M224 60mm Lightweight Company Mortar System (LWCMS)
The M224 60mm LWCMS is ideally suited to support airborne, air assault, mountain, ranger, Special
Operations Forces and light infantry units. The M224 can be drop fired (conventional mode) or trigger fired
(conventional or hand-held mode). A lightweight auxiliary baseplate is used when firing the mortar in the
hand-held mode.
Length: 40 inches (101.6 centimeters)
Weight: 46.5 pounds (21.11 kilograms)
Bore diameter: 60mm
Maximum effective range: 2.17 miles (3490 meters)
Rates of fire:
Maximum: 30 rounds/minute
Sustained: 20 rounds/minute
Unit Replacement Cost: $10,658
The M224 Mortar System consists of the following major components:
- M225 Cannon Assembly (14.4 lbs)
- M170 Bipod Assembly (15.2 lbs)
- M7 Baseplate (14.4 lbs)
- M8 Auxiliary Baseplate (3.6 lbs)
Mission: To provide the company commander with an indirect-fire weapon.
Features: The M224 60mm Lightweight Mortar is a smooth bore, muzzle loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon. The cannon assembly is composed of the barrel, combination base cap, and firing mechanism. The mount consists of a bipod and a base plate which is provided with screw type elevating and traversing mechanisms to elevate/traverse the mortar. The M64 sight unit is attached to the bipod mount via a standard dovetail. An additional short range sight is attached to the base of the cannon tube for firing the mortar on the move and during assaults. It has a spring-type shock absorber to absorb the shock of recoil in firing.
Background: The M224 replaced the older (WWII era) M2 and M19, 60mm Mortars. These weapons only possessed 2,200 yards of effective range. The M224 was designed to fire all types of the older ammunition, but its primary rounds are of the newer, longer-range type.
Sources and Resources
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m224.htm
Maintained by Robert Sherman
Originally created by John Pike
Updated Wednesday, October 27, 1999 6:32:44 PM
