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I fired the 81 mm (M29A1) ground and tracked versions (M125) and the 4.2 inch (M30) ground and tracked versions (M106). I saw 60 mm mortar fire demonstrated but never actually fired. I know the M252 81mm is replacing the M29A1.
CPT Phil Alibrandi SFC Jason Bautista CPT Dave Borgognoni COL Vincent Bryant CPT Edward Cohen MSgt William Gaskins, LTC Gary Hetrick Capt Ed Hinman COL Eric Holmes MAJ David Humerick SFC (Join to see), SFC Joey Jimenez CPT Tim Kiesow CPT Vann Knight CPL Pedro Lopez MSG Michael McElmeel MAJ Robert Stonerock LTC Mo Vanderslice SPC (Join to see) MAJ Don Weber
CPT Phil Alibrandi SFC Jason Bautista CPT Dave Borgognoni COL Vincent Bryant CPT Edward Cohen MSgt William Gaskins, LTC Gary Hetrick Capt Ed Hinman COL Eric Holmes MAJ David Humerick SFC (Join to see), SFC Joey Jimenez CPT Tim Kiesow CPT Vann Knight CPL Pedro Lopez MSG Michael McElmeel MAJ Robert Stonerock LTC Mo Vanderslice SPC (Join to see) MAJ Don Weber
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11C: Indirect Fire Infantryman (Mortarman)
Indirect Fire Infantryman OSUT (11C)
Mortar Gunner
11C: Indirect Fire Infantryman (Mortarman) Indirect Fire Infantryman OSUT (11C) Mortar Gunner
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 20
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I spent 7 years on the 60mm mortar, 7 years on the 81mm mortar, and 6 years on the 120mm mortar. Although I never fired the 60mm in combat (I did with the other 2), I loved the 60mm! I was Airborne in Panama, Ft Bragg, and Alaska with the 60mm and I loved every minute of the suck! It was definately some of the most fun I have had in my career!
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PV2 Matthew Dzemske
The 60mm is undoubtedly fun to fire, especially with the trigger. It's just that the 720 HE is about as powerful as a hand grenade. Don't get me wrong, MSGT, I'd pay hard cash to have had the chance to rock a guy in the chest with one. Bang for buck; the 81 trailer mount is more of our workhorse...the 121 is the best value simply because the MFCS provides a good crew with a versatile weapon, lots of diversity in options with the fuzes, a relatively small CEP with a larger blast radius and the ability to go from cruising in the 1064 to ready to rain hell on a 13 digit grid in less than 30 seconds. There is simply nothing not badass about that.
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120MM all day. I actually started with 81MM when i was in Drum but when i got to Korea and started blasting off from the tracks it was great. Plus the 120 could go ground too so double the fun
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The 4.2" was a real ass kicker. My mortar platoon time ended in 1987, but in Desert Storm or TF mortars fired more than our tanks ever did. Saw that platoon vaporize an 82mm platoon in counter-battery, kill hundreds of Republican Guard infantrymen, and create clouds of smoke whenever we needed it. Those 11C were aggressive as hell and they controlled the only indirect fire guns that we could count on at the TF-level.
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Mo Vanderslice, thank for testifying to the effective use of infantry mortar support in this case the 4.2 inch mortars and the 11C's who hung rounds in counter-battery fire, destroying opposing infantrymen. Definitely supports the concept of infantry indirect fire for tactical missions.
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SSG (Join to see)
I share LTC Ford's sentiments, it's good to hear about the effectiveness of Mortars. In my time, we've never really gotten much acknowledgement as far as our effectiveness in combat.
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I'm a Mortarman, I love Mortars period, but if I had to pick a favorite I'd say the 60. The 60 is the most mobile of the mortars, no it doesn't make the biggest boom, but it's a hell of a tool to dismount with. If you're a Chuck and never got the opportunity to fire a 60 handheld, I feel sorry for you, it's one of the funnest damn things you'll ever do IMO.
I do love and miss my RMS6L though, that MCV mounted 120mm is a force to be reckoned with. Yes you lose some max range, but it is very effective and efficient nonetheless.
I do love and miss my RMS6L though, that MCV mounted 120mm is a force to be reckoned with. Yes you lose some max range, but it is very effective and efficient nonetheless.
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LTC Stephen F.
Well it is great to see a reference to a Chuck SSG (Join to see) by which I assume you mean 11-C indirect fire crewman at least that is my memory. Many things have changed since I first enlisted. IMPOC [Infantry Mortar Platoon Officers Course fro Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers] is now the Infantry Mortar Leaders Course took me a little time to learn - here on RallyPoint. I had seen other references to use of 11-C besides mortars which bothered me but then I learned they were posted by non-Army infantry types.
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SSG (Join to see)
LTC Stephen F. - Things seem to have changed alot since the Global War on Terror began Sir. As long as I have been in, the designation 11C now refers to Indirect Fire Infantryman. Obviously, as I'm sure you're well aware, everyone just calls us Mortars.
People seem to think we're Artillery and not worthy of our Infantry lineage when infact we go through all the same 11B training with an extra week for Mortars. They don't realize that at anytime we can shift from 11C to 11B, not so easy to do the other way around; but try telling that to the average Grunt. Heh, actually an old friend made a pretty good joke about us once "You Charlies are Kings trying to be Queens" again, saying we're Artillery trying to play Infantry. Pretty funny joke, atleast IMO
People seem to think we're Artillery and not worthy of our Infantry lineage when infact we go through all the same 11B training with an extra week for Mortars. They don't realize that at anytime we can shift from 11C to 11B, not so easy to do the other way around; but try telling that to the average Grunt. Heh, actually an old friend made a pretty good joke about us once "You Charlies are Kings trying to be Queens" again, saying we're Artillery trying to play Infantry. Pretty funny joke, atleast IMO
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LTC Stephen F.
SSG (Join to see) I concur there is a significant difference between 11C and the 13 series Field Artillery. After working with 81 MM and 4.2 inch mortar units in Germany, I came back and served as an infantry training company commander at Fort Benning and we trained 11B, 11C, and some 11H infantry soldiers. I know all infantrymen are trained as infantrymen which is significantly different than field artillery training. The mission of the infantry includes closing with enemy which the field artillery does not include. That is a nice joke and play on words "You Charlies are Kings trying to be Queens"
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SSG (Join to see)
LTC Stephen F. - I thought it was pretty clever, the joke, even if I disagree with the logic, pretty funny joke. A gentlemen in the legal office at Fort Riley who was a Vietnam era Infantryman taught me a pretty good acronym for Field Artillery guys, DAGBY. I'll let your imagination figure out D and A but I will say the GBY part stands for "Gun Bunny"
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I would say 81mm . Why because I carried two radios and 5 rounds in the mountains of Afghanistan. Nothing better then when we got our first fire mission and my load got lighter. Good times great platoon.
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LTC Stephen F.
Sounds like 81 mm ground mounted LTC Jason Bartlett. Who had the privilege of humping the base plate and the tube in those mountains? That sounds like a cardiovascular workout!
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LTC Stephen F.
Well thanks for an original response PO3 Steven Sherrill. You are always good for adding humor :-)
What is your favorite type of mortar when laying bricks - red bricks, white bricks, cinder blocks, gold bricks, outhouse bricks, etc.? :-)
What is your favorite type of mortar when laying bricks - red bricks, white bricks, cinder blocks, gold bricks, outhouse bricks, etc.? :-)
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The 81 MM mortar is accurate, easy to emplace, easy to support, has decent range, and its reliable. What you need when you want to reach out and destroy something, and you don't have cannon artillery nearby. Â Not a big fan of the 60 MM. If you are going to use 4.2 IN or 120 MM mortar, why not use 105 MM or 155 MM cannon artillery. It is more accurate and it can mass.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks for weighing in LTC Gavin Heater. I certainly concur with your assessment of the 81mm mortar. I think the tactical operations folks would distribute artillery for separate missions than infantry indirect support. Economy of scale so that 105 mm and 155mm which have much longer range could be used to the best effect in support of operational missions.
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SSG (Join to see)
The 120 MM can get inside those draws in Afghanistan a lot better than the field artillery can. High angle hell.
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SSG (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - Now if only my last unit would have been aware of that logic instead of employing the Howitzers over our 120s.
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SPC Don Stringer
Artillery cannot hit reverse slopes of hills easily or drop straight down into canyons and crevasses. Also, artillery has a longer minimum distance to target, where a mortar can be brought very close to friendly positions.
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60mm M224... It's just my favorite because of the maneuverability and it's awesome to fire handheld
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