M1 mortar
81 mm mortar
The M1 mortar is an American 81 millimeter caliber mortar. It was based on the French Brandt mortar. The M1 mortar was used from before World War II until the 1950s when it was replaced by the lighter and longer ranged M29 mortar.
The VPA used many M1 mortars captured from France (equipped by the US) and self-produced, equipped to battalions and regiments.
General data
Weight:
Tube 44.5 lb (20 kg)
Mount 46.5 lb (21 kg)
Base plate 45 lb (20 kg)
Total 136 pounds (62 kg)
Ammunition
M43A1 light HE: 7.05 lb (3.20 kg); HE filling 1.22 lb (0.55 kg); range min 100 yd (91 m); range max 3300 yd (zone 7, 3018 m); 80% frag radius 25 yd (23 m) (compared favorably with the 75 mm howitzer). M52 superquick fuze (explode on surface).
M43A1 light training: an empty version of the M43A1 light HE with an inert fuze. It was used as a training shell until it was replaced by the M68 training practice shell.
M45 heavy HE: 15.10 lb (6.85 kg); HE filling 4.48 lb (2.03 kg); range max 1275 yd (zone 5, 1166 m); bursting radius comparable to the 105 mm howitzer. Equipped with M45 (super quick/delay action selective) or M53 (delay action only) P.D. fuze.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “M1 mortar” as 81 mm mortar. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the general reference register because the source frames it as 81 mm mortar. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
Named sources, stable identifiers and responsible institutions provide the strongest route from overview to verifiable evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jun 9, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2633872. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1275 and 1166.
The absence of detail may reflect summary conventions rather than a lack of surviving documentation. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “M1 mortar”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow M1 mortar primary sources, M1 mortar archive and mortar research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “M1 mortar”?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “M1 mortar” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.