| M252 | |
|---|---|
 M252 mortar | |
| Type | Mortar |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom (designed) United States (manufactured) |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1987–present (United States)[1] |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | Vietnam War (prototype model) Soviet–Afghan War Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War Syrian Civil War |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 41.3 kilograms (91 lb) |
| Length | 50 in (127 cm) |
| Barrel length | 1.27 metres (4 ft 2 in) |
| Crew | 5 |
| Caliber | 81 millimetres (3.2 in) |
| Elevation | 45°–85.2° |
| Traverse | 5.6° |
| Rate of fire | 8–16 rpm sustained 20–30 rpm in exceptional circumstances and for short periods |
| Effective firing range | HE: 91–5,935 m (99–6,490.6 yd)[1] |
| Feed system | muzzle-loaded |
The M252 81 mm medium weight mortar is a British-designed smooth bore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for long-range indirect fire support to light infantry, air assault, and airborne units across the entire front of a battalion zone of influence. In the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps, it is normally deployed in the mortar platoon of an infantry battalion.
- ^ a b "Fact File: M252A1 Mortar". U.S. Army. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2017.