M-160 mortar

160 mm mortar M-160
TypeMortar
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1953–present
Wars
Production history
ManufacturerTula Plant No. 535 (now Tulamashzavod)[1]
V111, V113 and V125 Plant (Vietnam)[2]
Produced1949-1957 (USSR)
1974 (Vietnam, with support from USSR)
No. built2,353 (USSR)
100 (Vietnam)
Specifications
Mass1,470 kilograms (3,240 lb)
Barrel length4.55 metres (14.9 ft)[3]
Crew7
Shell41.5 kilograms (91 lb) bomb
Caliber160 millimetres (6.3 in)[3]
Elevation+50° to +80°[3]
Traverse24°
Rate of fire2-3 rounds/minute
Muzzle velocity343 metres per second (1,130 ft/s)
Effective firing range8,040 metres (8,790 yd)

The Soviet 160 mm Mortar M-160 is a smoothbore breech loading heavy mortar which fired a 160 mm shell. It replaced the 160mm Mortar M1943 in Soviet service after World War II.

Description

It is very similar to the M1943 mortar but has a longer barrel, thus enabling a greater range.[4] Loading the mortar requires the breech to be released from the baseplate and swung into a horizontal position, after loading the round it is returned to its original position.[3] It is mounted on a wheeled carriage, in order to be towed by trucks such as the GAZ-66. China copied it as the Type 56 mortar.[5]

The M-160 has a minimum range of 750 m (820 yd) and a maximum range of 8,040 m (8,790 yd).[3]

According to the combat doctrine of the Vietnamese People's Army, the 160mm mortar was developed to destroy the enemy's fortified bunkers and trenches, and can also be used to ambush military bases. The mortar can be deployed in all terrains such as hills, mountains, plains, and urban areas. It is most effective when deployed in elevated terrain and urban areas where the target is often hidden behind defensive cover.[6]

Service

It was introduced in 1953.[5] Originally deployed as a standard mortar for all types of division, it is currently particularly used as mountain or urban artillery. Some countries still use it as field artillery.[4] China originally deployed 12 Type 56 mortars per field division. The M-160 saw service during the Arab–Israeli conflict, including the Lebanese Civil War, with the Indian Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and by North Vietnamese Army in 1975 spring offensive during Vietnam War[5][7]

Users

Former users

Notes

Citations

  1. ^ 160-mm divisional mortar M-160 Encyclopedia of the Victory Museum (in Russian)
  2. ^ The special role of Plan 75B People's Army Newspaper (in Vietnamese)
  3. ^ a b c d e Foss (1974), p. 76.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gander, Terry J. (4 June 2001). "160 mm M1943 and M-160 mortars". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. pp. 3678–3679.
  5. ^ a b c Gourley, Scott R.; McDermott, David F. (November 1984). "Soviet Mortars" (PDF). Infantry. Vol. 74, no. 6. pp. 12–14.
  6. ^ 320A Division in the Central Highlands Campaign 1975 People's Army Magazine (Vietnam)
  7. ^ The special role of Plan 75B People's Army Newspaper (in Vietnamese)
  8. ^ The Military Balance 2016, p. 189.
  9. ^ The Military Balance 2016, p. 239.
  10. ^ "Mongolia Army Equipment". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
  11. ^ Maung, Aung Myoe (2009). Building the Tatmadaw: Myanmar Armed Forces Since 1948. p. 107. ISBN 978-981-230-848-1.
  12. ^ Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Myanmar (Burma)". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 3112.
  13. ^ The Military Balance 2016, p. 406.
  14. ^ The Military Balance 2016, p. 354.
  15. ^ Iraqi army equipment 1930-2017. Vol. 2. p. 117.

References

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