Quote:
Originally Posted by unkated
The other trick is that light mortars (50-81mm) are small enough that they do not require any specialized means of transport, so to attach them at company or battalion level does not require a peculiarity in the TO&E, or an attachment, nor does it require specialists from another branch of the army - mortarmen are infantrymen.
The point is to provide the battalion some extra support at a low tactical level, where the response time is very short. And, yes, the range on light mortars is more likely to be directly applicable to the needs of the battalion or company.
Once upon a time, Regiments had a gun section for the same reason.
Uncle Ted
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I think that is their main selling point.
A cannon with the same firepower would be much heavier and need to be transported by vehicles. Meanwhile there are mortars that are light enough to be carried by one person (WW2 had some tiny mortars being used...)
Grenade launchers and grenade machineguns also offer firepower to infantry units but having a few 81mm mortars a kilometer or two away from you does offer nice fire support AND they can usually reach far enough to help another company in the battalion AND the ammo is usually more versatile. (HE, WP, Flares, smoke and so on.)