The Soviet 107mm M1938 mortar was a scaled-down version of the 120mm M1938 mortar intended for use by mountain troops and light enough to be towed by animals on a cart.[2]
| 107mm mortar M1938 | |
|---|---|
 107mm mortar M1938 in White Eagle Museum | |
| Type | Mortar |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1943–1975 (Soviet Union) 1938–present |
| Wars | World War II Korean War[1] Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Lebanese Civil War Afghan Wars 2011 Libyan civil war |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1936 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 170 kg (370 lb) |
| Barrel length | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Diameter | 107 mm |
| Crew | 5 |
| Shell | 9.1 kg (20 lb) bomb |
| Caliber | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Breech | muzzle loaded |
| Elevation | 45° to 80° |
| Traverse | 3° |
| Rate of fire | 15 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 302 m/s (990 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 6.3 km (3.9 mi) |
| Filling | TNT |
| Filling weight | 1.0 kg (2 lb 3 oz) (OF-841A) |
History
In World War II, the 107mm mortar saw service with Soviet mountain infantry as a divisional artillery weapon.[3] Weapons captured by the Germans were given the designation 10.7 cm Gebirgsgranatwerfer 328(r).[4] Its last significant use in battle was in the Vietnam War. The ability to break down the weapon made it particularly suited to the rugged terrain of Vietnam.[5]
The mortar fired a light HE round (OF-841) and a heavy HE round (OF-841A). The lighter HE round actually carried a larger bursting charge than the heavier HE round.[6] Both rounds used GVMZ-series point detonation fuzes.
Recently, the weapon has been seen in use by rebel forces during the 2011 Libyan civil war.[7]
Users
and many others
See also
Weapons of comparable role, performance and era
- Ordnance ML 4.2 inch Mortar - British equivalent
- M2 4.2 inch mortar - US equivalent