Basis of Issue Plan - BOIP
A. DESCRIPTION: THE 60-MM MORTAR, M224, IS A MUZZLE LOADED,
SMOOTH BORE, HIGH-ANGLE-OF-FIRE, WEAPON. IT MAY BE DROP-FIRED OR
TRIGGER FIRED, AND IT HAS FIVE MAJOR COMPONENTS:
(1) CANNON, M225: THE CANNON HAS ONE END CLOSED BY A
BASE CAP. THE BASE CAP END OF THE CANNON HAS COOLING FINS ON THE
OUTSIDE. THE COOLING FINS REDUCE HEAT GENERATED DURING FIRING.
ATTACHED TO THE END IS A COMBINATION CARRYING HANDLE AND FIRING
MECHANISM. THE CARRYING HANDLE HAS A TRIGGER, A FIRING SELECTOR,
A RANGE INDICATOR, AND AN AUXILIARY CARRYING HANDLE. ITS LENGTH
IS 40 IN (1 METER) AND WEIGHT IS 14.4 LBS (6.5 KG).
(2) BASEPLATE, M7: THE BASEPLATE, M7, IS A ONE-PIECE,
CIRCULAR, ALUMINUM, FORGING BASE. ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE
BASEPLATE ARE FOUR SPADES TO STABILIZE THE MORTAR WHEN FIRED.
ITS DIAMETER IS 19 3/8 IN (49.3 CM) AND WEIGHT IS 14.4 LBS (6.5
KG).
(3) BASEPLATE, M8: THE BASEPLATE, M8, IS A SMALLER,
ONE-PIECE, RECTANGULAR, ALUMINUM, FORGING BASE. IT ALSO HAS FOUR
SPADES ON THE UNDERSIDE. ITS SIZE IS 8 IN X 10 IN (20 CM X 25.4
CM) AND WEIGHT IS 3.6 LBS (1.6 KG).
(4) BIPOD ASSEMBLY, M170: ITS OVERALL LENGTH
(COLLAPSED) IS 28 IN (0.7 METERS) AND WEIGHT IS 15.2 LBS (6.9
KG). THE BIPOD ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF SEVEN SUBASSEMBLIES:
(A) COLLAR ASSEMBLY FOR SECURING THE BIPOD TO THE
CANNON.
(B) TWO SHOCK ABSORBERS TO PROTECT THE BIPOD AND
SIGHT FROM THE SHOCK OF RECOIL DURING FIRING.
(C) TRAVERSING MECHANISM MOVES THE COLLAR ASSEMBLY
LEFT OR RIGHT.
(D) ELEVATING MECHANISM IS USED TO ELEVATE OR
DEPRESS THE CANNON.
(E) RIGHT AND LEFT LEG ASSEMBLY.
(F) LOCKING SLEEVE USED FOR COARSE LEVELING.
(G) SPREAD CHAIN CONTROLS THE SPREAD OF THE TWO
TUBULAR STEEL LEGS.
(5) SIGHT UNIT, M64: THE SIGHT UNIT, M64, IS THE DEVICE
ON WHICH THE GUNNER SETS DEFLECTION AND ELEVATION TO HIT TARGETS.
THE SIGHT UNIT HAS TWO MAJOR PARTS, AN ELBOW TELESCOPE, AND A
SIGHT MOUNT. ITS WEIGHT IS 2.5 LBS (1.1 KG), LENGTH IS 4
3/8 IN (11 CM), WIDTH IS 4 3/4 IN (12 CM), HEIGHT IS 7 3/8 IN
(19 CM).
THIS ITEM IS APPROPRIATE FOR INCLUSION IN AR 310-34.
B. CAPABILITIES: THE MAXIMUM RANGE OF THE 60-MM MORTAR,
M224 (BIPOD MOUNTED) IS 3,400 METERS AND THE MINIMUM RANGE IS 70
METERS. THE MAXIMUM RANGE WHEN FIRING, IN THE HAND-HELD MODE, IS
1,300 METERS.
(1) PURPOSE:
(A) INITIATIVE WILL BE GAINED AND MAINTAINED BY
EFFECTIVE FIRE AND BATTLEFIELD MANEUVER. LIGHT MORTARS WILL
CONTRIBUTE TO GAINING INITIATIVE BY PROVIDING IMMEDIATE,
FLEXIBLE, FIRE SUPPORT CAPABLE OF DESTROYING OR DISRUPTING ENEMY
FORCES DURING OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS.
(B) THE RANGE OF THE 60-MM MORTAR (APPROXIMATELY
3,400 METERS) WILL GIVE THE COMPANY COMMANDER THE ABILITY TO
ATTACK THE ENEMY BEYOND THE RANGE OF MOST DIRECT-FIRE WEAPONS.
IT WILL ALLOW HIM TO SUPPORT ELEMENTS MOVING INTO POSITION TO
ATTACK THE ENEMY AND WILL PROVIDE LETHAL CLOSE-IN FIRE DURING
DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS.
(C) THE COMPANY MORTAR SECTION WILL BE A SMALL,
COHESIVE UNIT THAT CAN RESPOND QUICKLY TO THE COMMANDER'S
INSTRUCTIONS, MOVE RAPIDLY, AND IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE TARGETS. THE
LIGHT WEIGHT OF THE M224 SYSTEM WILL ALLOW THE SECTION TO
ACCOMPANY THE RIFLE PLATOONS OVER RUGGED TERRAIN.
(D) COMBINING THE FIRE OF THE MORTAR SECTION WITH
THAT OF THE RIFLE SQUADS, ANTIARMOR, AND MACHINE GUN TEAMS IN
THE COMPANY WILL PRODUCE A GREATER EFFECT ON THE ENEMY THAN ANY
SINGLE ELEMENT COULD ALONE.
(2) WEIGHT:
(A) CONVENTIONAL MODE: 46.5 LBS (21.1 KG).
(B) HANDHELD MODE: 18 LBS (8.2 KG).
(3) RATES OF FIRE: THE 60-MM MORTAR SECTION WILL BE
CAPABLE OF FIRING LARGE AMOUNTS OF AMMUNITION VERY QUICKLY. THE
MORTAR CAN BE FIRED FOR FOUR MINUTES AT A MAXIMUM RATE OF THIRTY
ROUNDS A MINUTE, WITH A SUSTAINED RATE OF TWENTY ROUNDS A MINUTE.
THE COOLING FINS AT THE BASE OF THE MORTAR WILL ALLOW THIS HIGH
RATE OF FIRE TO BE MAINTAINED FOR LONG PERIODS.
C. EMPLOYMENT: LIGHT MORTAR FIRE EITHER WILL KILL THE ENEMY
OR WILL SUPPRESSE HIS FIRE AND WILL ALLOW ASSAULT ELEMENTS TO
CLOSE AND KILL HIM. MORTAR FIRE WILL CAUSE ENEMY ARMORED FORCES
TO BUTTON UP, DENYING THEM GOOD FIELDS OF VIEW, AND ALLOWING
SHORT- AND MEDIUM-RANGE ANTIARMOR WEAPON TEAMS TO MOVE TO FIRING
POSITIONS. MORTAR FINAL PROTECTIVE FIRES WILL HALT THE ENEMY'S
ADVANCE, WILL DESTROY HIS MOMENTUM AND WILL PREPARE THE WAY FOR
FRIENDLY FORCES TO COUNTERATTACK. THE 60-MM MORTAR, M224, WILL
PROVIDE THE MORTAR SECTIONS OF THE INFCNTRY, LIGHT INFCNTRY, AIR
ASSAULT, AIRBORNE, RANGER, AND MOUNTAIN RIFLE COMPANIES AN
EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT, AND FLEXIBLE WEAPON.
D. BASIS OF ISSUE: THE LIGHTWEIGHT, 60-MM COMPANY MORTAR
WILL REPLACE THE CURRENT 60-MM MORTAR (M67871) AND 81-MM MORTAR
(M68008) IN LIGHT INFANTRY, AIR ASSAULT, AIRBORNE, RANGER, AND
MOUNTAIN RIFLE COMPANIES WHERE MAN-PORTABILITY IS NECESSARY. THE
BASIS OF ISSUE WILL BE TWO PER COMPANY.
E. POWER REQUIREMENTS: NONE REQUIRED.
F. TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS: NONE.
G. PERSONNEL/MAINTENANCE IMPACTS:
(1) OPERATOR: MOS 11C AND 18B.
(A) CREW SIZE/MOS: TWO MOS 18B AND THREE MOS 11C.
(B) TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (MOS/GENERAL): FIELDING OF
THE 60-MM MORTAR THROUGHOUT THE ARMY WILL REQUIRE PERSONNEL
OCCUPYING POSITIONS IN MORTAR SECTIONS TO TRAIN ON THE SYSTEM.
TC 23-90 TELLS COMMANDERS WHAT MORTAR TRAINING DEVICES ARE
AVAILABLE FOR TRAINING MORTAR SECTIONS. IT CAN BE USED FOR
TRAINING ALL UNITS EQUIPPED WITH MORTARS. THE TC ALSO TELLS HOW
TO PREPARE AND EVALUATE A MORTAR UNIT TRAINING PROGRAM. LEADER
COURSES AT VARIOUS TRADOC INSTITUTIONS WILL BE REQUIRED TO
INCLUDE INSTRUCTION ON THE DOCTRINE AND TACTICS ASSOCIATED WITH
EMPLOYING THIS SYSTEM IN A COMBAT ENVIRONMENT.
(2) MAINTAINERS:
(A) UNIT-LEVEL MAINTENANCE: MOS 41C, 45B, AND 76Y.
(B) IDS/IGS-LEVEL MAINTENANCE: MOS 39L.
(3) THERE WILL BE NO ADDITIONAL MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE WEAPON'S OPERATION OR MAINTENANCE AT UNIT-LEVEL.
H. SPECIAL NOTES: NONE REQUIRED.