Light mortar 120mm M74

Light mortar 120 mm M74
Type Mortar
Place of origin Yugoslavia
Service history
In service 1981–present
Used by see operators
Wars Yugoslav Wars
Production history
Designer Military Technical Institute Belgrade
Manufacturer PPT-Namenska AD
Specifications
Weight 105 kg in firing position 219 kg in transport
Crew 5
Caliber 120 millimetres (4.7 in)
Rate of fire 12 rpm for M74
Effective firing range 6400m for M74
Feed system manual

The M74 mortar is designed by Military Technical Institute Belgrade in Yugoslavia. It is smooth bore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for long-range indirect fire support.[1] Today they are produced by Serbian company PPT-Namenska AD and BNT[2] from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Description

This mortar can be deployed as infantry support for destruction of personnel and enemy firing positions, for opening routes through barbed wire obstacles and mine fields, for demolition of fortified objects, for destructing infrastructure elements, illumination and deploying smoke screen. The M74 model when disassembled could be carried by 3 soldiers thus having unique capabilities regarding transport in area with obstacles or in urban area compared with more heavier mortars. M74 provides 12 rds per minute rate of fire and it is attended to be used to deliver 15-20 mines before moving to another position. Since it is very light regarding its caliber it can be easily airdropped and parachuted to firing position. It uses NSB-4B sight for firing.[3] Base-plate of M74 mortar is triangle shaped.

Specifications

Maximum range: 6,400 metres (21,000 ft)
Minimum range: 250 metres (820 ft)
Weight: 105.0 kilograms (231.5 lb) without ammunition
207.0 kilograms (456.4 lb) when mounted on trailer
Rate of fire: 12 rounds/min
Crew: 4+1

Ammunition

HE Mortar Shell[4]

  • 120 mm HE Mortar Shell Mk12P1-L
  • 120 mm HE Mortar Shell M62P8

Smoke Mortar Shell[5]

  • 120 mm High-Smoke Mortar Shell M89
  • 120 mm Smoke Mortar Shell M64P2
  • 120 mm Smoke Mortar Shell M64P3
  • 120 mm Smoke Mortar Shell Mk12
  • 120 mm Smoke Mortar Shell Mk12-L

Illuminating Mortar Shell[6]

  • 120 mm Illuminating Mortar Shell M91
  • 120 mm Illuminating Mortar Shell M87P1

Operators

Map with M74 operators in blue with former operators in red

Current operators

Former operators

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Yugoslavian mortars - List of mortars developed in Yugoslavia".
  2. ↑ "BNT - BNT military production".
  3. ↑ http://www.vti.mod.gov.rs/index.php?view=actuality&type=reference&category=1&id=97
  4. ↑ "Krusik HE - HE mortar shell". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
  5. ↑ "Krusik Smoke - Smoke mortar shell". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
  6. ↑ "Krusik Illuminating - Illuminating mortar shell". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
  7. 1 2 "Future Artillery Systems: 2016 Market Report" (PDF). Tidworth: Defence IQ. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  8. 1 2 О военной помощи Грузии со стороны иностранных государств // "Зарубежное военное обозрение", № 6 (735), 2008. стр.94-95
  9. ↑ UN Register - Georgia Standard Report. (Import, Calendar Year 2005)
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