John Kettler Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Was trying to find the effective radius for the U.S. 60mm M49 HE, when I came across an unexpected discussion of MOH winner Charles E. Kelly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_E._Kelly MOH citation excerpt "...The following morning the enemy attack was resumed. Cpl. Kelly took a position at an open window of the storehouse. One machine gunner had been killed at this position and several other soldiers wounded. Cpl. Kelly delivered continuous aimed and effective fire upon the enemy with his automatic rifle until the weapon locked from overheating. Finding another automatic rifle, he again directed effective fire upon the enemy until this weapon also locked. At this critical point, with the enemy threatening to overrun the position, Cpl. Kelly picked up 60mm. mortar shells, pulled the safety pins, and used the shells as grenades, killing at least 5 of the enemy..." Our 60mm mortar bombs then had only a setback fuze, so the "bang on the baseplate and throw" scenario makes good sense. bmick325 lays out the how to here, together with the very real hazards. http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=546565 While I take his point, absent other weapons, these weren't bad in SPR for improvised ones while fighting from craters. Besides, Rmin for the 60mm mortar was 100 yards. Anyone tried throwing a 2.5 lb weight? That's what a 60mm mortar bomb weighs. Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sublime Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 desperate times call for desperate measures... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Examiner2 Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 Were the 60mm rounds that were used in September 1943 the same rounds used in June of 1944 though? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 Examiner 2, The 60mm mortar bomb got heavier by the time the M49A2 was made Standard in time for the 1944 edition of the Standard Catalogue of Ordnance Items Vol 3. Per pages 512 and 513, the fuze was the Fuze M52. The fuze is what's critical in the assessment. http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/120686484?access_key=key-3hgdlhcuyrzgod7mdls&allow_share=true This shows an M49A2 mortar bomb with a fuze date of January 1943, so the M49A2 was likely in service, in Italy by September of 1943. Further digging indicates the Fuze M52 was in service as of before 1942. Please note #s 62,64 and 69 in link below. All share the same fuze, even though one is an 81mm mortar bomb. If you check the first link, you'll see that the Fuze M52 series is Standard for both mortar bomb sizes. http://www.specialistauctions.com/auctiondetails.php?id=1188054 Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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