M224, 60mm Mortar

History

The M224 is a man-portable mortar system currently in service with the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. The system provides a high-angle offensive weapon that can be used near friendly forces. Its indirect fire support and relatively easy operational characteristics have proven its worth in supporting ground forces, special forces and mountain forces, and the air force, among others. The M224 was chosen to replace the M2 and M19 series of 60mm mortars that have been in service since World War II.

The M224 replaces these outdated designs by offering an overall improved effective range.

The M224 is disassembled into its core components, including the base plate, sight assembly, bipod, and launch tube (aka cannon or barrel), which together weigh 46.5 pounds. There are two styles of baseplates, called M7 and M8. The M7 is for conventional firing and attaches to the bottom of the launch tube, while the M8 offers a handheld firing option. The M7 baseplate has a helical lift and lateral mechanism for changing the firing angle. Sighting is carried out via the M64A1 sighting device, which is attached to the bipod mount via a conventional dovetail assembly.

The bipod was named M170 and was mounted on the front of the launch tube. Officially designated as the M25 gun, the 40-inch long barrel features a smoothbore muzzle-loading design, and also includes a firing mechanism, brass head, and additional close-range sights on the bottom.

The weapon system also features a spring damper to dampen recoil.

Three crew members are recommended for maximum operational efficiency. The effective maximum range depends on the chosen firing method (traditional or hand-held).

For conventional fire, the M224 has a specified range of 3,490 meters (about 2.17 miles), while the hand-held fire has an estimated range of 1,340 meters. Weights also vary widely, depending on the firing method chosen.

The unit weight is 48 pounds for regular fire and just 18 pounds for manual fire. The maximum rate of fire is 30 rounds per minute for 4 minutes, and the continuous rate of fire is 20 rounds per minute for up to 20 minutes.

The M224 is certified to fire a variety of ammunition types, including standard practice and training rounds, infrared and standard flares, white phosphorous smoke, and high-explosive (HE) rounds with multiple option/point fuzes. A single M224 unit costs $10,658.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes