Post by RedWest on Sept 2, 2008 12:40:51 GMT 10
One of the more curious but practical weapons of the SWPA during WWII was the 60mm Petzelt Low Trajectory Mortar.
What might make it of particular interest here is that it was designed and built in Brisbane.
The light weight and quick set-up of the M2 60mm mortar made it an excellent indirect fire support for fast moving and lightly armed infantry. Its weakness in jungle terrain was that in areas where there was limited visibility due to tree cover, and particularly where there was a thicker jungle canopy, the indirect lobbing trajectory of mortar rounds became a less effective weapon.
So there needed to be a modification made which would allow the 60mm mortar to be used as a direct fire low trajectory weapon.
Unfortunately, the drawing (above) isn't of it. Neither can we locate any photos of it. But you can find the production drawings at corregidor.org/heritage_battalion/petzelt/petzelt_mortar.html
What might make it of particular interest here is that it was designed and built in Brisbane.
The light weight and quick set-up of the M2 60mm mortar made it an excellent indirect fire support for fast moving and lightly armed infantry. Its weakness in jungle terrain was that in areas where there was limited visibility due to tree cover, and particularly where there was a thicker jungle canopy, the indirect lobbing trajectory of mortar rounds became a less effective weapon.
So there needed to be a modification made which would allow the 60mm mortar to be used as a direct fire low trajectory weapon.
Unfortunately, the drawing (above) isn't of it. Neither can we locate any photos of it. But you can find the production drawings at corregidor.org/heritage_battalion/petzelt/petzelt_mortar.html