page_title: Mortar (weapon)
section_title: Design
hierarchical_section_title: Mortar (weapon) / Modern / Design
caption_attribution_description: English: 81mm mortar L16 smoothbore
context_page_description: A mortar is usually a simple, lightweight, man-portable, muzzle-loaded weapon, consisting of a smooth-bore metal tube fixed to a base plate with a lightweight bipod mount and a sight. They launch explosive shells in high-arcing ballistic trajectories. Mortars are typically used as indirect fire weapons for close fire support with a variety of ammunition.
context_section_description: Most modern mortar systems consist of four main components: a barrel, a base plate, a bipod and a sight. Modern mortars normally range in calibre from 60 mm (2.36 in) to 120 mm (4.72 in). However, both larger and smaller mortars have been produced.
  The modern mortar is a muzzle-loaded weapon and relatively simple and easy to operate. It consists of a tube into which the gunners drop a mortar round. When the round reaches the base of the tube it hits a fixed firing pin that fires the round. The tube is generally set at an angle of between 45 and 85 degrees to the ground, with the higher angle producing a shorter horizontal round trajectory. Some mortars have a moving firing pin, operated by a lanyard or trigger mechanism.
caption: Looking down an L16 mortar tube. Note: fixed firing pin
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