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Topic: RON 33, 60MM mortars? |
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PRJM3
Advanced Member
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 Posted on: Dec 9, 2019 - 6:44am
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It appears I was off track, so to speak, about a possible source of the circular track for the 81mm mortars. Of the various vehicle mounted, WWII-era mortars that I found the greatest listed traverse capability was 90 degrees. The rear compartments of those vehicles wasn't large enough for a full circle track. Even the compartment of the Viet Nam-era M113-derived mortar carriers wasn't big enough for a 360 degree traverse 81mm mortar, although the 60mm version did appear to have a full circle base plate inside the vehicle.
It seems like I've seen the WWII 81mm circular track somewhere, so, the search continues.
Randy McConnell (Randall J. McConnell III) |
Total Posts: 94 | Joined:
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Dec 9, 2019 - 12:09pm
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I've been looking too, I'm afraid I've become obsessed with mortars now THANKS JONATHAN AND TRAVIS!!! 
No luck with a ring mounted one though, I thought I had a lead when I came across landing craft converted into mortar gunboats under the designation LCI(M) but so far nothing on a ring mount. I did come across an awesome ship mortar called Old Abe, the thing must have weighed a ton or 5:
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 11, 2019 - 12:08pm
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Wow!
Will |
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JEno
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Dec 13, 2019 - 2:54pm
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I did find this from olive-drab.com:
"The 81mm M1 Mortar was developed for use in World War II from a French design. The 136 pound M1 was designed to be man-portable when broken down into three components, the tube, the bipod mount, and the round baseplate, each about 45 pounds. The rectangular base plate allowed for firing in any direction. In its mechanized version, the M1 rode in the M4, M4A1 and M21 half-track Mortar Carriers. The photo to the right is an 81mm M1 Mortar preserved at the Highland Lakes Museum, Burnett, TX. "
A photo showing the rectangular base was include.
I noted that is was designed with a round base plate. Would it be too much of a stretch to conclude that the "ring " mount seen on boats was around base plate field adaptation?
Jonathan
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