SBML Two-Inch Mortar

The two-inch mortar was one of a number of small mortars brought into service by European nations between the two World Wars. Due to its small size, and for simplicity, the mortar had no forward strut or bipod like larger designs needed. The barrel was held at the correct angle by one soldier while the other loaded and fired the round. The original design had a large base plate and sights for aiming which used spirit levels. As the design matured, the baseplate became smaller and the sights were omitted; aiming was by eye and relied on the firer's judgment and experience. With such a short barrel, the typical firing method where the bomb was dropped down the tube and a pin in the base of the barrel struck the detonator in the tail of the bomb would not work, so firing was by a small trigger mechanism at the breech. The bombs were cylindrical with a (perforated) four finned tail. For the HE projectile an impact fuze was fitted in the nose of the bomb. Postwar, the two-inch mortar was kept in service to fire smoke and illuminating rounds. It was replaced by the Royal Ordnance 51 mm infantry mortar in the late 1980s. Specifications Calibre: 2 inches (50.8 mm) Length: 21 inches (53 cm) Weight: 10+1⁄2 pounds (4.8 kg) Firing mechanism: Trip (small trigger) Elevation: 45-90° Range: 500 yards (460 m) Rate of fire: Eight rounds per minute

Mk I - squad-level mortar introduced in 1918 and declared obsolete in 1919. Mk II - the first model introduced in 1938 with a large baseplate. Mk II* - the 1938 version intended for use with the Universal Carrier Mk II** - a second version for use with the Universal Carrier Mk II*** - version for use by infantry at platoon level and fitted with a large baseplate Mk III - version used as a smoke bomb launcher for tanks It was built into the turret and could fire smoke shells from 20 to 120 yd (18 to 110 m) away. The range was varied by using a gas regulator to adjust the escaping propellant gases. It was aimed and fired by using a pistol grip at the back that would activate the firing pin when the trigger was pulled. Mk IV - limited production run and did not enter service Mk V - not manufactured Mk VI - not manufactured Mk VII - for use on Universal Carriers Mk VII* - for use by airborne forces, having a shorter barrel - 14 inches (360 mm) - and the baseplate replaced with a spade-like plate Mk VII** - infantry use with long barrel and spade-like baseplate Mk VIIA - Indian Army model Mk VIII - another short-barrelled version for the airborne forces

High explosive (HE): 2.25 lb (1.02 kg) - olive drab body, red band White phosphorus smoke (WP Smk): 2.25 lb (1.02 kg) - dark green body Titanium tetrachloride smoke (FM Smk): 2 lb (0.91 kg) - dark green body Illumination (Ill): 1 lb (0.45 kg) - drab khaki (light OD) body Signal multi-star (Sig): 1 lb (0.45 kg) - white body and 2 lb (0.91 kg)) - grey body. The multi-star was available in white, red, green, and mixed red-green. Ammunition was packed one 51 mm-bomb per tube, three conjoined tubes per pack (three bombs), two packs (six bombs) to a fibre container, and three fibre containers to a steel box (18 bombs total).

India's Ordnance Factory Board's 51mm E1 mortar is an enhanced version of the two-inch British mortar of World War II; it is still in production and service in India. Specifications Calibre: 51.25mm (2 in) Weight: 4.88 kg Range: 200-850m Rate of fire: normal: eight rounds per minute high: 12 rounds per minute Bomb weight: High explosive: 950g (800m range)

Australia Belgium Canada France India United Liberation Front of Assam Naxalites Jamaica Jordan Luxembourg Myanmar Myanmar Army: Inherited from British-Burma Army and also bought from India. Main Light mortar used until 1990s. Nepal People's Liberation Army, Nepal New Zealand Nigeria Biafra Norway: Free Norwegian forces Poland: Polish Armed Forces in the West South Africa United Kingdom United States The Mk.III (renamed the M3 mortar) was used by the US Army on the M4 Sherman from late 1943 to early of 1945. The vehicle's combat load was 18 smoke shells for M4 tanks with the 75 or 76 mm cannon to 12 shells for M4 assault tanks with the 105 mm howitzer.