LLR 81mm
{{Infobox weapon|is_artillery=yes|is_UK=yes
|image=File:French Army's 1st Infantry Regiment (Cold Response 2022).jpg
|caption=Mo 81 LLR of the French Army 1st Infantry Regiment during Exercise Cold Response (Norway, 2022)
|name=Mortier de 81mm léger long renforcé
|type=Mortar
|origin=France
|design_date= 1997
|production_date=1997 - present
|number=
|service=
|used_by=See users
|wars={{ubl|Battle of Kolwezi (MO-81-61-C)|Rhodesian Bush War|War in Afghanistan (2001–2021){{cite web|title=MO 81MM LLR|url=http://www.tda-armements.com/content/mo-81mm-llr|website=tda-armements.com|access-date=4 March 2019|archive-date=6 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043119/http://www.tda-armements.com/content/mo-81mm-llr|url-status=dead}}|Northern Mali Conflict|Central African Civil War|2025 India–Pakistan strikes{{cite web |last1=Noir |first1=War |title=#Pakistan / #India 🇵🇰🇮🇳: "Pakistani Forces" (#PAF) carried out mortar attacks against Indian Army positions in #Punjab. PAF unit seemingly used multiple "MO-81-61-L" (LL 81mm) Light Long Mortar with "HE M57D A2" mortar bombs. |url=https://x.com/war_noir/status/1920938127159685408 |website=x.com |publisher=War Noir |access-date=9 May 2025}}}}
|caliber={{convert|81|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|part_length={{convert|1639|mm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight={{convert|45.2|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (total)
{{convert|18.3|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (barrel)
{{convert|12.6|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (bipod)
{{convert|14.6|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (base)
|cartridge=
|ammo_wt=
|velocity=
|range={{convert|3,100|m|yd|abbr=on}} with model 1944 shell.
{{convert|5,600|m|yd|abbr=on}} with special ammunition.
|rate=12 to 20 rpm.
|crew=5 men
|breech=
|recoil=
|carriage=
|elevation=
|traverse=
|}}
The Mortier de 81mm léger long renforcé (LLR 81 mm) is a mortar used by the French Army, manufactured by Thales. Introduced in 1997, it is the latest iteration of the TDA 81 mm light mortar family.
Description
The original TDA 81 mm was designed in 1961 (hence the MO-81-61 designation). Since then, three variants have been fielded:
- the 81mm LC or MO-81-61-C (Léger court, "light short"), with a 1.15-metre barrel;
- the 81mm LL or MO-81-61-L (Léger long, "light long"), with a 1.55-metre barrel;
- the 81mm LLR (Léger long renforcé, "light long reinforced"), paratrooper version with a 1.55-metre barrel.{{cite encyclopedia|title=TDA 81 mm light mortars|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n1841|pages=1841–1842|date=4 June 2001|first1=Terry J. |last1=Gander}}
The LLR 81mm is composed of a base plate, a barrel comprising the breech, and a bipod. It can use the same pointing optics as the MO-120-RT-61.
The LLR 81mm can be parachuted either piece by piece, in a kit comprising a dismantled weapon and ammunition, or in larger crates comprising several weapons. The barrel was reinforced so as to allow firing of all existing 81 mm mortar ammunition.
Users
- {{flag|Benin}}: MO-81-61{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, Benin|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n949|page=949|date=22 November 2000|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}
- {{FRA}}: MO-81-61-C and MO-81-LLR (2 per infantry company of the French Army in the 2010s){{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/equipements/materiels-specifiques/infanterie/armement/mortier-81-mm-llr|title=Mortier 81 mm LLR|date=13 July 2016|website=defense.gouv.fr}}
- {{IRL}}: Light long-barrel version{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126115206/http://military.ie/army/equipment/weapons/inf/81mm/81mm.htm|url=http://military.ie/army/equipment/weapons/inf/81mm/81mm.htm|archive-date=26 November 2010|title=Army Weapons - 81 mm mortar|website=military.ie}}
- {{ITA}}: MO-81-LL built under license by OTO Melara.{{cite encyclopedia|title=Italian mortars|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 1994-1995|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n2977|pages=2977–2978|date=27 April 1994|first1=Terry J. |last1=Gander}}{{cite book|title=The armies of the NATO nations: Organization, concept of war, weapons and equipment|series=Truppendienst Handbooks Volume 3|year= 1987|first=Friedrich |last=Wiener |page=464|publisher=Herold Publishers|location=Vienna}}
- {{KUW}}: South African M8 mortar.
- {{MAS}}: South African M8 mortar version.
- {{PAK}}: MO-81-LL built under license.{{cite encyclopedia|title=81 mm light mortar|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n3218|pages=3218–3219|date=4 June 2001|first1=Terry J. |last1=Gander}}
- {{flag|Peru}}: South African M8 mortar.
- {{flag|South Africa}}: MO-81-61 produced by Vektor as M3 mortar and M8 mortar (upgraded variant with heavier barrel).{{cite encyclopedia|title=Vektor 81 mm M3 mortar|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n4024|pages=4024–4025|date=4 June 2001|first1=Terry J. |last1=Gander}}
=Former users=
- {{flag|Rhodesia}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Mortier 81 LLR}}
{{Current French infantry weapons}}