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120-PM-43 mortar

{{Infobox weapon

|name=M1943 Mortar

|image=120 mm regimental mortar M1943.jpg

|image_size=300

|caption=120mm PM-43 mortar

|origin=Soviet Union

|type=Mortar

|is_ranged=

|is_bladed=

|is_explosive=

|is_artillery=yes

|is_vehicle=

|is_UK=

| service = 1943-present

|used_by = Soviet Union

|wars=Eastern Front (World War II)
Korean War{{cite book|title=Korean War Order of Battle: United States, United Nations, and Communist Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, 1950-1953|first=Gordon L.|last=Rottman|page=198|date=December 2002|publisher=Praeger|isbn=978-0-275-97835-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NpOp2OO1-DAC&pg=PA198|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209123838/https://books.google.fr/books?id=NpOp2OO1-DAC&pg=PA198|archive-date=2018-12-09|url-status=live}}
Vietnam War{{cite book|title=North Vietnamese Army Soldier 1958–75|series=Warrior 135|first=Gordon L. |last=Rottman|date= 10 Feb 2009|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=9781846033711|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iC21CwAAQBAJ|page=32}}
Cambodian Civil War
Rhodesian Bush War
Portuguese Colonial War
Lebanese Civil War
Soviet–Afghan War{{cite book|title=Soviet Paratrooper vs Mujahideen Fighter: Afghanistan 1979–89|series=Combat 29|publisher=Osprey Publishing|first=David |last=Campbell|date=30 Nov 2017|isbn=9781472817648|pages=19, 77}}
Gulf War
South Sudanese Civil War{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=492}}

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|weight= {{convert|275|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

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|crew= 6

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|caliber={{convert|120|mm|in|abbr=on}}

|action=

|rate= 9 rpm maximum, 70 rds/hr sustained

|velocity={{convert|272|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}} Frag-HE & HE

|range={{convert|5700|m|yd|abbr=on}} maximum, {{convert|500|m|yd|abbr=on}} minimum

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|breech=muzzle loaded

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|elevation= +45° to +80°

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}}{{For the|Finnish landmine|PM-43 and PM-68 mine}}

The M1943 Mortar or 120-PM-43 ({{langx|ru|120-Полковой Миномёт-43}}) or the 120-mm mortar Model 1943 ({{langx|ru|120-мм миномет обр. 1943 г.}}), also known as the SAMOVAR, is a Soviet 120 millimeter calibre smoothbore mortar first introduced in 1943 as a modified version of the M1938 mortar.{{cite encyclopedia|title=120-HM 38|language=fr |encyclopedia =Encyclopédie des armes : Les forces armées du monde|publisher=Atlas|year=1986|pages=2042–2043|volume=IX|number=103. Armes de soutien d'infanterie 1939-1945}} It virtually replaced the M1938 as the standard weapon for mortar batteries in all Soviet infantry battalions by the late 1980s, though the armies of the Warsaw Pact utilised both in their forces.US Army, FM 100-2-3 The Soviet Army: Troops, Organization and Equipment, 5–60

Design

This muzzle-loading mortar can be easily broken down into three parts – barrel, bipod and baseplate – for movement over short distances or towed by a GAZ-66 truck on a two-wheel tubular carriage. The baseplate mounting permits all-azimuth firing, however as with most Soviet mortars it was difficult to turn rapidly over a wide traverse. It could accommodate small-angle shifts of up to 6 degrees without having to shift the baseplate though.

Variants

It was copied in China as the Type 53 mortar.{{cite encyclopedia|title=120 mm Type 53 mortar|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n1295|pages=1295–1296|date=15 March 1992}} A more robust but heavier version, the Type 55, was developed by Norinco.{{cite encyclopedia|title=NORINCO 120 mm Type 55 mortar|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n1295|pages=1295–1296|date=4 June 2001}}

Egypt also produced a locally modified variant, the Helwan Model UK 2.{{cite encyclopedia|title=Helwan 120 mm Model UK 2 heavy mortar|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n1617|pages=1617–1618|date=4 June 2001}}

An improved version called the 2B11 Sani was also produced by the Soviets and, in combination with the 2B9 Vasilek, was being used to phase out the M1943 from service.

Users

File:PM-43 Operators Map 20.03.2024 FIXED.png

{{Div col}}

  • {{flag|Afghanistan}}{{cite book|title=Afghanistan, Arms and Conflict: Armed Groups, Disarmament and Security in a Post-War Society|first1=Michael Vinai|last1=Bhatia|first2=Mark|last2=Sedra|publisher=Routledge|editor=Small Arms Survey|editor-link=Small Arms Survey|isbn=978-0-415-45308-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P4N9AgAAQBAJ|page=66|date=May 2008|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901145604/https://books.google.fr/books?id=P4N9AgAAQBAJ|archive-date=2018-09-01|url-status=live}}
  • {{flag|Albania}}{{cite encyclopedia|title=120 mm M-43 mortar|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n3681|pages=3682–3683|date=4 June 2001}}
  • {{flag|Algeria}}{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=320}}
  • {{flag|Bangladesh}}: Type 53 variant{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, Bangladesh|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n819|page=819|date=22 November 2000}}
  • {{BWA}}: 6{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=431}}
  • {{BFA}}: 12{{Cite web|url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|title=Trade Registers|website=armstrade.sipri.org}}
  • {{CAM}}{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=239}}
  • {{CPV}}: 6{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=435}}
  • {{CAF}}: 12 in store{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=436}}
  • {{flag|China}}: Manufactured as Type 53 and Type 55
  • {{COG}}: 28{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=438}}
  • {{CUB}}{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=393}}
  • {{flag|Czech Republic}}
  • {{flag|Egypt}}: PM-43{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=324}} and Helwan Model UK 2
  • {{GUI}}{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=449}}
  • {{GNB}}: 8{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=450}}
  • {{GUY}}: 18{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=400}}
  • {{flag|Hungary}}: 1 {{as of|lc=yes|2016}}{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=107}}
  • {{flag|Iraq}}{{cite book|title=Armies of the Gulf War|url=https://archive.org/details/armiesgulfwar00rott|url-access=limited|series= Elite 45 |first= Gordon L.|last= Rottman|date=1993|isbn= 9781855322776|publisher=Osprey Publishing|page=[https://archive.org/details/armiesgulfwar00rott/page/n48 49]}}
  • {{flag|Kazakhstan}}{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html|chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2012/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2012-Chapter-04-EN.pdf|chapter=Blue Skies and Dark Clouds: Kazakhstan and Small Arms|title=Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2012|author=Small Arms Survey|author-link=Small Arms Survey|page=131|isbn=978-0-521-19714-4|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002411/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html|archive-date=2018-08-31|url-status=dead}}
  • {{PRK}}{{cite book|title=North Korea Country Handbook 1997, Appendix A: Equipment Recognition|chapter=120mm M-1943 Mortar|page=A-91|author=US Department of Defense|url=https://fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/nkor.pdf|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111733/http://fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/nkor.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=live}}{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=265}}
  • {{LAO}}{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=271}}
  • {{LBY}}{{cite web |last1=Mitzer |first1=Stijn |last2=Oliemans |first2=Joost |title=Tracking Arms Transfers By The UAE, Russia, Jordan And Egypt To The Libyan National Army Since 2014 |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/06/types-of-arms-and-equipment-supplied-to.html |website=Oryx Blog |date=23 March 2021}}
  • {{MDG}}: 8{{cite book |last=International Institute for Strategic Studies|date=2021|title=The Military Balance|page=473|publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9781032012278}}
  • {{MOZ}}: 12{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=458}}
  • {{MYA}}: Type 53 variant{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=276}}
  • {{flag|Nepal}}{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=277}}
  • {{NIC}}: 24{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=406}}
  • {{PAK}}: Type 53 variant
  • {{ROM}}
  • {{flag|Russia}}
  • {{flag|Slovakia}}
  • {{flag|South Sudan}}: Type 55{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=469}}
  • {{flag|Sudan}}{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=471}}
  • {{flag|Sri Lanka}}{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=289}}
  • {{flag|Syria}}{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=354}}
  • {{flag|Tanzania}}: Type 53 variant
  • {{flag|Vietnam}}: PM-43, Type 53 and Type 55{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=297}}
  • {{ZWE}}: 6{{sfn|The Military Balance 2016|p=478}}

{{Div col end}}

= Former users =

  • {{flag|East Germany}}
  • Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam{{cite book |title=Humanitarian Operation Factual Analysis July 2006 – May 2009 |publisher=Ministry Of Defence Democratic Socialist Republic Of Sri Lanka |url=http://slembassyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Sri-Lankan-Humanitarian-Operation-Factual-Analysis.pdf |access-date=9 September 2021}}
  • {{flag|South Yemen}}
  • {{flag|Soviet Union}}
  • {{flag|Federal Republic of Yugoslavia}}

References

{{Reflist}}

  • {{cite book|title=The Military Balance 2016|date=February 2016|volume=116|isbn=9781857438352 |publisher=Routlegde|ref={{harvid|The Military Balance 2016}}|author=International Institute for Strategic Studies|author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20120911031047/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Infantry-Weapons/M-43-120-mm-mortar-Russian-Federation.html M-43 120 mm mortar (Russian Federation), Mortars] – Jane's Infantry Weapons

{{SovMortarsGPW}}

Category:World War II infantry mortars of the Soviet Union

Category:Cold War artillery of the Soviet Union

Category:120 mm mortars

Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1943