Col Durnford  | 25 Jun 2021 4:09 p.m. PST |
Assuming you are facing in the same direction that the mortar is firing, what side would the loader be on when dropping a round down the tube? Was it different by nationality or mortar size? |
| Irish Marine | 25 Jun 2021 4:21 p.m. PST |
opposite the sight of the mortar. |
| FABET01 | 25 Jun 2021 5:16 p.m. PST |
Right side as your looking down range. |
| HMS Exeter | 25 Jun 2021 6:52 p.m. PST |
The top. Sorry. The devil made me do it. |
 John the OFM | 25 Jun 2021 7:15 p.m. PST |
Not from the front, either, I would hope. |
| John the OFM | 25 Jun 2021 7:17 p.m. PST |
Seriously though. It's not the job of the loader to aim it.
The dude in charge aims it. That's why the "loader" stands on the other side. |
| emckinney | 25 Jun 2021 8:52 p.m. PST |
The end with the fins goes in first. |
| Wolfhag | 25 Jun 2021 8:55 p.m. PST |
From the rear if it is a breech-loading mortar. Wolfhag |
 deadhead | 26 Jun 2021 1:31 a.m. PST |
Muzzle loaders of old were loaded from the left as the spongeman had to work from the right, being usually right handed. Given the choice though, a right hander will always find it easier, if loading via the business end of the tube, from the right. The converse applies if a breech loader. You want to insert the tip and then ram it home with your fist. Right hand for most, so left side of the breech |
| donlowry | 26 Jun 2021 8:35 a.m. PST |
I'm surprised that the Brits don't do it the opposite way from everybody else! :) |
| troopwo | 26 Jun 2021 9:18 a.m. PST |
What Irish said.
On a good mortar, one side is going to have a clinometer or quadrant fire control. It is a simple optical sight attached to some kind of unit to determine elevation, usually containing a psirit bubble and detailed measurements in the optic reticle for counting left and right. A bigger unit will have a machanical means of measuring right and left. Aimer is on sight side.
Loader on the other. |
| Disco Joe | 26 Jun 2021 10:39 a.m. PST |
Wolfhag, would the breech loading mortar be something that an infantry unit would carry? |
| newarch | 27 Jun 2021 2:41 a.m. PST |
@don lowry The modern Stokes type mortar is a British invention, so presumably the other users including the US were trained to use them by the British. |
| Barin1 | 28 Jun 2021 2:35 a.m. PST |
YouTube link From ca. 4 min you'll have chrohicles films of firing 82 mm muzzle loader. From what I see here, in the Soviet army, a soldier loading the shell stands on the right side of the mortar.
link |
| Wolfhag | 28 Jun 2021 6:33 a.m. PST |
Disco Joe,
YES, you can always find enough Lance Corporals to lift and carry anything. Remember, don't lift with your back, lift with your Lance Corporals. Wolfhag |
| Barin1 | 28 Jun 2021 7:49 a.m. PST |
My grandfather started the war in 82 mm mortar regiment, they were always carrying them on their own. link |
| Starfury Rider | 28 Jun 2021 10:07 a.m. PST |
For once, the British followed general practice. Small Arms Training, Volume I, Pamphlet No.9 (1939 and 1944 editions) both outline the crew positions. Below are extracts from the 1939 manual. No.1 'locks the sight in position and takes up his position on the left of the mortar'.
No.2 'takes up his position on the right of the mortar'.
No.3 'stamps in the shoes of the bipod…takes up position in rear and slightly to the right of No.2'.
No.4 'doubles forward with two bomb carriers and places himself in rear of No.3…to handle ammunition'. And from 1944 - No.1 kneeling on his right knee to the left of the mortar
No.2 kneeling on his left knee to the right of the mortar
No.3 kneeling on both knees to the right rear of No.2, facing the ammunition Pretty much the same approach for the US 81-mm mortar, No.1 on the left (convenient to the sight), No.2 on the right, No.3 adjacent to the ammo, all higher numbers echeloned behind for ammo supply. Gary |
 Legion 4 | 28 Jun 2021 4:54 p.m. PST |
Was an 81mm Plt Ldr at times in '80-'81 … As mentioned the loader drops the round down the tube from the other side of the barrel from where the sight is. A pic here of a model of an 81mm, albeit in Vietnam. But the mortar was generally the same … TMP link And yes the gunner aims it … not the loader … would the breech loading mortar be something that an infantry unit would carry? Normally an Infantry unit wouldn't carry a breech loader … But … As I posted on another site : The USN PCF Patrol Boats had an 81mm mortar that could fire in a more direct mode. When I was in the 101, we operated with them in Panama … back in the early '80s … I don't think the USN even uses PCFs anymore ? Probably not ? PCF Swift Boat … link From the link : " The original … design had been enhanced with two .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns in a turret above the pilot house, an over-and-under .50-caliber machine gun – 81 mm mortar combination mounted on the rear deck, a mortar ammunition box on the stern … The 81 mm combination mortar mounted on the rear deck was not a gravity firing mortar as used by the Army and Marine Corps, in which the falling projectile's primer struck the fixed firing pin at the base of the mortar tube, but a unique lanyard firing weapon in which the projectile was still loaded into the muzzle. The gunner could "fire at will" by the use of the lanyard." … BTW the Russia's have a breech loading 240mm mortar … link |
