The M2 complete system weighed a hefty 330+ pounds and the launch tube alone measured some four feet in length. Its listed caliber was 4.2" which equated to 107mm. A rate-of-fire by an experienced and well-trained crew could reach five rounds-per-minute for a consistent twenty minutes. The standard firing rate became one shell per one minute. Effective range was out to 560 yards with a maximum firing range of 4,400 yards possible. Beyond the standard M3 HE shell, the M2 mortar also fired the WP M2 (White Phosphorous) shell for smoke generation and could lob the H M2 Chemical shell if needed.
The indirect-fire nature of the mortar, and its relative portability (it broke down into three major parts), made the M2 a valuable weapon in the fighting of World War 2 - particularly where rugged terrain precluded use of other larger artillery pieces. As such, the series was a Godsend for elements in the Italian campaign as the battles moved from beaches inland to rockier, uneven terrain. In the Pacific Theater, it was found that the mortar could be installed on vessels such as landing craft which gave on-the-spot fire support for those elements used to assault enemy beach positions. Some of the mortars were also trialed on vehicles as mortar carriers. The M2 gave such good service that it remained a frontline weapon for the U.S. Army and Marines during the Korean War (1950-1953). U.S. Marines are known to have used the weapon into the Vietnam War years as well (1955-1975).
Back in the 1950s, the M2 was officially superseded by the modern M30 mortar series of equal caliber and battlefield role though the M2 was not given up for good in the American military inventory until 1974. Its reach went beyond the U.S. military for the M2 was stocked in the inventories of European, South American, and Asian powers including Austria, Brazil, and Japan. Some forces continue use of the M2 series despite its 1940s origins - a testament to its reliable and robust design.
During its service tenure with the United States, the M2 came to be known under two nicknames - the "Goon Gun" and the "Four-Deuce".
Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
