Soltam K6
| Soltam K6 mortar | |
|---|---|
 M120 mortar fired during Operation Iraqi Freedom |
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| Type | Mortar |
| Place of origin |  Israel |
| Service history | |
| Used by |  United States Egypt Denmark Republic of China Morocco Nicaragua Slovenia South Africa Brazil |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 144.7 kg (319 lb) |
| Crew | 5 |
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| Caliber | 120 millimetres (4.7 in) |
| Rate of fire | 16 RPM max, 4 RPM sustained |
| Effective range | 7,240 metres (7,920 yd) |
| Feed system | manual |
The Soltam K6 is a 120 mm mortar that was developed by Soltam Systems of Israel. It is the long-range version of the Soltam K5 and has replaced older systems such as the 107-millimetre (4.2 in) M30 in several armies including the United States Army. It is much lighter than the M30, has a greater range, and can sustain a rate of fire of four rounds per minute while the M30 could sustain only three.
The MN-9 is a Slovenian licence version of the K6. D.I.O. from Iran produces the Hadid HM16 which appears to be a copy of the K6.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Design overview
The K6 fires fin-stabilized ammunition from a smoothbore. Unlike its smaller ammunition cousins, the 81 mm and 60 mm mortars, the fin blades of the ammunition fired from the M120 are not canted. Thus, no spin is imparted to the projectile in flight. Although heavy mortars require trucks or tracked mortar carriers to move them, they are still much lighter than field artillery pieces. They outrange light and medium mortars, and their explosive power is much greater. An improved version is known as K6A3.
[edit] Deployment
The K6 entered service with the United States Army in 1991 as the M120 Mortar System. Its mission is to provide heavy weapon, high-angle organic indirect fire support to the unit commander. The M120 is used by both mechanized units and light infantry in certain situations. Another feature of the M120 is the M303 Sub-Caliber insert. This allows for the capability of firing 81 mm ammunition.
The M120 is transported on the M1100 Trailer by the M998 Humvee. The version that is mounted on the M1064 and M1129 mortar carriers is known as the M121.
In 2007, the US Army ordered 588 M326 MSS (Mortar Stowage Systems) from BAE Systems. Here, the assembled mortar is mounted on a truck, HMMWV or M1101 trailer and can be mounted and dismounted in less than 20 seconds.[2]
[edit] Specifications
| Maximum Range: | 7,240 metres (23,750 ft) |
| Minimum Range: | 200 metres (660 ft) |
| Weight: | 144.7 kilograms (319 lb) without ammunition |
| 326.1 kilograms (719 lb) when mounted on trailer | |
| Rate of Fire: | 16 rounds/min first minute, 4 rounds/min sustained |
| Crew: | 5 |
The M120 Mortar System consists of the following major components:
- M298 Cannon Assembly (110 pounds / 50 kilograms)
- M190 Bipod Assembly (70 pounds / 32 kilograms)
- M9 Baseplate (136 pounds / 62 kilograms)
- M1100 Trailer (399 pounds / 181 kilograms)
- M67 Sight Unit (2.5 pounds / 1.1 kilograms)
The M120 is capable of firing the following munitions:
- M929 Smoke Cartridge[3]
- XM930 Illumination Round
- XM930E1 Illumination Round
- XM931 Practice Round
- M933 High Explosive Round
- M934 High Explosive Round
- M934A1 High Explosive Round
- XM983 Illumination Round
- XM395 Precision Guided Munition
[edit] Users
: Armed Forces of Armenia
: Brazilian Marine Corps
: Armed Forces of Denmark as M/10
: Egyptian Army
: Iraqi Army - 565 ordered
: Israel Defence Forces
: Mexican Army
: Royal Moroccan Army
: National Guard (Nicaragua) (1976-1979)
: Republic of China Military Police
: Slovenian Army as MN-9
: Sri Lankan Army
: United States Army as M120 and M121
: South African National Defence Force
[edit] See also
- Cardom 120 mm recoil mortar system
- M1064 mortar carrier - M113 series vehicle fitted with M121 120 mm mortar
- M1129 Mortar Carrier - Stryker series vehicle fitted with M121 120 mm mortar
- Soltam M-65 120 mm mortar
- M327 - 120mm towed mortar used the USMC
- List of U.S. military vehicles by model number
[edit] References
- ^ http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Infantry-Weapons/Soltam-K5-and-K6-120-mm-light-mortars-Israel.html
- ^ http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/baes-m326-mss-mortar-in-mortar-out-mortar-on-04073/
- ^ 120mm Mortar Smoke Cartridge http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/m929.htm
[edit] External links
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