Difference between revisions of "Mk 2 mortar"

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[[File:Mk 2 mortar.jpg|thumb|x250px|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' on [[PT-811]].]]
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.''
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<!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' -->
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The '''Mk 2 mortar''' is a 81 mm [[Mortars|mortar]] seen on American naval craft. As a mortar, the projectiles are fired at a high parabolic trajectory and at a slow speed. While making it a difficult weapon to use against fast-moving boats, a direct hit will cause devastating damage to them.
  
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
 
<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
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 +
* {{Specs-Link|uk_fremantle_class}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|us_nasty_ptf}} (Modification)
 
* {{Specs-Link|us_nasty_ptf}} (Modification)
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* {{Specs-Link|us_flagstaff_pgh1}}
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* {{Specs-Link|us_tucumcari_pgh2}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|us_pt810}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|us_pt810}}
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* {{Specs-Link|us_tucumcari_pgh2}}
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* {{Specs-Link|us_pt811}}
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* {{Specs-Link|us_pt812}}
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
−
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''
+
<!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the weapon.'' -->
 +
The Mk 2 mortar is a supporting weapon on the naval craft it is mounted on, never to be considered a naval craft's main armament. Though small in size, the projectiles it fires are of high-explosive nature and so the appropriate targets should be selected when engaging with the weapon.
  
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=== Available shells ===
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=== Available ammunition ===
−
''Describe the shells that are available for the cannon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).''
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<!-- ''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).'' -->
 +
The Mk 2 mortar does not give any ammunition options that users can choose to fire. However, the Mk 2 mortar fires a high-explosive projectile that can cause good damage should it hit its desired target.
  
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
−
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns, that have firepower equal to these type of weapons.''
+
''Give a comparative description of weapons that have firepower equal to this weapon.''
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
−
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against the main opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''
+
''Describe the weapon in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' -->
 +
[[File:Mk 2 mortar round.jpg|thumb|The rounds fired off {{PAGENAME}} look like a High Explosive rounds of the rifled cannons, rather than a more typical mortar rounds.]]
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'''Pros:'''
  
−
'''Pros:'''
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* High-explosive payload can cause large amounts of damage to lightly-armoured craft, and can still cause damages in a near-miss
−
*
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* High parabolic firing angle can allow the naval craft mounts to fire at targets across island land masses without direct line-of-sights
 +
* Unlike other mortars, such as [[Ordnance ML 4.2-inch mortar|Ordnance ML 4.2-inch]], AI will automatically choose targets and engage them without any player action needed (as long as the gunner targets (default hotkey: {{key press|E}}) are toggled to engage targets)
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Projectiles fired are very slow, and so leading shots can be difficult
 +
* Due to slow projectile speed and low accuracy, AI gunners are unlikely to hit coastal vessel, and might struggle even with large, bluewater targets.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of this weapon. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''
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<!-- ''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.'' -->
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After World War II, The United States Navy began looking to improve the surface and shore attack capabilities of offshore patrol craft. The requirement came from experience with patrol boats during World War II. The result came with experiments on [[PT-810]] and its family of patrol boats to improve armament including mounting [[Bofors L/60 Mark 3 (40 mm)|40 mm Bofors L/60 Mark 3]] cannons, 20 mm Oerlikon cannons, torpedoes, and the Mk.2 81mm mortar. The 81mm calibre was the standard ammunition for the United States heavy mortars during the 20th century, beginning with the Stokes Mortar design from World War I. The Mark 2 was a different weapon from US Army mortars. Developed by Naval Weapons Station Crane in Indiana, the first users of the Mark 2 were the United States Coast Guard. As their duties included search and rescue of aircraft that are forced to ditch at sea, the Mark 2 mortar was used to fire illumination rounds to aid the pilots of these crafts. It was found to be an effective replacement to the starburst rounds of the 3-inch guns used on their cutters before the adoption of the Mark 2 in 1962. It was brighter, had a higher rate of fire, and created less fouling than the 3-inch guns.
 +
 
 +
Capable of either direct or indirect fire depending on the situation, two mounts exist for the Mark 2 Mortar. The Mark 2 Mod 0 is a standalone weapon on a tripod, while the Mark 2 Mod 1 mounts an additional [[AN-M2 (12.7 mm)|AN-M2]] machine gun. The concept for this mount came from the suggestion of the Coast Guard. Testing started at Curtis Bay, Maryland before the Navy began testing at Dalgreen, Virginia in late 1964. The Navy and Coast Guard used the Mark 2 in both mounts in a variety of roles during the Vietnam War from barrack barges to PBRs and similar riverine patrol craft to Coast Guard cutters to navy fast patrol craft such as [[PTF-7]] of the Nasty-class and naval bases at Nam Cam and Song Bong Doc codenamed Sea Float/Solid Anchor and Breezy Cove respectively.
 +
 
 +
Major differences between the Army mortars and the Mark 2 include a recoil-counterrecoil system for reducing the brake load, free-swinging capability for training and elevation, and a trigger for alternative means of firing the weapon in a direct fire mode. Ammunition types along with the high-explosive featured in the game included illumination rounds used by the coast guard and the Mark 120 Mod 0 anti-personnel fléchette round.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''An excellent addition to the article would be a video guide, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
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* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
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−
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''
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* ''reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;''
 +
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' -->
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* [[BM-37 mortar]]
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* [[Ordnance ML 4.2-inch mortar]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''encyclopedia page on the weapon;''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
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* ''other literature.''
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 +
* [https://archive.org/details/OP174381mmMortarMarkW/page/n15/mode/2up <nowiki>[Archive.org]</nowiki> NAVWEPS OP 1743: 81-MM MORTAR MARK 2 MOD 0 manual]
  
 
{{Naval special armaments}}
 
{{Naval special armaments}}
  
 
[[Category:Naval special armaments]]
 
[[Category:Naval special armaments]]

Latest revision as of 21:04, 12 November 2024

Mk 2 mortar on PT-811.

Description

The Mk 2 mortar is a 81 mm mortar seen on American naval craft. As a mortar, the projectiles are fired at a high parabolic trajectory and at a slow speed. While making it a difficult weapon to use against fast-moving boats, a direct hit will cause devastating damage to them.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

The Mk 2 mortar is a supporting weapon on the naval craft it is mounted on, never to be considered a naval craft's main armament. Though small in size, the projectiles it fires are of high-explosive nature and so the appropriate targets should be selected when engaging with the weapon.

Available ammunition

The Mk 2 mortar does not give any ammunition options that users can choose to fire. However, the Mk 2 mortar fires a high-explosive projectile that can cause good damage should it hit its desired target.

Comparison with analogues

Give a comparative description of weapons that have firepower equal to this weapon.

Usage in battles

Describe the weapon in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.

Pros and cons

The rounds fired off Mk 2 mortar look like a High Explosive rounds of the rifled cannons, rather than a more typical mortar rounds.

Pros:

  • High-explosive payload can cause large amounts of damage to lightly-armoured craft, and can still cause damages in a near-miss
  • High parabolic firing angle can allow the naval craft mounts to fire at targets across island land masses without direct line-of-sights
  • Unlike other mortars, such as Ordnance ML 4.2-inch, AI will automatically choose targets and engage them without any player action needed (as long as the gunner targets (default hotkey: E) are toggled to engage targets)

Cons:

  • Projectiles fired are very slow, and so leading shots can be difficult
  • Due to slow projectile speed and low accuracy, AI gunners are unlikely to hit coastal vessel, and might struggle even with large, bluewater targets.

History

After World War II, The United States Navy began looking to improve the surface and shore attack capabilities of offshore patrol craft. The requirement came from experience with patrol boats during World War II. The result came with experiments on PT-810 and its family of patrol boats to improve armament including mounting 40 mm Bofors L/60 Mark 3 cannons, 20 mm Oerlikon cannons, torpedoes, and the Mk.2 81mm mortar. The 81mm calibre was the standard ammunition for the United States heavy mortars during the 20th century, beginning with the Stokes Mortar design from World War I. The Mark 2 was a different weapon from US Army mortars. Developed by Naval Weapons Station Crane in Indiana, the first users of the Mark 2 were the United States Coast Guard. As their duties included search and rescue of aircraft that are forced to ditch at sea, the Mark 2 mortar was used to fire illumination rounds to aid the pilots of these crafts. It was found to be an effective replacement to the starburst rounds of the 3-inch guns used on their cutters before the adoption of the Mark 2 in 1962. It was brighter, had a higher rate of fire, and created less fouling than the 3-inch guns.

Capable of either direct or indirect fire depending on the situation, two mounts exist for the Mark 2 Mortar. The Mark 2 Mod 0 is a standalone weapon on a tripod, while the Mark 2 Mod 1 mounts an additional AN-M2 machine gun. The concept for this mount came from the suggestion of the Coast Guard. Testing started at Curtis Bay, Maryland before the Navy began testing at Dalgreen, Virginia in late 1964. The Navy and Coast Guard used the Mark 2 in both mounts in a variety of roles during the Vietnam War from barrack barges to PBRs and similar riverine patrol craft to Coast Guard cutters to navy fast patrol craft such as PTF-7 of the Nasty-class and naval bases at Nam Cam and Song Bong Doc codenamed Sea Float/Solid Anchor and Breezy Cove respectively.

Major differences between the Army mortars and the Mark 2 include a recoil-counterrecoil system for reducing the brake load, free-swinging capability for training and elevation, and a trigger for alternative means of firing the weapon in a direct fire mode. Ammunition types along with the high-explosive featured in the game included illumination rounds used by the coast guard and the Mark 120 Mod 0 anti-personnel fléchette round.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

External links


Naval special armaments
USA 
Mortars  7.2-inch T37 · Mk 2
Rockets  5-inch GPSR Mk.7 · Mark 108 Weapon alfa
Missiles  RIM-24A
Germany 
Rockets  M/50 Bofors
Missiles  Strela-2M
USSR 
Mortars  BM-37 · RBM · RBU-1200 · RBU-2500 · RBU-6000 · RKU-36U
Rockets  BM-14-17 · BM-21 · M13 · M-8
Missiles  Volna-M
Britain 
Mortars  Ordnance ML 4.2-inch mortar
Japan 
Rockets  4.5-inch BBR Mk.7 (USA) · Mark 108 Weapon alfa (USA)
Italy 
Missiles  Nettuno
France 
Missiles  SS.11

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