82-BM-37

82 mm M1937 Battalion Mortar
TypeInfantry mortar
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1937-Present
Used bySoviet Union
WarsWorld War II
Kosovo War
Korean War[1]
Vietnam War
Uganda-Tanzania War[2]
Afghan Wars[3]
Gulf War
Syrian Civil War
Russo-Ukrainian War[4]
Specifications
Mass56 kilograms (123 lb)
Barrel length1.22 metres (4 ft)
Shell weight3.05 kg (6 lb 12 oz)
Caliber82 millimetres (3.2 in)
Elevation+45° to +75°
Traverse6° to 15°
Rate of fire25–30 rpm
Muzzle velocity211 m/s (690 ft/s)
Maximum firing range3,040 m (3,320 yd)

The M-37 or 82-BM-37 (батальонный миномёт, battalion mortar) is a Soviet 82 millimeter calibre mortar designed by B.I. Shavyrin and accepted into service in 1937. The design of the M-37 is based on the earlier French Brandt mle 27/31 mortar with Russian modifications.[5] The main difference between the 82-PM-37 and the earlier 82-PM-36 was the adoption of a round base plate, revised traverse/elevation controls, simplified sights and spring-loaded shock absorbers on the bi-pod to reduce the amount of relaying needed between shots. It was designed to be able to fire western 81 mm captured ammunition whilst not permitting the enemy the same advantage[6] The German designation for captured M-37 mortars was 8.2 cm GrW 274/2(r).[7]

The M-37M is an improved version with a lighter base plate and a device to prevent double loading.[8]

It was produced in China by Norinco as the Type 53,[9] in Egypt by the Helwan Machine Tools Company as the Model 69 and in Bulgaria by Arsenal as the M-82 Mod 1937.[6]

  1. ^ Rottman, Gordon L. (December 2002). Korean War Order of Battle: United States, United Nations, and Communist Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, 1950–1953. Praeger. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-275-97835-8. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  2. ^ "WWII weapons in Tanzania". 24 November 2017. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  3. ^ Isby, David C. (1990). The War in Afghanistan 1979–1989: The Soviet Empire at High Tide. Concord Publications. p. 8. ISBN 978-9623610094.
  4. ^ Ferguson, Jonathan; Jenzen-Jones, N.R. (November 2014). Raising Red Flags: An Examination of Arms & Munitions in the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine, 2014 (PDF). Research Report 3. Armament Research Services. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-9924624-3-7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  5. ^ Bishop, Chris, The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. (2002), ISBN 1-58663-762-2, p. 192
  6. ^ a b "82 mm M-37 mortar". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002–2003. 2001. pp. 3692–3693.
  7. ^ Chamberlain, Peter (1975). Mortars and rockets. Gander, Terry. New York: Arco Pub. Co. p. 29. ISBN 0-668-03817-9. OCLC 2067459.
  8. ^ "82 mm 'new' M-37 mortar". Jane's Infantry Weapons 1994–1995. 1994. pp. 1411–1412.
  9. ^ "82 mm Type 53 mortar". Jane's Infantry Weapons 1992–1993. 1992. p. 1391.