Defense Tech news usually consists of whiz-bang gear bordering on science fiction. But sometimes new equipment doesn’t have to sound like something out of Star Trek to make a transformational-ish change on the battlefield.
Case in point is the new M326 120-mm Mortar QuickStow System:
The M326 120-mm Mortar System was developed by BAE Systems to make it easier for Soldiers to quickly set-up and take down the M120 120-mm Mortar system on the battlefield.
The M326 is a simple and rugged device that can be easily attached to the M1101 Trailer, High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) or a variety of other vehicles that serve as a prime mover for 120-mm mortar systems. It significantly reduces mortar crew workload by using a hydraulic system to hoist the fully assembled M120 Mortar, which weighs more than 300 pounds, into and out of the trailer or vehicle used to haul the weapon.
Today’s combat zones are more fluid and shifting than ever, and mobility and reaction time are often key elements to victory. This system is designed to allow heavy mortar teams to set up with less effort, engage enemy forces more quickly, and pack up and go in record time.
Some mechanized forces use mortar carrier vehicles, such as the M1129 Stryker mortar carrier. Light infantry and other units that are primarily foot-based, however, don’t have this option. The M326 should help get the big tubes into the fight quite a bit more quickly.
More info in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Star-Tribune.
The Army plans to buy over 550 of the units beginning next year.
– Murdoc
I always thought the biggest problem with getting mortors setup was getting them leveled and lined. Without that your rounds could really go anywhere.
This system doesn’t seem to do anything about the thing that takes the longest time to do. 300lbs is heavy but I am pretty sure 3 guys could put it on it’s feet PDQ, its everything else that takes so long.
Does this system take care of any other part of the setup for them? If so, then I am sure it would be very useful on the field, if not we are talking about only saving a min or two in exchange for some crazy (and it am sure heavy and breakable) bit of kit.
Just think about getting it back the carrier.
Now think of doing it over and over again.
That’s where I see this being big.
I have seen 120mm mortars that came with two wheels. That strikes me as even better. For one thing, they are easier to manhandle on the ground; infantry can pull them around within a firing position. They are also more easily lifted by helicopter. For road travel you can hitch them to a limber much like the cart the one in your photo is on, and then have a prime mover pull the cart, which incidentally could carry more ammo. The wheeled mortar doesn’t have to be more than a few pounds heavier than the mortar w/o wheel. All-in-all, the proposed hydraulic lift strikes me as a solution to a non-problem. Then again I could be wrong; my family assures me that I have been before on other matters.
I wonder if they have a patent on that? I can’t see how it could qualify.
Anyway, hurray for low tech.
so is this the NLOS (non-line of sight) mortar system?
Would this system work for the Dragon Fire II Mobile Fire Support System? How about,say,if we wanted to field a 160mm mortar system,like what they have in Israel?
> I always thought the biggest problem with getting mortors setup was getting them leveled and lined. Without that your rounds could really go anywhere.
With the coming of PGM mortar rounds, GPS/INS ones in particular, setting the tube up may be less of a problem.
Maybe they could have bought the Dragon Fire mortar system instead… it already has wheels.
http://www.mcwl.usmc.mil/images/photogallery/GCE/DragonFire/drgnfire2.jpg
http://www.mcwl.usmc.mil/images/photogallery/GCE/DragonFire/Dragon_Fire_static.jpg
http://www.mcwl.usmc.mil/media/Gallery/GCE.htm
http://www.rdecom.army.mil/rdemagazine/200309/itl_tacom_dragonfire.html
I would think towing around the dragon fire would be better then towing around this.
I worked with the ground mounted 107mm mortar for a number of years in the Berln Brigade. I don’t see this as saving that much time when things are clean and dry, but…
Anyone that has ever had to drag a baseplate out of a muddy mortar pit after firing fourty or fifty rounds would give anything for a hydraulic system to lift that monster.
The only thing that will be tricky is getting the trailer/HMMWV into the mortar pit to grab the weapon. Are legs still digging mortar pits?
I’m more impressed with the ammo rack shown in the trailer. It is placed where the rounds will be readily accessible both for loading the rack and for pulling rounds to fire.
About time they found a cheap solution to a problem.
Darn impressive. The Army has a new toy that isn’t going to cost 50 million. Low tech is the way to go (for some stuff). But I will admit, im surprised we haven’t given up on such weapons as the mortar. Seems that everything these days has to put a round with in a square yard, good to see older tech out there.
What is that model 120mm mortar system pictured? I know that Singapore has the Super Rapid Advanced Mortar System that can be attached to the back of a HMMWV. Is that a M120 or M121 mortar pictured(Acually,like I know what I’m talking about.I had to look it up)? Both the Dragon Fire I & II would seem to be better mortars for towing.
The 120 is mounted in the back of a mortar track and the 121 is the ground mounted version. The differnce being that the 120 has detachable legs that can be taken on and off in case the mortar system needs to be ground mounted off of a track.
US forces have been exposed to the efficacy of nimble mortar deployment for the last 4 years.
good to see they’re getting some too.
so, this is time saving for the ground troops, but still require’s a vehicle to move it. interesting. so where’s the saving’s?????
i can see american forces using the same tactics as iraqi insurgents if, they were fighting the chinese.…outnumbered forces should be more mobile and do more damage with less..so these mortars could be moved around quicker on the field
Test this @ the US Mex border, scare away some dopeheads from crossing border.
Then to Iraq.
Nice mobile, Hope it works as planned.
Rapid fire mortar??