×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Infantry Arms Warships & Submarines Military Pay Chart (2023) Military Ranks
Advertisements
HOME
ARMOR
MODERN ARMIES
COUNTRIES
MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE
BY CONFLICT
BY TYPE
BY DECADE
COLD WAR
WORLD WAR 2

Land Systems / Battlefield


MT-13 (M1943)


Long-Range Towed Heavy Mortar [ 1943 ]



The M1943 160mm long-range mobile heavy mortar was used in the latter part of World War 2 by the Soviet Army.



Authored By: JR Potts, AUS 173d AB | Last Edited: 08/01/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]
Advertisements
The mortar as a weapon is one dating back to about the 12th Century or perhaps even earlier and most always credited to the Chinese. The design concept was simple in nature and based on the shape of the apothecary mortar - a heavy shallow bowl. Mortars were then made in all sizes, large at first then smaller, portable devices for warriors who needed a personal weapon for short-range bombardment. As time went on, more powerful gunpowder and exploding shells were developed along with improved metallurgy for the barrel. Generally speaking, mortars are smaller than artillery weapons but fill a need for "plunging" fire against fixed enemy positions and strong points.

The Soviet Army used many sizes of mortars during the Great Patriotic War and the heaviest was the M1943 (MT-13) firing a 160mm shell. Developed in 1943, a major problem was found while trying to load the weapon it needed the 90lb shell dropped down the 9 ft (3m) firing tube. This herculean effort was found to be non-practical, forcing the weapon to be redesigned. This needed retooling allowed the barrel to be tilted down to a horizontal position for breech loading. The loading system also needed a new heavy duty recoil system to absorb the shock of the firing 160mm shell, an action that forced the base plate far into ground. To counter this force, a large concave thick steel plate was used to spread the downward energy created by the muzzle velocity. The weapon sat on a tripod consisting of the two tow wheels and the base plate making the M1943 one stable firing platform. Loading the weapon required the barrel to be unhinged, allowing it to tilt forward and expose the breech from the base plate. The 90lb shell was then loaded and the breech was closed. The barrel or tube is then cranked to the required mission elevation and is able to be fired at 10 rounds per minute by a trained and rested four man crew. Muzzle velocity was listed at 804 feet per second. Effective range was approximately 5,600 yards.©MilitaryFactory.com
Advertisements
The Soviet Army assigned the M1943 to its Brigade size units due to its range. Larger artillery with much greater range was assigned to Division size military units. The Brigade was divided into four smaller units called Battalions that had 8 - M1943 mortars assigned to each, making the Brigade's strength 32 M1943's and including its applicable crews and towing vehicles.

The Soviet Army used the M1943 against Germany and effectively with their attack on Berlin in the heavy street-to-street fighting that ensued. After the war, the M1943 was sold to Soviet-allied states and nations including Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania and Ukraine plus Syria abroad.

The M1943 was eventually replaced in Soviet post-war service by the M-160 160mm heavy mortar.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
Advertisements

Specifications



Service Year
1943

Origin
Soviet Union national flag graphic
Soviet Union

Crew
5
CREWMEN
Production
550
UNITS


Various State Factories - Soviet Union
(View other Vehicle-Related Manufacturers)
National flag of Bulgaria National flag of Czechia National flag of Egypt National flag of Poland National flag of Romania National flag of the Soviet Union National flag of Syria Bulgaria; Czechoslovakia; Egypt; Poland; Romania; Soviet Union; Syria
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
Fire Support / Assault / Breaching
Support allied forces through direct / in-direct fire, assault forward positions, and / or breach fortified areas of the battlefield.


1 x 160mm main gun


Supported Types


Graphical image of a tank cannon armament


(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
Dependent on carrier. Shell: 90lb; Caliber: 160mm; Type(s): Fragmentation; Smoke; Illumination; Chemical


M1943 - Base Production Series Designation
MT-13 - Alternative designation


Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of the Bulge
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Kursk
Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War
Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War
Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War
Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War
Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2
Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur War
Military lapel ribbon for experimental military vehicles


Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.

Images Gallery



1 / 1
Front left side view of the M1943 160mm mortar on display; color


Advertisements




Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies


2023 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing all American military medals and ribbons.


www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-