 p.m. PST |
When I left 2/67 AR, (1 AD) my mortar platoon was still using the four-deuce mortar. To my knowledge, it did not get replaced until after middle of 1992 (I ETS'd July 92). There was no hint of a change that I knew of.
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