Includes one Command M16 Rifle team, three Mortar sections each with two M29 81mm mortars with crew, one Small three-hole base & four Medium four-hole bases.
By 1952, the M1 81mm mortar which had served US armed forces during the Second World War and into the Korean War had been superseded by the M29 81mm mortar. The M29 offered an increase in range and portability due to a reduction in weight when compared to the older M1 (42kg vs. 62kg).
This lighter design meant that crews could quickly move into position and set-up without much difficulty. The reduction in weight also meant the crew could carry a more abundant supply of ammunition into action with them and therefore increase the effectiveness of fire missions. The increase in range also allowed teams to engage targets at distances less susceptible to small arms fire. ANZAC forces serving in Vietnam were armed with the American made M29 81mm mortar.
