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Mortars in Miniature ...A Scale Model Collection of the "Infantryman's Artillery"... |
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- U.S. 4.2
Inch
Mortar, M30 - |
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| Korean War, Vietnam War | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Painting, Weathering and Finishing: |
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PollyS/PollyScale Acrylic Paints and flat coat were used throughout. Winsor
and Newton Oils thinned with Loew-Cornell Odorless Brush Cleaner and
Thinner were used for the washes.
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General Mortar Info: |
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Standardized in the United States as the M30 in 1951. This weapon first saw combat during the Korean War. There the M30 served along side the M2 4.2 Inch Chemical Mortar of World War II fame that it would gradually replace. The M30 provided heavy mortar support for ground operations in Vietnam, beginning with the earliest deployments of United States Forces, and remained in that theater for the duration of the United States' involvement. It would also serve with distinction with the Republic of Korea (ROK) forces committed to Vietnam as well as with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). The M30 4.2 Inch Mortar had been phased out of U.S. service in the 1990s in favor of the newer NATO standard 120mm Mortar, M120/M121. In the U.S. Army Mechanized role, the M30 was transported by the M106 series of Mortar Carriers. The M106 being part of the M113 Family of Vehicles. This vehicle provided the crew basic protection from small arms fire as well as from shell fragments and also has an amphibious capability with preparation. However, the M106 had to stop and set up to fire the weapon internally through open roof hatches. The weapon could also be dismounted from it's carrier as shown here. |
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| Mortar Data: | ||||
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Cannon, M30: 156.50lbs. | Sight Equipment: | M34A2: 4.00lbs. | |
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Baseplate Assembly (M24A1 shown): 193.00lbs. |
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M53: 5.25lbs. | |
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Baseplate Assembly (M24 obsolete): 221lbs. |
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Bridge Assembly: 169.00lbs. |
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Standard Assembly: 59.50lbs. |
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Rotator Assembly: (Cast Magnesium) 57.50lbs. |
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Rotator Assembly: (Welded Steel) 89.00lbs. |
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Elevation: |
Minimum: 45° (800 mils) |
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Rate of Fire: |
18 rounds per minute maximum for the first minute. |
| Maximum: 58° 42' (1,045 mils) | 9 rounds per minute for the next 5 minutes. | |||
| Minimum (higher range): 51° 42' (919 mils) | 3 rounds per minute sustained. | |||
| Maximum (lower range): 52° 30' (933 mils) | ||||
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Traverse: |
125 mils. | |||
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TM 9-261A |
FT 4.2-H-2 | TM 9-1015-215-30P | TM 9-1015-215-12 |
FM 10-545 TO 13C7-10-201 |
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| FM 23-92 | TM 9-1015-215-10 | TM 9-1015-215-10 | Le Mortier De 106,7mm Modele 30 | |
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| Ammunition Types: | ||||
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M329 |
M329A1 | M328A1 | M335A2 | XM630 |
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M2 |
M3 | |||
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| Ammunition Crate: | ||||
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Designation |
Type |
Specifics |
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M329A1 |
HE |
Range: 920yds min, 5,650yds max. Weight: 27.07lbs. Effective Area: 40 x 20m. Propellant: M36A1. Ignition Cartridge: M2A1. Burster present: NO. Filler: TNT. |
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M329 |
HE |
Range: 870yds min, 5,420yds max. Weight: 27.07lbs. Effective Area: 40 x 20m. Propellant: M36. Ignition Cartridge: M2. Burster present: NO. Filler: TNT. |
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M3A1 |
HE |
Range: 870yds min, 4,620yds max. Weight: 26.95lbs. Effective Area: 40 x 20m. Propellant: M6. Ignition Cartridge: M2. Burster present: NO. Filler: TNT. |
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M3 |
HE |
Range: 870yds min, 4.620yds max. Weight: 26.95lbs. Effective Area: 40 x 20m. Propellant: M6. Ignition Cartridge: M2. Burster present: NO. Filler: TNT. |
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M328A1 |
SMOKE |
Range: 920yds min, 5,650yds max. Weight: 28.66lbs. Propellant: M36A1. Ignition Cartridge: M2A1. Burster present: YES. Filler: WP. |
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M328 |
SMOKE |
Range: 870yds min, 5,420yds max. Weight: 28.66lbs. Propellant: M36. Ignition Cartridge: M2. Burster present: YES. Filler: WP. |
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M2A1 |
SMOKE |
Range: 870yds min, 4,620yds max. Weight: 24.91lbs. Propellant: M6. Ignition Cartridge: M2. Burster present: YES. Filler: WP. |
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M2 |
SMOKE |
Range: 870yds min, 4,620yds max. Weight: 24.91lbs. Propellant: M6. Ignition Cartridge: M2. Burster present: YES. Filler: WP. |
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M335A2 |
ILLUM |
Range: 400yds min, 5,490yds max. Weight: 26.7lbs. Effective Area (M): 1,500 dia. Burn Time (S): 90. Rate of Decent (M): 5 mps Propellant: M36A1. Ignition Cartridge: M2A2. Burster present: NO. |
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M335A1 |
ILLUM |
Range: 640yds min, 5,290yds max. Weight: 26.7 lbs. Effective Area (M): 800 dia. Burn Time (S): 70. Rate of Decent (M): 10 mps Propellant: M36A1. Ignition Cartridge: M2A1. Burster present: NO. |
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M335 |
ILLUM |
Range: 640yds min, 4,800yds max. Weight: 26.7lbs. Effective Area (M): 800 dia. Burn Time (S): 60. Rate of Decent (M): 10 mps Propellant: M36. Ignition Cartridge: M2. Burster present: NO. |
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M2A1 |
GAS |
Range: 870yds min, 4,540yds max. Weight: 24.67lbs. Propellant: M6. Ignition Cartridge: M2. Burster present: YES. Filler: HD.* |
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M2 |
GAS |
Range: 870yds min, 4,540yds max. Weight: 24.67lbs. Propellant: M6. Ignition Cartridge: M2. Burster present: YES. Filler: H, HD, HT.* |
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XM630 |
Tactical CS |
Range: N/A min. 5,650yds max. Burn Time (S): 60. Propellant: M36A1. Ignition Cartridge: M2A2. Burster present: NO. Filler: CS. |
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| Propelling Charges: |
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M6 |
M36 | M36A1 | Arrangement of Propelling Charges | |
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Fuse Types: |
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| TSQ, PD, VT | Fuse Combination Table | M18 Fuse Wrench | PD, MT | |
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Personal Experience: I had the opportunity to train with the "Four-Deuce" while stationed at Ft. Polk, LA in 1972, calling in Fire-Missions with the M30. It was there that I also got to witness first hand the misfire procedure when things went wrong... One of the tubes on line had a round that failed to fire. The crew immediately called out a 'cease-fire' and headed for the nearest tree line. After about three minutes or so waiting to see if the round would fire off on its own, one of the crew members came running out of the tree line and side-jumped on the tube, collapsing it down to about +15°. He bounced off, hit the dirt, the tube elevated back up to its pre-set elevation (or close to it) and the round finally went out. The round headed down range, impacting safely and slightly off target. Once that danger was cleared by range control, the fire missions continued on without any further mishaps. The ammo being used on that particular day was White Phosphorous. |
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| Sources: |
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| Weapons of the Korean War | |
| United States Army Chemical Mortar Battalions | |
| Mr. Michael H. Pruett - United States | |
| Mr. Paul Truhe - United States | |
| Mr. John Devine - United States | |
| Mr. David Albert - United States | |
| Mr. Tom Bebbington - United Kingdom | |
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