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To say that the Soviets love artillery is sort of like saying that Gene Simmons is a shameless self promoter. Over 15% of the Red Army wears the red piping of Artillery. The weapons themselves are greatly improved and their numbers have doubled since 1968. Artillery is the backbone of any Soviet action.

This is a listing of the equipment:

MORTARS
Mortars are simple and effective, the give Soviet infantry their own jacket-pocket artillery, available when and where they are needed and can go anywhere an infantryman or a pack animal can go. Mortar bombs, with their thin casings, large explosive charges and plunging trajectories are more effective than howitzer shells, even if the mortars lack the range and accuracy of howitzers. The Soviets use four different mortars:

The M-1937 82mm mortar can be found in the airborne and naval infantry battalions. It weighs in at 56kg in firing condition, has a maximum rate of fire of up to 25rpm. Its minimum range is 100m and it has a maximum range of 3,040m. It can fire HE (3.05kg) and WP (3.41kg) rounds.

The M-1943 120mm mortar is the standard weapon of the motor rifle battalion (6 tubes per battalion). In firing position, it weighs 274.8kg and has a maximum rate of fire of up to 15rpm. Its minimum range is 460m and its maximum range is 5,700km. It can fire HE (15.4kg) and WP (16.7kg).

The M-1953 160mm mortar is normally seen in either the artillery division or in front-level heavy artillery brigades. In firing position, it weighs 1,300kg and has a maximum rate of fire of 3rpm. Its minimum range is 750m and its maximum range is 8,040m. It can fire HE (41.5kg) and WP (43.5kg).

The M-1952 240mm mortar, like the M-1953, is normally seen in either the artillery division or in front-level heavy artillery brigades. In firing position, it weighs 3,610kg and it has a maximum rate of fire of 1rpm. Its minimum range is 1,500m and its maximum range of 9,700m. It fires a HE bomb weighing 100kg.