M2 mortar
| US M2 60 mm mortar | |
|---|---|
World War II era 60 mm U.S. M2 mortar, G.I. helmet shown for scale | |
| Type | Infantry mortar |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by | United States France Israel South Korea Republic of China China Turkey North Vietnam South Vietnam Vietnam |
| Wars | World War II Chinese Civil War First Indochina War Korean War Algerian War Portuguese Colonial War Rhodesian Bush War Vietnam War Soviet-Afghan War Iran–Iraq War Lebanese Civil War Nicaraguan Revolution Guatemalan Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Edgar Brandt |
| Variants | Type 31 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 42 lb (19 kg) |
| Barrel length | 2 ft 5 in (726 mm) |
| Crew | 5 (squad leader, gunner, assistant gunner, two ammunition carriers) |
| Shell | 3 lb (1.4 kg) |
| Caliber | 60 mm (2.36 in) |
| Elevation | +40° to +85° |
| Traverse | 7° |
| Rate of fire | 18 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 520 ft/s (158 m/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 1.1 mi (1.8 km) |
The M2 mortar is a 60 millimeter smoothbore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used by U.S. forces in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War for light infantry support.