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Infantry Small Arms / The Warfighter

M252, 81mm Mortar


Medium Weight Extended Range Mortar [ 1987 ]



The M252, 81mm mortar replaced the aging M29 series of 81mm mortars in service with the US Army and USMC.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 10/19/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

National flag graphic Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.
VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
The smoothbore, muzzle-loading M252 medium weight mortar system offers up accurate long-range indirect fire support to American ground forces. It is an 81mm high-angle-of-fire system that is crew-served, entering US Army service in 1987. The American M252 is based on the standard British L16 81mm mortar.

The M252 consists of several key components making up the whole. These include the M253 Cannon (firing tube), the M177 Mortar Mount, the M3A1 Baseplate and the M64A1 Sight Unit. The M253 Cannon is 50 inches long and accepts a variety of munitions type for fire including high-explosive (HE), red phosphorous and smoke, illumination and other NATO-accepted rounds. The barrel is capped with the Blast Attenuation Device (BAD) for crew protection. Elevation is accomplished through the use of a screw-type elevation and traverse system. A crew of three is recommended for maximum firing efficiency.

The M252 has capable ranges of 83 meters minimum and 5,935 meters maximum. The entire unit weighs 91lbs. A maximum rate-of-fire of 30 rounds-per-minute is attainable for up to 2 minutes. Sustained firing falls between eight and sixteen rounds-per-minute. The M252 replaced the aged M29 81mm mortar and is in service with the United States Army and United States Marine Corps.©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)
Watervliet Arsenals among others - USA
Operators
Canada; Egypt; Estonia; Iraq; United Kingdom; United States National flag of Canada National flag of Egypt National flag of Estonia National flag of Iraq National flag of the United Kingdom National flag of the United States
Service Year
1987
National Origin
United States


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


Overall Length
1,270 mm / 50.00 in
Barrel Length
838 mm / 32.99 in
Weight (Empty)
90.83 lb / 41.20 kg
Action
Smooth Bore, Muzzle Loading, High-Angle-of-Fire Weapon
Caliber(s)*
81mm
*May not represent an exhuastive list; Calibers may be model-specific dependent; Always consult official manufacturer sources.
Feed
1
Sights
M64A1 Sight Unit


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
18,618 ft / 5,674.8 m | 6,206.0 yds
Rate-of-Fire
30 rpm


M252, 81mm - Base Series Designation


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Images



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Image of the M252, 81mm Mortar
Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.

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