British military training film RAOC series C73 B99 illustrating the tactical use of the 3-inch mortar. The weapon and its associated equipment is illustrated and described in the commentary.
My Dad was a sergeant in charge of his platoon of 11 guys, 2x Universal Carriers and 2x 3 inch Mortars during the D-Day landings on Juno Beach (Nan White). He fought all through Europe into Berlin including on the ill-fated Operation Market Garden. He discharged from the army in the 1950s at the rank of Company Quarter Master Sergeant (CQMS). Rest in peace Dad.
Judging by the black morning bands being worn by most of the crew, I'd say this was shot 1936-37, just around the time that King George V died. This style of mortar was descended from the 'Stokes' mortar, invented & developed 1915. Post 1918 finned bombs and a new design of tripod were introduced.
My Father, PFC Gerald Tremmel, was a member of an 81MM Mortar Crew with the Third Platoon, “M” Company, 180th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division during WWII. He fought over 500 days of Combat from 10 July 43 when they invaded Sicily, to Dachau, Germany where they were at the end of the war in May 45. He earned Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman Badge, European, African, and Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Seven Battle Stars and an Arrowhead, WWII Victory Medal and Germany Occupation Medal.
KDStudios there are a few ways to do it: you can use a gunners sight and stakes, and enter data on the sight to get accurate fire. That’s conventional mode, and you would be at a mortar firing point. Or, you can go handheld , which would only be the smaller mortar systems. That’s where you can visually see the target, and estimate distance using sight or, more modernly, a distance level on the gun, to fire high angle IDF on the target. They used handheld very often in WW2, and they were pretty damn good at it. Hope it helps.
I love all this but at the beginning why did they come in extended order what if there was landmines?? maybe and I wouldn't be surprised if they'd scouted that area well these guys didn't die easy they were made of stern stuff
I am a bit puzzled. I served in a reserve (CMF) 3 inch mortar platoon in the early 60's and I am sure that we could fire out to 2800 yards on charge 2. Of course this did not compare very well with the max 4000 yards achievable with the 81 mm mortars which were being issued to Regular Army mortar platoons at the time!
The 3-inch mortar was improved during the course of WWII to handle more powerful charges and so give increased range. This was done by strengthening the baseplate.
My nans brother ernie was on a bren carrier mortar, he lost 3 of his fingers and part of his palm and his left hearing up near the sheldt so they shipped him home..
