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
Current operators
Former operators
See also
References
- ↑ "Yugoslavian mortars - List of mortars developed in Yugoslavia".
- ↑ "BNT - BNT military production".
- ↑ http://www.vti.mod.gov.rs/index.php?view=actuality&type=reference&category=1&id=97
- ↑ "Krusik HE - HE mortar shell". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
- ↑ "Krusik Smoke - Smoke mortar shell". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
- ↑ "Krusik Illuminating - Illuminating mortar shell". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
- 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.
- 1 2 О военной помощи Грузии со стороны иностранных государств // "Зарубежное военное обозрение", № 6 (735), 2008. стр.94-95
- ↑ UN Register - Georgia Standard Report. (Import, Calendar Year 2005)