
Specifications
Year: 1943
Manufacturer(s): State Arsenals - Soviet Union
Roles: In-Direct Fire/Siege/Area Effect;
Manufacturer(s): State Arsenals - Soviet Union
Roles: In-Direct Fire/Siege/Area Effect;
Action: Muzzle-Loading; Reusable Launch Tube
Caliber(s): 120mm
Sights: Included Optics
Weight (Unloaded): 1,150.81 lb (522.00 kg)
Caliber(s): 120mm
Sights: Included Optics
Weight (Unloaded): 1,150.81 lb (522.00 kg)
Muzzle Velocity: 890 feet-per-second (271 meters-per-second)
Rate-of-Fire: 9 rounds-per-minute
Effective Range: 10,250 ft (3,124 m; 3,417 yd)
Rate-of-Fire: 9 rounds-per-minute
Effective Range: 10,250 ft (3,124 m; 3,417 yd)
Operators: Afghanistan; China; Egypt; Finland; Poland; Soviet Union; Ukraine
As designed, the Model 1943 was conventional with its launch tube, bipod support assembly, baseplate, and integrated optics. The weapon was muzzle-loading - the projectiles dropped through the open muzzle end, striking a firing pin at the base, and exiting the launch tube at a velocity of 890 feet per second. The weapon was cleared to fire both a general High-Explosive (HE) and special High-Explosive, FRAGmentation (HE-FRAG) projectile primarily for anti-infantry actions, particularly those foes well dug-in. The launch tube's mounting hardware allowed for an elevation span of +45 to +80 degrees of indirect fire. A well-trained and experienced crew could fire up to nine rounds-per-minute in a sustained manner. A typical crew numbered six personnel - required due to the weapon's size and ammunition.
As with other mortar systems, the M1943 held the ability to be broken down into its key components to facilitate transport by the crew. If required to displace rather quickly, the mortar could be set atop a two-wheeled Soviet Army carriage and towed by a mover vehicle to its new destination. On the whole, the M1943 gave good service when it was needed most and persisted into the Cold War years with several Soviet-supported nations and military customers (Afghanistan, China, Egypt, and Finland among others). It was eventually, itself, succeeded in the inventory of the Soviet Army by more modern forms when its battlefield usefulness had been expended - this during the 1980s.
Variants / Models
• 120-PM-43 - Base Series Designation
• Model 1938 - Alternative Designation
• Type 55 - Chinese designation of local copy
• UK2 - Egyptian designation of local copy
• 120 Krh/38 - Finnish Army Designation