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- British 2-Inch SBML Mortar -

World War II, Korean War and Beyond
Smooth Bore Muzzle Loading
2-Inch-Full
The Kit:

This is a 1/35th scale product from Resicast. Cast in a light tan resin, the detail present in the moldings of this kit was superb and it builds up into an excellent reproduction of the very common British 2-Inch Mortar.

As with any scale model kit, there are some minor parting line and pour plug cleanups to do, but in this case, the cleanup was minimal. Fine sanding is also required, but again, this was also minimal. My only complaint is that there should be a knurled 'ring' at the base of the tube
2-Inch SBML
Unpainted rifles
The Details:

All that I had to add to the mortar was the sling and muzzle dust cover. The sling was made from thinly cut masking tape and styrene 'hardware'. The dust cover was made from an 81mm bomb shipping container end and there is a small Aber Photo Etched bit used for the strap attachment point. The lanyard is of twisted sewing tread and white glue.

Slings and related 'hardware' were added to the Lee Enfield Rifle No. 4 Mk. I rifles. This rifle is a later development of the standard .303-inch Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) rifle. The No.4 was a pre-war design but it was not issued in great numbers until 1942.
Unpainted mortar
Unpainted figures
The Figures:
Both figures are provided with the kit. Very nicely cast in resin with all the personal equipment cast on. The only assembly required was attaching the arms and heads. I did add the hobnails to the bottom of the boots made from punched out disks of styrene plastic, and on the "No. 2" crewman, I added the 'butt roll' from my spares box.
2-Inch SBML
2-Inch SBML

2-Inch SBML

Bombs

2-Inch SBML
       
2-Inch SBML 2-Inch SBML 2-Inch SBML 2-Inch SBML
Markings and Decals:
The red and green stripes on the bombs (to designate High Explosive rounds), and the white sighting stripe on the mortar barrel are cut to size from a Micro Scale aircraft decal sheet. All of the other markings applied to the bomb carriers and bombs are hand painted.

The markings on the figures are dry-transfers from Archer Fine Transfers and are representative of the 1st Battalion Suffolk Regiment, 8th Infantry Brigade  (Senior Brigade), 3rd British Infantry Division. The horizontal lines applied below the triangle were hand painted. This division was one of Britain's most distinguished Infantry Divisions with an impressive war record. The 3rd participated in the following battles of World War II:

(1939: Division formed.)
1940:
May: Ypres and Comines (Belgium)

1944:
June: Normandy Landings (France)
July: Caen and Bourguebus Ridge (France)
July - August: Mont Pincon (France)
September: Nederrijn (Holland)

1945:
February - March: Rhineland (Germany)
March - April: Rhine (Germany)
Base and Groundwork:

The wood base is cut from 3/4 inch thick scrap oak, stained with a natural colored stain and then sealed with polyurethane. It measures approximately 3-1/2 inches x 4-1/2 inches.

The basic groundwork was provided with the kit but, to this I added Verlinden Static Grass, some Hudson & Allen tall grass and a few 'bushes' from my wife's dried flower collection. The casting of the groundwork was really good and could be used as is straight from the package. The bomb carriers are cast into the groundwork as well as are all of the 'rocks' shown.
Painting, Weathering and Finishing:
Painted entirely in PollyS/PollyScale, Model Master and Gunze Sanyo acrylic paints and flat coat. The only exception to this being the figure's flesh tone undercoat and there I used Testors Enamels. Winsor and Newton Oils thinned with Loew-Cornell Odorless Brush Cleaner and Thinner were used for the washes. Weathering on this subject was accomplished in part by using a Berol Prismacolor silver colored pencil.

General Mortar Info:
This weapon was introduced into service in 1939 and was used extensively throughout World War II with all Commonwealth Forces. The Mortar was issued in three different variations: Infantry (as shown), Airborne and Carrier with each variation differing in details, mainly with the arrangement of the base plate or spade.

The 2-Inch SBML was standard equipment for all Infantry Platoons and was also issued to anti-tank detachments to provide illumination for night time targets.

The assembly of this weapon consisted of a base plate (or spade), barrel and breech piece. It was a hand fired weapon however, the recoil was quite noticeable and it was only to be fired with the base plate (or spade) firmly seated on the ground or mounted within the carrier vehicle.

Similar in characteristics to the Japanese Type 89 "Knee Mortar", the SMLB was far more reliable, easier to manufacture and was issued in far greater numbers. The Type 89 did however have a better maximum range capability.

Post War usage...

This weapon served the British Army well into the 1980's and could still be found within Commonwealth and former Commonwealth forces well into the 1990's. Later usage of this weapon being mainly for smoke and illumination type fire missions, although in various conflicts around the world in particular those conflicts involving former Commonwealth nations, the HE round is/was still in use in the 21st Century. The Irish Republican Army was known to have obtained a number of these weapons.

The standard 2-Inch SBML Mortar has been replaced in the British Army by the Royal Ordnance 51mm 'Commando' Mortar.
Actual Mortar Data:  
Caliber: 2 inches (50.8mm) 2-In Mortar Accessory Box
Length: 21 inches
Weight: 10-1/2 pounds
Firing Mechanism: Trip (Small Trigger)
Elevation: +45º to +90º
Maximum Range: 525 yards
Rate of Fire: 8 Rounds per Minute  
Ammunition Types:  
High Explosive (HE): Impact Fuse, single primary cartridge. Weight: 2-1/4 pounds
Smoke (SMK): Weight: 2 pounds
Illumination (ILL) (with parachute): Weight: 1 pound 5 ounces
Signal:
Single Star - Green
Single Star - Red
Multi Star - White
Multi Star - Red
Multi Star - Green
Multi Star - Red and Green		    
White Phosphorous: Experimental Only
Practice
Non-Explosive Barb:
     This bomb was developed to fire a barbed projectile with a trailing wire that would be fired across an     area suspected of containing trip wires. The bomb would be pulled back to the firing point with the barb snagging any trip wires along the way.
The 2-Inch Mortar 1942 Bomb-Thrower 2-in., Mk.I and Mk.II - 1945 Ordnance, M.L., 2-in Mortar, Mk.II - 1945 2-In Parts List Manual Cover
Identification List 1949 The 2-Inch Mortar 1949 User Handbook 1960 List of Component Parts 1963 Infantry Training, The Light Mortar 1966
Sources:
"World War II Infantry" by Laurent Mirouze. Europa Militaria No. 2.

Australian War Memorial
Mr. Tom Bebbington - UK
Mr. Dennis Moloney -UK
Mr. Haydn Neal - Australia
Mr. Jason French - UK

Mr. Tom Ready - UK
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Mortars in Miniature, Created and Maintained by Kevin Robert Keefe, Copyright © 2001 - 2010.
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