Manufacturer: Various
Services: US Army, USMC
Length: 40 inches
Weight: 46.5 pounds
Bore diameter: 60mm
Maximum Range: 2.17 miles
Max Rate of fire: 30 rpm
The M224 60mm Lightweight mortar is a smooth bore, muzzle loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon. The cannon assembly is composed of the barrel, combination base cap, and firing mechanism. The mount consists of a bipod and a base plate which is provided with screw type elevating and traversing mechanisms to elevate/traverse the mortar. The M64 sight unit is attached to the bipod mount via a standard dovetail.
An additional short range sight is attached to the base of the cannon tube for firing the M224 60mm mortar on the move and during assaults. It has a spring-type shock absorber to absorb the shock of recoil in firing.
The M224 60mm mortar replaced the older (WWII era) M2 and M19, 60mm Mortars. These weapons only possessed 2,200 yards of effective range. The M224 60mm mortar was designed to fire all types of the older ammunition, but its primary rounds are of the newer, longer-range type.
![Perseverance Mars rover collecting a sample from a rock called "Bunsen Peak"](http://images03.military.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_large/public/2024-04/ApNewsroom_NASA_Mars_40344.jpg?itok=VDgDNyaU "This photo provided by NASA shows the Perseverance Mars rover collecting a sample from a rock called "Bunsen Peak" using a coring bit on the end of its robotic arm on March 11, 2024. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU via AP)")
