What was an advantage of mortars over conventional large artillery?

It was an indirect-fire weapon, with a steeper angle than cannons (starting at about 45 degrees of elevation) for high-arcing trajectories. The advantage was that the usual missiles, various sizes of hewn stones or metal shots, could fall directly on or behind fortifications, thus providing direct hits from above.

What were the advantages of using mortar shells over artillery?

Its Advantages Over Artillery The chief advantage of the mortar was that it could be fired from the (relative) safety of the trench, avoiding exposure of the mortar crews to the enemy. Furthermore, it was notably lighter and more mobile than other, larger artillery pieces.

What is the difference between mortars and artillery?

Compared to artillery Modern mortars and their ammunition are generally much smaller and lighter than artillery, such as guns and howitzers, which allows light and medium (typically, 60 mm and 81 mm/82 mm) mortars to be considered light weapons; i.e. capable of transport by personnel without vehicle assistance.

What are the advantages of mortars?

Mortars have the advantages of portability because of their size, of freedom of movement without the need for logistical support, and of the capacity to be fired from a trench or defilade (a fighting position that protects the operators from direct return fire).

Can mortars be thrown?

But a hand-thrown mortar round will usually explode as soon as it hits the ground or a solid object, making it nearly impossible to throw back. At least two soldiers used this to their advantage in World War II. Technical Sgt. Anderson threw mortar rounds to drive off a Japanese attack on Okinawa, and Cpl.

What is the difference between a mortar and a gun?

Modern mortars and their ammunition are generally much smaller and lighter than artillery, such as guns and howitzers, which allows light and medium (typically, 60 mm and 81 mm/82 mm) mortars to be considered light weapons; i.e. capable of transport by personnel without vehicle assistance.

What is the difference between howitzers and mortars?

Howitzers and mortars have different missions, and different sized weapons of the same type have different missions. As a rule, light and medium howitzers, having the capability of high angles of fire and multiple charges of seven or eight increments, are used to place accurate fire close to friendly troops.

What was the advantage of high angle trajectory mortars?

High angle trajectory mortars held a great advantage over standard field guns in the rough terrain of the West Highlands of Scotland. US Army 13-inch mortar “Dictator” was a rail-mounted gun of the American Civil War.

When were mortars used as Field Artillery?

An early use of these more mobile mortars as field artillery (rather than siege artillery) was by British forces in the suppression of the Jacobite rising of 1719 at the Battle of Glen Shiel. High angle trajectory mortars held a great advantage over standard field guns in the rough terrain of the West Highlands of Scotland.