M-160 mortar
The Soviet 160 mm Mortar M-160 is a smoothbore breech loading heavy mortar which fired a 160 mm bomb. It replaced the 160mm Mortar M1943 in Soviet service after World War II.
160 mm mortar M-160 | |
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Type | Mortar |
Place of origin | Soviet Union |
Service history | |
In service | 1953-present |
Wars |
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Specifications | |
Mass | combat: 1,300 kilograms (2,900 lb) |
Barrel length | 4.55 metres (14.9 ft) |
Shell | 41.5 kilograms (91 lb) bomb |
Caliber | 160 millimetres (6.3 in) |
Elevation | +50° to +80° |
Traverse | 24° |
Rate of fire | 2-3 rounds/minute |
Muzzle velocity | 343 metres per second (1,130 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 8.040 kilometres (8,793 yd) |
Description
It is very similar to the M1943 mortar but has a longer barrel, thus enabling greater range.[1] It is mounted on a wheeled carriage, in order to be towed by trucks such as the GAZ-66. China copied it as the Type 56 mortar.[2]
Service
It was introduced in 1953.[2] Originally deployed as a standard mortar for all types of division, it is currently particularly used as mountain or urban artillery. Some countries still use it as field artillery.[1] China originally deployed 12 Type 56 mortars per field division. The M-160 saw service during the Arab–Israeli conflict, including the Lebanese Civil War, and with the Indian Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.[2]
Former users
References
- Gander, Terry J. (4 June 2001). "160 mm M1943 and M-160 mortars". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. pp. 3678–3679.
- Gourley, Scott R.; McDermott, David F. (November 1984). "Soviet Mortars" (PDF). Infantry. Vol. 74 no. 6. pp. 12–14.
- The Military Balance 2016, p. 189.
- The Military Balance 2016, p. 239.
- "Mongolia Army Equipment". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
- The Military Balance 2016, p. 406.
- The Military Balance 2016, p. 354.
- Iraqi army equipment 1930-2017. 2. p. 117.
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2016). The Military Balance 2016. 116. Routlegde. ISBN 9781857438352.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 160 mm mortar M-160. |