160 mm Mortar M1943 explained

160 mm mortar M1943
Origin:Soviet Union
Type:Mortar
Is Artillery:yes
Service:1943-Present
Wars:World War II
Korean War
Six-Day War
Vietnam War
Yom Kippur War
Lebanese Civil War
1978 South Lebanon conflict
South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)
Weight:1170kg (2,580lb)
Part Length:3.03m (09.94feet)
Cartridge:40.8kg (89.9lb) bomb
Caliber:160mm
Rate:3 rounds/minute
Velocity:245m/s
Range:5150m (16,900feet)
Elevation:+45° to +80°
Traverse:25°

The Soviet 160 mm Mortar M1943 is a smoothbore breech loading heavy mortar which fired a 160mm bomb. The M1943 (also called the MT-13) was one of the heaviest mortar used by Soviet troops in World War II. Around 535 of these weapons were fielded with Soviet forces during the war. It was replaced in Soviet service after World War II by the M-160 mortar of the same caliber.

Description

Originally a simple scaling-up of the 120mm M1938 mortar, it soon became apparent that drop-loading a 40.8kg (89.9lb) bomb into a 3.03m (09.94feet) long tube would be too difficult for any man to do. It was redesigned into a breech loading weapon, and contains a substantial recoil system to soak up the massive shock of firing a 160mm bomb and prevent the baseplate from burying itself too deeply.

The barrel sits in a cradle which is attached to a baseplate and tripod. To load the weapon, the barrel is hinged forward, which exposes the rear end of the tube. The bomb is then loaded, retained in place by a catch, and the barrel is swung back into the cradle, which in effect closes the breech.

Because of the heavy weight of the mortar, it is equipped with a wheeled carriage and is designed to be towed by a motor-driven vehicle.

Service

Users

30

Former users

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]]. 2021. The Military Balance. 470. Taylor & Francis . 9781032012278.
  2. Book: North Korea Country Handbook 1997, Appendix A: Equipment Recognition. 160mm M-43 Mortar. A-92. US Department of Defense. 2019-06-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111733/http://fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/nkor.pdf. 2016-03-04. live.
  3. Encyclopedia: National inventories, Afghanistan. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. 444. 22 November 2000. Terry J.. Gander.
  4. Web site: The Centre for SouthEast European Studies . 2007-06-14 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070410064544/http://www.csees.net/?page=country_section&country_id=1&sec=8 . 2007-04-10 .
  5. Encyclopedia: National inventories, Cambodia. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. 1134. 22 November 2000. Terry J.. Gander.
  6. Encyclopedia: National inventories, Cuba. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. 1508. 22 November 2000. Terry J.. Gander.
  7. Encyclopedia: National inventories, Finland. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. 1716. 22 November 2000. Terry J.. Gander.
  8. Encyclopedia: National inventories, India. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. 2462. 22 November 2000. Terry J.. Gander.
  9. Web site: Army says goodbye to artillery guns that served for six decades. 2021-06-20. The Week. en.
  10. Encyclopedia: National inventories, Iraq. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. 2569. 22 November 2000. Terry J.. Gander.
  11. Encyclopedia: National inventories, Libya. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. 3090. 22 November 2000. Terry J.. Gander.
  12. Encyclopedia: 160 mm M1943 and M-160 mortars. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. 3678–3679. 4 June 2001. Terry J.. Gander.
  13. Encyclopedia: National inventories, Syria. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. 4546. 22 November 2000. Terry J.. Gander.
  14. Encyclopedia: National inventories, Yemen. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. 5802. 22 November 2000. Terry J.. Gander.