×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Chart (2024) Special Forces
HOME
SMALL ARMS INDEX
MODERN ARMIES
SPECIAL FORCES
ARMS BY COUNTRY
ARMS MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE ARMS
ARMS BY CONFLICT
ARMS BY TYPE
ARMS BY DECADE
COLD WAR ARMS
KOREAN WAR ARMS
MODERN SMALL ARMS
VIETNAM WAR ARMS

Infantry Small Arms / The Warfighter


M30 (4.2-inch / Four-Deuce)


106.7mm Heavy Mortar System [ 1951 ]



Developed by the U.S. Chemical Warfare Service, the M30 heavy mortar system was introduced in 1951 and still sees service today.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 02/14/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
The mortar weapon system has been around for decades and has proven its worth, time and again, in the field of in-direct fire. Such weapons proved critical in the offensives dotting both World Wars and continue to be showcased in every major army service today. The challenge to warplanners has always been in providing suitable and portable mortar systems for use at the infantry level and this eventually dictated design and inherent limitations.

Throughout World War 2, the United States Army replied on the M2 4.2 inch heavy mortar for heavy suppression of enemy positions. This system was in use by the service from 1943 until 1974. In the 1950s, thought turned to a newer, more modern weapon whose design was based on the practical experience garnered by crews in the Second World War. This entry of 1951 then became the M30 4.2".

Both systems were of 106.7mm caliber (107mm) but the newer model exhibited increased range and better accuracy. The end-product became a 670-pound system with a length of five feet. A crew of five was typical for proper function and, due to the weapon's size and weight, it was traditionally mounted on - and fired from - a carrier vehicle such as the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).

Design of the M30 fell to the United States Chemical Warfare Service. Both the earlier M2 and newer M30 were known by the nickname of "Four-Deuce" due to its caliber in inches (4.2). The M30 remains in service with a handful of operators today including Brazil, Greece, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia.

The M30's design arrangement is typical of mortar weapons in that the configuration relies on a basic launch tube, a baseplate, support structure and integral sighting device. It fires three distinct projectiles in five forms including two HE (High-Explosive) types (HE M329A1 and HE M329A2), a WP (White Phosphorous) round (WP M328A1) and two Illumination rounds (ILLUM M325A2 and ILLUM M335A2) out to ranges of 5,500 meters or more. Rate-of-fire is up to eighteen rounds-per-minute or three rounds sustained. Absolute maximum range is out to 6,850 meters. Controls along the support arm of the mounting hardware allow the operators to affect the weapon's elevation and traversal functions.

The M30 series saw combat service in the Korean War (1950-1953) and the Vietnam War (1955-1975).©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.

Specifications



Basics [+]
Manufacturer(s)
United States Chemical Warfare Service - USA
Operators
Brazil; Greece; Philippines; Portugal; Saudi Arabia; North Vietnam; South Vietnam; United States; Vietnam National flag of Brazil National flag of Greece National flag of the Philippines National flag of Portugal National flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National flag of the United States National flag of Vietnam
Service Year
1951
National Origin
United States


FIRE SUPPORT
Capable of suppressing enemy elements at range through direct or in-direct fire.


Overall Length
1,525 mm / 60.04 in
Barrel Length
1,525 mm / 60.04 in
Weight (Empty)
672.41 lb / 305.00 kg
Action
Pin Actuated; Manual Operation
Caliber(s)*
106.7mm
*May not represent an exhuastive list; Calibers may be model-specific dependent; Always consult official manufacturer sources.
Feed
Single-Shot; Reusable Launch Tube.
Sights
Integrated Optics Set.


Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information.

Max.Effective Range
2,525 ft / 769.6 m | 841.7 yds
Rate-of-Fire
18 rpm


M30 - Base Series Designation.


Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon representing special forces
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

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 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. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.

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 military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)