There is no recoil as pressure is not built up in the barrel, but escapes backwards through the venturi. The gun can be fired in all positions; sitting, kneeling, standing, and prone. A gun mount housed in the shoulder butt supports the gun in the lying position and it can be used as a stabiliser against the chest in all other positions. As the gun is recoilless, it is much lighter than a weapon with a conventional breech.
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Chief of Staff. DCOS Operations. DCOS Support. Assistant Chief of Staff. The section sergeant monitors the company command net and makes sure the section is in range of anticipated targets.
The mortar section can supplement the fires of the dedicated battery by covering other priority targets as they become visible. In the movement to contact, light mortars are effective when firing HE and WP for suppression or WP for screening and obscuration. The mortar section carries only a limited amount of ammunition during a movement to contact. The disadvantage is offset by the ability to bring immediate fire on the enemy.
During World War II, the mortar section was most effective in the movement to contact when it followed close behind the lead elements, opened fire quickly, had effective first rounds, and fired about three or four rounds for each target.
When the enemy offers intermittent resistance, the section is best used by attaching a mortar squad to each of the two forward platoons. This uses the quick response of the mortars to its fullest. If there is a greater resistance, the mortars are kept under the company commander's control and moved 75 to meters behind the lead platoons. This provides quick response while making concentration of fire easier. Communication between the lead platoon that can see targets and the mortar section is critical.
There are several effective methods that have been used in combat to aid such communications:. If enemy resistance is encountered, the mortars immediately stop and conduct a hip shoot, firing the adjusting round forward of the friendly lead elements.
This requires close monitoring of the lead platoon's location by the section sergeant who acts as the FDC. The platoon sends corrections to the mortars by radio. This method is used when the company commander expects the enemy resistance to be great. The mortar section is protected from the initial enemy fires by remaining slightly to the rear, yet staying close enough to fire quickly. When enemy resistance is encountered, the mortars are emplaced, and the wire is connected to a telephone at the mortar position.
The section sergeant and wireman, if used moves to a position where he can observe the enemy and adjust fires, unrolling the wire as he moves. Assault wire MX or NIX combat assault rolls is used for fast installation and light weight. Assault wire is thinner and not as strong as WD-1, but the meter MX weighs 4 pounds as compared to 25 pounds for the same length of WD-1 wire on the MX The section sergeant then leads the section forward to a position where they can fire using either direct alignment or direct lay.
The company commander directs the section sergeant by voice command, arm-and-hand signals, radio, or messenger. In the hasty attack, the commander develops the situation and uses immediate fire rapid maneuver to maintain momentum. The targets engaged by the mortar section are mainly targets of opportunity, although the commander preplans targets, when possible.
The company commander keeps the mortar section under his control. The section sergeant uses his judgment and initiative in the absence of orders to determine how best to support the company maneuver. He employs the section aggressively to support the assault elements as they close with the enemy.
Once the objective is seized, the mortar section is brought forward to a position from which to support the entire company. The mortar section prepares to fire against an enemy counterattack. The section sergeant acts decisively, using his best judgment and initiative to accomplish the commander's intent. The mortar section plays a key role in the defense against a counterattack. During the period after the seizure of the objective and before the assault force has reorganized, consolidated, and planned other fires, the company mortar section is the most responsive fire support means available.
The section sergeant displaces the section forward to support the company, establishes fire control and communications, computes data and prepares to fire the section FPF, evaluates existing ammunition stocks, redistributes ammunition, coordinates resupply requests, and makes sure his squads prepare hasty defensive positions. He must do this with little guidance from the company commander. The deliberate attack is characterized by detailed planning, both for maneuver elements and fires.
The commander uses the light mortar section to supplement scheduled fires of heavier indirect fire weapons. The flexibility of the light mortar is best suited for use against targets of opportunity encountered during the attack and for immediate screening missions.
Light mortars are included in the preparation fires when ammunition, positioning, and the enemy situation permit.
The commander keeps in mind that mortar ammunition fired early can be hard to replace later. Mortars should provide fires on the objective to support the final assault, especially if the direct support artillery is mm. This allows indirect fire suppression of the enemy until the assaulting forces close to within about 50 meters minimum safe distance.
Assaulting forces can get closer to the enemy under the cover of small caliber mortar fire than would be possible with fires from medium or heavy artillery. A method that was used successfully in World War II was for the assaulting platoon to approach as close as possible to the objective while the mortars fired HE to suppress the enemy. On a prearranged signal by the assault force, the mortars switched to WP rounds and fired several in quick succession.
The bursting WP rounds were the signal to the rifle platoon that the mortars were shifting their fires 50 to meters beyond the objective. As soon as the last WP round had burst, the assault forces closed with the enemy. Not only do the WP rounds signal the shifting of fires, but also the smaller casualty-producing radius provides a margin of safety for the assault force.
The psychological effect of the WP and the smoke produced combine to create confusion among the enemy during the critical moments when the friendly forces are exposed. This requires well-trained and practiced mortar crews, as well as close coordination between the mortar section and the assaulting force.
During a deliberate attack against a fortified position, the mortar section is best employed with the company's support element. Although mm HE fires will not penetrate a properly constructed fortification with overhead cover, they force the enemy to remain inside his positions, limiting his observation.
HE fires inflict casualties on troops in open trenches. By firing WP, the mortar section obscures enemy observation from adjacent positions and assists the assault element in gaining a foothold.
After the assault element has made an entry into the fortified position, the mortar section moves forward with the support element.
Follow-on elements from the company carry mortar ammunition as they move forward and through the support position. During MOUT operations, the light mortar section is employed with the company's support element. The section provides the rifle platoons the firepower and obscuration needed to isolate a building or strongpoint while assault and security elements move forward to gain the initial foothold.
The mm mortar is effective against enemy positions on urbanized terrain. Its high rate of fire and short minimum range allow the mortar section to mass fire on specific enemy positions in the restricted confines of city fighting.
It is used to attack targets behind buildings that cannot be hit by low-angle artillery fire. The mortar section is used to obscure, neutralize, suppress, or illuminate targets. The multioption fuze increases the mortar round's effectiveness, but the HE round, even employing the delay fuze setting, can penetrate only the upper floors of light buildings. The mm mortar section provides the company commander organic indirect fire support that must be integrated into the company's overall defensive fire plan to be effective.
This causes the crew to button up, reducing the effectiveness of the vehicle while separating it from any accompanying dismounted infantry. The section engages these using a mixture of WP and HE rounds to suppress and screen.
The small size and limited burn time of the mm illumination round make it more suitable for point illumination rather than area. During the defense, its primary use is to screen enemy observation and fire. It can also be used to mark targets for air strikes. The round has a limited incendiary and casualty-producing effect. The mortar section is assigned an FPF, which is integrated into the company's defensive fire plan to augment the fires of heavier weapons.
It may collocate with the company reserve or the rearmost rifle platoon. Wire communications are established through the company CP with each rifle platoon and OPs. The section's second telephone can be connected to a wire line laid to the platoon having the priority of fires.
This provides alternate communications if the primary wire is cut by artillery fire. Positions are dug in, and overhead cover is provided for both the ammunition and crew. Positions are camouflaged and wire lines are buried. The section sergeant locates and, if time permits, prepares an OP where he can control the fires of the section himself, if wire communication is lost.
He monitors the company command radio net and can change to a platoon frequency or the FIST frequency, depending on the company commander's guidance. Battalion mortars and field artillery should be used for this role. The company mortar section can be used to engage targets of opportunity, especially at night, or targets in close defilade positions.
The light mortar section is used to fire as an immediate response to enemy direct fire weapons or against enemy mortars firing from positions near friendly lines. It is better to engage small enemy probes, breach teams, or reconnaissance patrols with indirect fire from the mortar section than to disclose the locations of friendly machine gun, SAW, or rifle positions. Enemy elements assaulting the friendly positions and enemy crew-served weapons locations are primary targets.
Fires from the mm mortar are effective against enemy forces that have closed with friendly elements. The mortar section can still engage these targets by using near-surface burst and proximity-fuze settings or rounds fired directly onto dug-in friendly positions. This type mortar fire is effective against the enemy infantry outside while not harming friendly personnel inside a well-constructed bunker with overhead cover.
The mortar section, firing from the reserve platoon's position, can support a counterattack or limit the enemy penetration. If the rifle company is counterattacking, the mortar section supports with fire from preplanned positions. FPF are normally fired using impact or near-surface burst fuze settings. The mortar section has a single FPF assigned. Because of the light weight and small bursting radius of the mortar round, single mortar FPF have limited effectiveness.
This does not preclude assigning of separate priority targets to each mortar squad. It means that such targets must be important enough to the commander to outweigh the need for FPF. The mortar section's FPF should be carefully integrated into the defensive fire plan of the company. It is most effective when the mortar section's FPF supplement the FPF of the battalion mortar platoon and the supporting field artillery.
The accuracy and short minimum range of the M mean that the FPF can be close to friendly positions. The M firing charge 0 has a maximum range probable error of only 3 meters. Mortar FPF are always within small-arms range of friendly positions.
The company SOP should set guidelines regarding the amount of ammunition to be fired at any one target. This is important since the ammunition stockpiled can be expended rapidly. Factors influencing the mission, employment, and movement of the mm mortar section are as follows:.
The screen produced by the M mortar WP round is not as effective as that of the heavier mortars and field artillery. The mortar section should be used to obscure selected, critical areas or to add to the screen produced by other elements.
It can be effective when used to screen the withdrawal of small elements such as OPs. If ammunition can be stockpiled at progressively rearward positions and vehicles available can assist in section displacement, the mm mortar section can maintain almost continuous fires as the company withdraws. Communication to control the displacement of the mortar section must be positive and timely. If possible, the mm mortar section should not displace at the same time as the battalion mortars.
If there are detachments left in contact, a mortar can be attached to the DLIC commander. The single squad is then used to continue the normal fires of the section and to aid the DLIC in breaking contact, if needed. It stays in position, ready to fire, until all the maneuver elements are relieved. The section sergeant passes all target lists and FPF information to the relieving section. Ammunition, prestocked in a defensive location, is transferred to the relieving section.
Baseplates and aiming stakes can be transferred, especially if the section being relieved has well-prepared defensive positions. The relieving mortar section's base gun can be laid parallel with the guns of the relieved section by sight-to-sight reciprocal lay. Wire lines should be transferred to the relieving section. If so, the two section sergeants coordinate to ensure a smooth transition of responsibility.
The section sergeant of the relieved section should conduct a daylight reconnaissance of the route back to the company assembly area, as well as the section's location in the assembly area. The mm mortar section can quickly fire large amounts of ammunition. The M can fire rounds in four minutes-a three-man crew can have 15 to 20 rounds in the air before the first round impacts.
The high rate of fire is due to the simplicity of the mortar and its lightweight ammunition. The cooling fins at the base of the mortar allow the high rate of fire to be maintained for long periods. In the past, mortar crews, trying to produce and maintain a high rate of fire, have used the two-man loading method. This method should not be used; it increases the chances of double-loading the mortar and causing an in-bore premature detonation. A single loader can fire almost as fast with less chance of double-loading.
If a high rate of fire is required and ammunition is available, the squad leader can assist the ammunition bearer in preparing rounds. With practice, they can establish a smooth flow of rounds. The load carried by the mm mortar section has a direct effect on the section's ability to traverse terrain at the rate needed to move with other elements of the rifle company. Since the mortar section is most effective when it is close to the point of enemy contact although not under direct fire , the company commander and the section sergeant must monitor the section's load and keep it at the minimum required for the mission and tactical situation.
Section members should carry only their minimum combat load in order to carry the mortar and enough ammunition. If transportation for the section's existence load is not available, the amount of ammunition and firepower of the section are reduced. The M can be broken down into parts and hand carried. This, plus the flexibility in the choice of baseplates, allows the section sergeant to tailor the section's load to a specific mission and specific terrain.
This conserves the strength of the section members, allows members to carry their entire existence load, and provides the maximum protection to the ammunition, which can be kept in its packing boxes. The mortar section should move in the march column near the vehicle carrying the mortars. Care must be taken in transporting the mortars to ensure that nothing is lost or damaged, especially the sights.
The role of the Recce Platoon is provide accurate and timely information by day or night, in all weather, in all phases of war. Recce soldiers serve as the battalion commanders' 'eyes and ears' and can operate up to 10km forward of the battalion gathering information about terrain, routes, and the enemy and feeding it back to battalion headquarters to enable decision making and planning.
The 24 soldiers of Recce Platoon are highly trained and highly motivated, and quite often some of the most experienced in the battalion. They are experts at land navigation by day and night and as such are often used as guides to bring Rifle Companies to their forming up point FUP prior to a deliberate attack.
Some Recce Platoon tasks include: close target recce CTR , route recce, FUP recce and marking, guide tasks, deploying covert observation posts, and liaison. In offence, the Recce Platoon locates the enemy, observes the enemy, and guides the battalion into the best possible conditions for attack.
In defence, the Recce Platoon can be found forward of the infantry battalion hidden in sub-surface observation posts to watch for approaching enemy and harass them with indirect fire via attached artillery fire support teams FST. Within Recce Platoon, there are four sniper pairs.
The snipers are grouped in Recce Platoon for admin and logistic purposes and may be tasked independently of the platoon, or in support of recce tasks. Snipers are highly skilled soldiers, many of whom are also qualified as Recce soldiers. The snipers can harass the enemy at long ranges, observe the enemy to gather information, disrupt an enemy attack by targeting their command and control leaders , and can provide overwatch while friendly soldiers conduct a CTR or a raid.
It is the second generation of accuracy international rifles and is an improved version of its predecessor, the L96 AI. The weapon was designed by Malcolm Cooper and is based on a sporting rifle design.
The weapon was selected in from a short-list of four rifles. Heavy Machine Guns have been produced for most of the last century. There has been a resurgence of interest in their use as armies changed calibre of their small arms weapons from 7. The HMG can bring fire to bear at ranges out to metres. The HMG can also be used in an air defence role with special mount and sights and it is the main organic air defence weapon in the Infantry Battalion.
The 81mm Mortar long barrel with the C2 AI Sight Unit and its ammunition, together with the Morfire Fire Control Computer make this equipment among the most modern and accurate in service anywhere in the world.
The sight unit and fire control instruments can achieve an accuracy of one mil 1 m at m both for direction and elevation. This accuracy can be maintained in environmental extremes and in periods of limited or reduced visibility.
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