File:M120_Mortar_in_Zabol_Province,_Afghanistan.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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mortar

artillery weapon that launches explosive projectiles at high angles

AI overview

Mortar is a type of artillery weapon designed to launch explosive projectiles at steep angles, typically over obstacles like walls or hills. It matters because this high-angle firing capability allows it to strike targets that other weapons cannot reach directly, making it effective for military operations in complex terrain.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

~24 min read

Encyclopedic overview

United States Army soldiers firing an M120 mortar (round visible in smoke) during the war in Afghanistan

A mortar today is usually a simple, lightweight, man-portable, muzzle-loaded cannon consisting of a smooth-bore (although some models use a rifled barrel) metal tube fixed to a base plate (to spread out the recoil) with a lightweight bipod mount and a sight. Mortars are typically used as indirect fire weapons for close fire support with a variety of ammunition. Historically, mortars were heavy siege artillery. Mortars launch explosive shells (technically called bombs) in high arching ballistic trajectories.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “mortar” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.