Ordnance ML 3 inch Mortar
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The United Kingdom's Ordnance ML 3 inch mortar was the standard mortar used by the British army from the late 1920s to the late 1960s.
Based on their experience in World War I, the British infantry asked some sort of artillery for close support. The initial plan was for special batteries of artillery, but the cost was prohibitive and the mortar was accepted instead.
The ML mortar is a conventional Stokes-type mortar which is muzzle-loaded and drop-fired. Although officially called a 3-inch mortar, its actual caliber was 81 mm instead of the 76.2 mm that 3 inches equates to. Experience in World War II showed that it did not have sufficient range when compared to the German 81 mm Model 34 Mortar and so a new barrel was designed. This became the Mark 2 mortar which remained in service until replaced by the L16 81mm Mortar.
[edit] Characteristics
- Calibre: 81 mm
- Barrel length: 1370 mm
- Weight: 50.8 kg
- Rate of fire: sustained rounds per minute
- Range: Minimum m, maximum Mark 1: 1463 m, Mark 2: 2560 m
- Muzzle velocity: 198 m/s
[edit] See also
| British & Commonwealth small arms of World War II | ||
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Side-arms
Machine-guns & other larger weapons
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| Weapons of the British Empire 1722-1965 | ||
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Anti-Tank Weapons
Field guns & Misc. weapons
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