Soviet Explosive Ordance - 120mm Mortar Rounds

120mm Mortar Rounds

This will be the last update covering Soviet Mortar rounds, with us taking a look at the 120mm Regimental mortar shells, and their packaging.

120mm Mortar Shell, HE, F-843

The high-explosive shell, F-843, which is fired from 120mm regimental mortars M1938 and M1943 consists of five components:

(1) A point detonating fuze,

(2) a steel shell body filled with HE,

(3) a fin assembly,

(4) an ignition cartridge, and

(5) propellent increments which may be adjusted for zone firing.

The F-843 differs from other 120mm mortar rounds in that the shell body is constructed in two sections.  Each section is threaded, and the two are joined approximately two inches below the gas check bands.  The shell body is thin-walled, contains a maximum of high-explosive, and is designed primarily for blast effect.  The GVMZ fuze, set for delay action, is usually used with this round.

This round is effective against field fortifications and other structures of wood and masonry.

Characteristics

Caliber: 120mm (4.72 in)

Weight of complete round: 16.43kg (36.23 lbs)

Weight of propellant: ?kg (? lb)

Type of filler: TNT

Weight of filler: 3.9kg (8.6 lbs)

Maximum number of increments: 6

Packaging

The illustrated packing box contains two 120mm mortar complete rounds and weighs approximately 48kg (106 lbs).  The box is of sturdy construction, usually a soft wood, with reinforced corners, a hasped and hinged lid, and carrying handles on each end.  The shells are held in place by contour blocking.

The shell bodies are frequently covered with a heavy grease preservative which must be removed before the round is fired.

120mm Mortar Shell, Frag-HE, OF-843

This is the fragmentation high-explosive shell, OF-843, fired from the 120mm regimental mortars M1938 and M1943.  It is designed for fragmentation-blast effect and is used against field fortifications, materiel, and buildings of wood and masonry, as well as against personnel.  The shell body is of thick-walled steel construction.  The OF-843 is similar in size and appearance to the OF-843A but has a greater explosive content.

The GVM, GVMZ, GVMZ-1, M-1, and M-4 fuzes are used with the OF-843.  The GVMZ and GVMZ-1 fuzes have two settings: (1) Instantaneous action, and (2) delay action.  The GVM, M-1, and M-4 are instantaneous-action fuzes.

Characteristics

Caliber: 120mm (4.72 in)

Weight of complete round: 16kg (35.28 lbs)

Weight of propellant: ?kg (? lb)

Type of filler: TNT

Weight of filler: 2.68kg (5.9 lbs)

Maximum number of increments: 6

Packaging

The illustrated packing box contains two 120mm mortar complete rounds and weighs approximately 44kg (97 lbs). The box is of sturdy construction, usually a soft wood, with reinforced corners, a hasped and hinged lid, and carrying handles on each end. The shells are held in place by contour blocking.

The shell bodies are frequently covered with a heavy grease preservative which must be removed before the round is fired.

120mm Mortar Shell, Frag-HE, OF-843A

This is the fragmentation high-explosive shell, OF-843A, fired from the 120mm regimental mortars M1938 and M1943.  It is primarily for anti-personnel use.

The cast iron body is thick-walled, designed for maximum fragmentation, and has a correspondingly smaller explosive content.  This round may be identified by the "A" ending the code number and by a black band located just forward of the fin assembly.

Fuzes GVM, GVMZ, GVMZ-1, and M-4 are used in this shell.

Characteristics

Caliber: 120mm (4.72 in)

Weight of complete round: 15.88kg (35 lbs)

Weight of propellant: ?kg (? lb)

Type of filler: Amatol 80/20

Weight of filler: 1.58kg (3.48 lbs)

Maximum number of increments: 6

Packaging

The illustrated packing box contains 2 unfuzed fragmentation high-explosive shells, OF-843A, with ignition cartridges and propellent increments, and weighs approximately 44kg (97 lbs). The box is of sturdy construction, usually a soft wood, with reinforced corners, a hasped and hinged lid, and carrying handles on each end. The shells are held in place by contour blocking.

The shell bodies are frequently covered with a heavy grease preservative which must be removed before the round is fired.  The fuze wells of the rounds are closed with plastic plugs.  Fuzes are packed in seperate boxes.

120mm Mortar Shell, Incendiary, Z-843A

This is the incendiary shell, Z-843A, fire from the 120mm regimental mortars M1938 and M1943.  It is similar to the OF-843A and D-843A shells in appearance, but can be distinguished from them by the "З" (Z) beginning the code number, the "TP" (TR) designating the shell filler, and the red band around the shell body.  This red band is approximately one-half inch wide and is located just below the gas check bands.

The cast iron shell body of this round is filled with an incendiary composition and a burster charge designed to rupture the shell and release the incendiary composition.  The M-1 and M-4 fuzes are used with this round.

Characteristics

Caliber: 120mm (4.72 in)

Weight of complete round: 17.19kg (37.9 lbs)

Weight of propellant: ?kg (? lb)

Type of filler: Incendiary composition and explosive

Weight of filler:
-Bursting Charge: 0.059kg (0.13 lb)
-Incendiary Composition: 1.3kg (2.86 lbs)

Maximum number of increments: 6

Packaging

The illustrated packing box contains 2 complete rounds and weighs approximately 44kg (97 lbs). The box is of sturdy construction, usually a soft wood, with reinforced corners, a hasped and hinged lid, and carrying handles on each end. The shells are held in place by contour blocking.

The shell bodies are frequently covered with a heavy grease preservative which must be removed before the round is fired.

120mm Mortar Shell, Smoke, D-843A

The smoke shell, D-843A, is fired from the 120mm regimental mortars M1938 and M1943.  It is similar in size and appearance to the fragmentation high-explosive mortar shell, OF-843A.  The smoke round, however, can be distinguished from the fragmentation high-explosive round by the "Д" (D) in the code number and by a half-inch-wide black band located just below the gas check bands.

The cast iron shell body of the D-843A mortar is filled with a smoke composition (usually yellow phosphorus) and with a burster charge which serves to rupture the shell body and scatter the smoke composition.  The phosphorus ignites and burns spontaneously upon contact with air, and the resulting fire is difficult to extinguish.

The GVM, GVMZ, GVMZ-1, and M-4 fuzes are used in this shell.

Characteristics

Caliber: 120mm (4.72 in)

Weight of complete round: 16.51kg (36.4 lbs)

Weight of propellant: ?kg (? lb)

Type of filler: Phosphorus and explosive

Weight of filler:
-Bursting Charge: 0.073kg (0.16 lb)
-Incendiary Composition: 1.97kg (4.34 lbs)

Maximum number of increments: 6

Packaging

The illustrated packing box contains 2 complete rounds and weighs approximately 44kg (97 lbs). The box is of sturdy construction, usually a soft wood, with reinforced corners, a hasped and hinged lid, and carrying handles on each end. The shells are held in place by contour blocking.

The shell bodies are frequently covered with a heavy grease preservative which must be removed before the round is fired.

Next time: 37mm and 45mm Artillery Projectiles