Difference between revisions of "Ordnance ML 4.2-inch mortar"

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(Added images, Pros and cons, See also and External links.)
(See also: Added BM-37 mortar)
 
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=== Effective damage ===
 
=== Effective damage ===
 
''Describe the type of damage produced by this type of weapon (high explosive, splash damage, etc)''
 
''Describe the type of damage produced by this type of weapon (high explosive, splash damage, etc)''
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[[File:Ordnance ML 4.2-inch mortar round.jpg|thumb|Mortar bomb launched by the ML 4.2-inch mortar]]
  
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
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'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
* Yeets 2 kg of explosives packed in a depth charge
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* 2 kg of explosives packed in a depth charge
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
 
* Has to be manually aimed and fired
 
* Has to be manually aimed and fired
* No user interface elements assisting in aiming the mortar, regardless of the mode
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* No user interface elements assisting in aiming the mortar, regardless of the game mode
 
* Fixed firing range of 1 km
 
* Fixed firing range of 1 km
* Weapon, being a depth charge mortar, makes it extremely difficult to gauge whether the hit was close to the target, or completely off the mark, as there is no splash indicator
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* Extremely difficult to gauge whether the hit was close to the target or completely off the mark, as there is no splash indicator
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''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 If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: 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>.'' -->
 
<!-- ''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>.'' -->
The British Army remained wedded to the Stokes Mortar design after World War I even when other nations were adopting more modern Brandt Mortar designs in the 1930s. As such, most British Mortars during World War II were still based on the Stokes design including their heavy mortar the Ordnance ML 4.2-inch Mortar. Entering service at the end of 1941, the ML 4.2-inch is a towed mortar design often carried on a trailer by a Loyd Carrier and had a six-man crew. Assigned to the Royal Engineers chemical warfare companies, the ML 4.2-inch first entered combat during the Second Battle of El-Alamein in late 1942. The Australian 24<sup>th</sup> Infantry Brigade’s 66<sup>th</sup> Mortar Company used these mortars so intensively to protect the infantry, they expended all the 4.2-inch mortar rounds in the North African Theatre.
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The British Army remained wedded to the Stokes Mortar design after World War I even when other nations were adopting more modern Brandt Mortar designs in the 1930s. As such, most British Mortars during World War II were still based on the Stokes design including their heavy mortar the Ordnance ML 4.2-inch Mortar. Entering service at the end of 1941, the ML 4.2-inch is a towed mortar design often carried on a trailer by a Loyd Carrier and had a six-man crew. Assigned to the Royal Engineers chemical warfare companies, the ML 4.2-inch first entered combat during the Second Battle of El-Alamein in late 1942. The Australian 24<sup>th</sup> Infantry Brigade's 66<sup>th</sup> Mortar Company used these mortars so intensively to protect the infantry, they expended all the 4.2-inch mortar rounds in the North African Theatre.
  
 
In 1943, the chemical weapons companies were disbanded, and the ML 4.2-inch mortars were shipped to heavy mortar companies attached to the infantry machine gun battalions. The companies had 16 mortars and were divided into four platoons 4 mortars each. Later the Commonwealth forces in Italy found they had more mortars than they needed for their machine gun battalions usually replacing batteries in divisional anti-tank regiments. In comparison to the forces in Europe and North Africa, the Commonwealth armies in the Pacific Theatre were slower to receive these weapons. The Australians in the South West Pacific Theatre got the Ordnance ML 4.2-inch Mortar before the forces serving in Burma (present-day Myanmar).
 
In 1943, the chemical weapons companies were disbanded, and the ML 4.2-inch mortars were shipped to heavy mortar companies attached to the infantry machine gun battalions. The companies had 16 mortars and were divided into four platoons 4 mortars each. Later the Commonwealth forces in Italy found they had more mortars than they needed for their machine gun battalions usually replacing batteries in divisional anti-tank regiments. In comparison to the forces in Europe and North Africa, the Commonwealth armies in the Pacific Theatre were slower to receive these weapons. The Australians in the South West Pacific Theatre got the Ordnance ML 4.2-inch Mortar before the forces serving in Burma (present-day Myanmar).
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* ''reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;''
 
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;''
 
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
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* [[BM-37 mortar]]
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* [[Mk 2 mortar]]
 
* [[Mk.6 mortar depth charge]]
 
* [[Mk.6 mortar depth charge]]
 
* [[7.2 in T37]]
 
* [[7.2 in T37]]
* [[Mk 2 mortar]]
 
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==

Latest revision as of 15:44, 6 July 2024

Ordnance ML 4.2-inch mortar on a bow of Fairmile H LCS(L)(2)

Description

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.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

The weapon will always fire at a range of 1 km, with a dispersion of ~30 meters forwards/backward and ~60 meters to the sides. This might be caused by the boat rocking on the waves rather than being inherent to the weapon.

The depth charge takes about 15 seconds to reach the target. It makes a small splash when it enters the water, and it detonates about one second later, creating a bigger splash. The damage is low - it requires about 10 hits on target to sink an S-38b in a test sail, and that is a stationary target, so you should not expect the same accuracy in combat. The mortar may have some utility when forcing enemies out of cover behind ships on capture zones, or confusing them with an artillery bombardment.

Effective damage

Describe the type of damage produced by this type of weapon (high explosive, splash damage, etc)

Mortar bomb launched by the ML 4.2-inch mortar

Comparison with analogues

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

Usage in battles

Describe situations when you would utilise this weapon in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc)

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • 2 kg of explosives packed in a depth charge

Cons:

  • Has to be manually aimed and fired
  • No user interface elements assisting in aiming the mortar, regardless of the game mode
  • Fixed firing range of 1 km
  • Extremely difficult to gauge whether the hit was close to the target or completely off the mark, as there is no splash indicator

History

The British Army remained wedded to the Stokes Mortar design after World War I even when other nations were adopting more modern Brandt Mortar designs in the 1930s. As such, most British Mortars during World War II were still based on the Stokes design including their heavy mortar the Ordnance ML 4.2-inch Mortar. Entering service at the end of 1941, the ML 4.2-inch is a towed mortar design often carried on a trailer by a Loyd Carrier and had a six-man crew. Assigned to the Royal Engineers chemical warfare companies, the ML 4.2-inch first entered combat during the Second Battle of El-Alamein in late 1942. The Australian 24th Infantry Brigade's 66th Mortar Company used these mortars so intensively to protect the infantry, they expended all the 4.2-inch mortar rounds in the North African Theatre.

In 1943, the chemical weapons companies were disbanded, and the ML 4.2-inch mortars were shipped to heavy mortar companies attached to the infantry machine gun battalions. The companies had 16 mortars and were divided into four platoons 4 mortars each. Later the Commonwealth forces in Italy found they had more mortars than they needed for their machine gun battalions usually replacing batteries in divisional anti-tank regiments. In comparison to the forces in Europe and North Africa, the Commonwealth armies in the Pacific Theatre were slower to receive these weapons. The Australians in the South West Pacific Theatre got the Ordnance ML 4.2-inch Mortar before the forces serving in Burma (present-day Myanmar).

After the war, the Royal Engineers who previously used the mortars transferred the 4.2-inch to the Royal Artillery. They were notably used by British forces during the Korean War. The 170th Mortar Battery during the Battle of the Imjin River in April 1951 along the DMZ. British Airborne forces would also use the mortars in Kuwait in 1961 when the nation became independent from the U.K. in 1961. The British would also man these mortars during the Confrontation of Borneo in 1965 when Indonesia engaged in an armed conflict to prevent the creation of Malaysia. In 1966, the Ordnance ML 4.2-inch Mortar was retired from the British Army.

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