Quote:
Originally Posted by natehale1971
Should Mortars always be used in pairs, or is a single mortar just as effective in a pinch? Can a group that has a single mortar team work just as effectively? Or a single gunner with two assistants be able to operate two mortars?
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Not every army is the same of course, but I can say...
Part of keeping them in groups (of say 4 tubes) is due to the area effect of the bombardment (like Eddie said) with having a suitable FFE factor. However, another part is due to the limited number of personnel in your mortar platoon and the limitations of the crew...
Beyond 60mm, larger mortars are usually behind the FEBA so that they are indirect only. That means you need a MFC (mortar fire controller) to coordinate with fire controllers (spotters), and work out the calculations. There are only so many of these guys, so splitting up all you mortars up means you would have some tubes sitting idle (as in there isn't one MFC per tube). So one MFC can only do so much at a time.
So if a battalion has an eight 81mm mortar platoon, they are likely split into two 4-tube groups. Each group would have a one MFC team.
A single mortar is usually not able to preform indirect fire missions independently of a MFC. They have enough to do as it is without worrying about communicating with spotters and plotting. The MFC also will limit the number of rounds per fire mission, so you don't have gunners blowing off more than they should (or not enough).
I know I am not explaining this very well, its been a looong day here at work. But to summarize - they are grouped for the effects of firepower and due to how many MFCs you have.
For the question of 3 guys dividing their time on two mortars? If they are mortar trained, then yeah, but their effectiveness would be obviously reduced. It would probably be best to just add a 4th guy and split 2 men each (instead of 3).