Mortar

Mortar is a type of smoothbore cannon using exclusively high-angle plunging fire. It is able to use indirect fire, with projectiles, called bombs, dropping onto targets from above. Mortars are typically smaller, lighter weapon systems with a shorter range than the other cannons.

Compared to howitzers they have a shorter range, lack the ability to fire at a shallow angle, typically are lighter, and finally have a smoothbore rather than rifled barrels. Compared to cannons, they are solely an indirect fire weapons, lack the ability to shoot at a shallow angle, lack range, and have a much longer time to target, making them less suitable to deal with mobile targets.

Unlike rockets, mortars lack an internal propulsion system, they use a propellant charge instead, which deflagrates creating high-pressure gasses which pushes the bomb out of the mortar. But there is a one notable exception to this rule - Rocket Mortars. Particularly common during the World War Two, they used rockets as ammunition, could be fired at shallower angles, and in some cases they had a rifled barrel, breaking with all the typical conventions of the mortars.

General Info

Naval mortars were introduced into the game with the initial release of the naval forces, patch Update 1.83 "Masters of the Sea", which introduced a few types of mortars, such as Y-gun Mk.VII depth charge or mortar-launched WBG depth charges.

Mortars mounted on a ground vehicles were first introduced with Matilda Hedgehog in Update "New Power".

Usage of mortars in-game

Mortars enjoy a significant advantage of being able to put a very large explosive on the target, even if it's out of line of sight. The high arc of fire, however, brings several significant disadvantages, making mortars extremely situational, requiring a target in a right spot, significant lead against moving targets, and some luck, as mortars have spread and are easy to avoid by manoeuvring.

Mortars have only a single ammunition type available, and it's typically either an impact high-explosive or a depth charge.

In naval battles, mortars are not affected by the "Highlight projectile fall point", "Highlight targeting point" or "Play buzzer sound when projectile hits the water" settings. There are no interface elements assisting in aiming.

In ground battles, the exact behaviour of the mortar in question depends on the platform. Matilda Hedgehog has a text indicating range at which rockets will land - "Hedgehog Rockets - 220m", but no other assists. On the other hand, Churchill AVRE Petard can have its impact points controlled with a use of "Sight distance control" hotkeys.

Naval Mortars

Mortar		Direction	Projectile	TNT equivalent (kg)	Rate of Fire (Rounds/Min)	Ammo Capacity^{[n 1]}	Belt Capacity^{[n 2]}	Maximum range (km)^{[n 3]}	Targeting speed (°/s)^{[n 4]}
Mortar		Direction	Projectile	TNT equivalent (kg)	Rate of Fire (Rounds/Min)	Ammo Capacity^{[n 1]}	Belt Capacity^{[n 2]}	Maximum range (km)^{[n 3]}	Horizontal	Vertical
	Mk 2 mortar	Trainable		0.77	18	8	1	5	20	45
	Mk.6 mortar depth charge	Lateral		136	6	1	1	?	-
	K-gun Mk.9 depth charge	Lateral		136	6	4	1	?	-
	WBG depth charge	Lateral		100	6	1	1	?	-
	RBM mortar	Ahead-throwing		70.8	102	16	4	0.25	-
	BB-1 depth charge	Lateral		130	6	12	1	?	-
	BM-37 mortar	Trainable		0.4	30	50	1	?	30	-
	Mk.VII depth charge	Lateral		130	6	1	1	?	-
	Y-gun Mk.VII depth charge	Lateral		130	6	1	1	?	-
	Mk.10 Hedgehog mortar	Ahead-throwing		25.44	480	24	24	?	-
	Limbo mortar	Trainable		108.1	120	51	1 ^{[n 5]}	?	65	65
	Ordnance ML 4.2-inch mortar	Trainable		2	15	110	1	?	26	-
	Type 95 depth charge	Lateral		100	6	4	1	?	-
	BAS depth charge	Trainable		112	180	60	1	0.85	21	-
	BAS depth charge	Lateral		112	180	4	4	0.3	-
	B TG depth charge	Lateral		50	6	1	1	?	-
	B TG 100 depth charge	Lateral		100	6	1	1	?	-
	Guiraud depth charge	Lateral		130	6	4	1	?	-

↑ Ammo capacity can vary depending on the vessel - value provided is the most commonly found. Ammo capacity is a total amount of ammunition available - both: loaded into the mortar and in the ammo racks.
↑ Belt capacity can vary depending on the vessel - value provided is the most commonly found. Belt capacity is the actual amount of rounds loaded into the mortar. Once used, the remaining supply from the ammo racks will be used, if available. Reloading from the ammo rack will be slower than the Rate of Fire.
↑ A question mark in a field means that the value wasn't measured in-game yet.
↑ If the weapon has only a horizontal Targeting speed, but no vertical - it means that the weapon has a fixed firing range (equal to the Maximum range), even if the in-game interface does show a (non-existent) vertical targeting speed.
↑ Each Limbo mortar has 3 barrels which are loaded simultaneously. So, while belt capacity in theory is 1 bomb, effectively it's 3.

Vehicle-mounted Mortars

Mortar		Direction	Projectile	TNT equivalent (kg)	Rate of Fire (Rounds/Min)	Ammo Capacity	Belt capacity	Maximum range (km)	Targeting speed (°/s)
Mortar		Direction	Projectile	TNT equivalent (kg)	Rate of Fire (Rounds/Min)	Ammo Capacity	Belt capacity	Maximum range (km)	Horizontal	Vertical
	RW61 (380 mm)	Trainable		125	1.15	14	1	3.6	8.8	5.5
	Petard (230 mm)	Trainable		17.73	2.31	16	1	0.15	19	12
	Mk.10 Hedgehog mortar	Ahead-throwing		25.28	2.56	7	7	0.22	- ^{[g 1]}

↑ Hedgehog cannot be aimed, even though the interface and x-ray view suggest the ability to aim it vertically.

Decorations

In addition to the weapons, a number of mortar decorations were awarded. These have no active use in game, they are purely cosmetic items which can be placed on the vehicles.

Army

"Ampulomet" awarded in Victory in Stalingrad Day event
"RM-40" awarded in Battle of the Caucasus event
"PIAT" awarded in The Dragon Box event

Bluewater fleet

"Siege mortar" awarded in Battle Pass: Season VI, "Firepower"

Coastal fleet

"120-PM-38" awarded in Victory Day in War Thunder event

External links

[Wikipedia] Mortar
[Britannica] Mortar
[Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance] Rocket and Mortar Basics
Guns, Mortars, & Rockets by M. P. Manson (pages 37-56)

[1] Ammo capacity can vary depending on the vessel - value provided is the most commonly found. Ammo capacity is a total amount of ammunition available - both: loaded into the mortar and in the ammo racks.

[2] Belt capacity can vary depending on the vessel - value provided is the most commonly found. Belt capacity is the actual amount of rounds loaded into the mortar. Once used, the remaining supply from the ammo racks will be used, if available. Reloading from the ammo rack will be slower than the Rate of Fire.

[3] A question mark in a field means that the value wasn't measured in-game yet.

[4] If the weapon has only a horizontal Targeting speed, but no vertical - it means that the weapon has a fixed firing range (equal to the Maximum range), even if the in-game interface does show a (non-existent) vertical targeting speed.

[5] Each Limbo mortar has 3 barrels which are loaded simultaneously. So, while belt capacity in theory is 1 bomb, effectively it's 3.

[6] Hedgehog cannot be aimed, even though the interface and x-ray view suggest the ability to aim it vertically.

[n 1]

[n 2]

[n 3]

[n 4]

[n 5]

[g 1]

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