It consists of a barrel into which the gunners drop a mortar round. When the round reaches the base of the barrel it hits a fixed firing pin that fires the round.

Discover the intricacies of mortar rounds in our comprehensive article that goes beyond cinematic portrayals. Learn how these indirect fire weapons operate, their diverse types—including high …

Nov 11, 2025 · A round was dropped down the tube, which was inserted into the ground at an angle, and propelled upward by an explosive charge. Those weapons were popular in early modern …

Sep 28, 2024 · Military mortars work by launching explosive projectiles, called mortar rounds, at high angles over relatively short distances. They utilize a simple yet effective firing mechanism: a round is …

Oct 14, 2025 · A mortar section that knows its drills can put rounds on a target in under 90 seconds; a 120mm mortar can take out everything within 60 meters of the burst radius.

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems produces mortar bodies for the full range of the U.S. Army’s 120mm mortar munitions inventory. Mortar production includes the M934 High Explosive …

DESCRIPTION: The complete round consists of a fuze, propellant charge, fin assembly, ignition cartridge, and a shell body. The shell body is loaded with WP or Composition B filler.

Although they are part of the total fire support system, mortar sections and platoons are not simply small artillery batteries. They play a unique and vital role on the AirLand Battlefield.

Each mortar round consists of the projectile body, fins, an ignition cartridge, propelling charges, an obturator band, and a fuze. A mortar’s payload can include High explosives, Smoke, or illumination.

If a mortar shell is dropped into the barrel and hits the pin, the propelling charge is ignited. Then the explosion of the propelling charge creates gas that pushes the mortar shell (or bomb) out of the tube.