Light mortar 120 mm M74 | |
Origin: | Yugoslavia |
Type: | Mortar |
Is Ranged: | yes |
Is Artillery: | yes |
Service: | 1981–present |
Used By: | see operators |
Wars: | Salvadoran Civil War Yugoslav Wars |
Designer: | Military Technical Institute |
Manufacturer: | PPT Namenska |
Weight: | 105 kg in firing position 219 kg in transport |
Crew: | 5 |
Caliber: | 120mm |
Rate: | 12 rpm for M74 |
Range: | 6400m for M74 |
Feed: | manual |
The M74 mortar is designed by Military Technical Institute in Yugoslavia. It is smooth bore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for long-range indirect fire support.[1] Today they are produced by Serbian company PPT Namenska and BNT[2] from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This mortar can be deployed as infantry support for destruction of personnel and enemy firing positions, for opening routes through barbed wire obstacles and mine fields, for demolition of fortified objects, for destructing infrastructure elements, illumination and deploying smoke screen. The M74 model when disassembled could be carried by 3 soldiers thus having unique capabilities regarding transport in area with obstacles or in urban area compared with more heavier mortars. M74 provides 12 rds per minute rate of fire and it is intended to be used to deliver 15-20 mines before moving to another position. Since it is very light regarding its caliber it can be easily airdropped and parachuted to firing position. It uses NSB-4B sight for firing.[3] Base-plate of M74 mortar is triangle shaped.
Maximum range: | 6400m (21,000feet) | |
Minimum range: | 250m (820feet) | |
Weight: | 105kg (231lb) without ammunition | |
207kg (456lb) when mounted on trailer | ||
Rate of fire: | 12 rounds/min | |
Crew: | 4+1 |