Quote:
Originally Posted by copeab
Admittedly, it does seem strange to have two crew served weapons but only one crew. However, it may be a matter of the right tool for the job and cost-effectiveness.
Consider that for the weight of four 120mm shells you can carry a 60mm mortar *and* nearly 40 shells for it. Now, the 120mm mortar is superior to the 60mm mortar in almost every way*, but for certain fire missions (smoke and illumination), 60mm is more cost- and weight-effective than 120mm. My guess is that the 120mm and 60mm mortars don't have a lot of overlap in the types of fire missions they are typically provided munitions for in this organization.
* The only significant advantage for the 60mm mortar is the much lower weight, which in some situations might be the only consideration
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Here is something to consider, and I have incorporated this into a campaign once.
A 60mm mortar is used as a dismount weapon, it is lighter so it is easily carried, when we would displace one man could actualy carry the entire system. It is also more portable, it can go places the track and the 120mm can't go.
And over kill. Sometimes a 120mm may be just a bit to much.
Its been a very long time and the heaviest I ever fired was the 81mm. But the rate of fire I beleive is faster on the smaller gun as well.
And lets not forget about utilization of assets.
You drop gunteam off, they set up. The track with other dismounts move into position to strike or just moves to a different area.
I would also add that it doesn't take alot of people to run a mortar. Our 60mms were often crewed by all of 2 men. And a 120 in a vehicle, one man to aim and level the gun then fire, while the A-gunner hands rounds and preps the rounds. <I also did that in one of my campaigns, split the teams with 1 real gunner working the gun and a unskilled NPC assisting, handing ammo etc.>