In the past few years, the Russian military has begun developing and using a new type of virtually silent mortar. The weapons, known as “silent mortars,” allow Russian forces to attack without making any noise and remain undetected by their enemies. But what exactly are silent mortars?
Let’s take a look at how these weapons work and why they’re so effective.
1. What’s a Mortar?
Mortars are an indirect fire weapon system used by ground forces. This type of weapon is composed of a tube-like barrel, typically made of steel, which fires shells at a high angle trajectory towards its target. The advantage of this weapon is that it can reach targets in difficult terrain or locations which may not be visible to the gunner.
These weapons use bombs, also known as mortar rounds, which are explosive projectiles that contain either TNT or chemical explosives like white phosphorus and smoke rounds. These rounds can be fired from any angle and reach up to two kilometers away. The accuracy of mortars depends on the skill level of the gunner but can be improved with practice and proper training.
When a round is fired from a mortar, it is propelled from the tube-like barrel and can reach speeds of up to 400 meters per second. The shell then begins an arc at its peak altitude and drops towards its target. As the round descends, a fuse ignites the explosive in the shell and causes an explosion that damages or destroys whatever is in its blast radius.
Mortars have been used in conflicts throughout history and remain a popular weapon today due to their range, accuracy, and versatility. Modern mortars are available with different types of rounds, including high-explosive, smoke, illumination, and even anti-personnel rounds. Infantry units often employ these weapons since they offer troops protection while still providing heavy fire support.
Mortars can also be used in various other roles, such as providing illumination for night operations or smoke screens to make troops less visible to the enemy. They are an indispensable tool in any ground forces’ arsenal and are essential for maintaining a tactical advantage over an adversary.
1.1 History Of Mortars
The use of mortars dates back to the late 1400s when Italian city-states used them during their battles. The first recorded use of a mortar was in 1449 during the siege of Constantinople. By the early 1500s, mortars had spread throughout Europe and became part of many armies’ arsenals.
Mortar bombardment played an essential role in World War I and II, providing infantry units with devastating firepower while protecting them from enemy fire. Mortars were also used extensively during the Vietnam War and have since become a standard issue for ground troops worldwide.
Today, mortars are one of the most widely used indirect fire weapons due to their range, accuracy, versatility, and affordability. They are an invaluable tool in any ground forces’ arsenal and can help troops achieve their mission objectives.
1.2 What Mortar Calibers Does the Russian Army Use?
The Russian Army uses two main calibers, 82mm and 120mm. The 82mm is used as a light mortar and consists mainly of the 2B9 Vasilek and 2B14 Podnos. The 120mm mortar is the 2S12 Sani, which is used as a heavy weapon.
2. How Does The Russian Silent Mortar Work?
The Russian 2B25 82mm mortar is a special type of mortar called a spigot mortar. This differs from traditional mortars, which use gravity to drop the bomb into the tube and ignite it — rather, a metal rod with a hollow-tailed bomb placed on top constitutes this unique type of weapon. When activated, propellant cartridges in the tail are detonated to launch these bombs.
The tail of the bomb functions as a vessel for the pressure generated from its detonated propellant charge, rather than using a tube-like with traditional mortars. For this particular 2B25 model, at the base of its propellant cartridge is a plug which gets pushed down by expanding gases when fired- acting almost like a piston. However, since there’s an obstruction located near the end of the tube, it prevents it from leaving and limits how loud or far away one can hear its report.
82mm mortars are used as light infantry weapons and are highly effective against fortified positions, soft targets, and personnel. Because of their design, these silent mortars can secretly surprise the enemy from long ranges. This makes them invaluable for covert operations in urban terrain where detecting the origin of fire could be difficult.
The 2B25 82mm silent mortar is an excellent example of a modern evolution in mortar technology that has greatly increased the effectiveness of infantry units on the battlefield. Its ability to fire silently and without detection provides troops with increased protection while still allowing them to deliver devastating firepower when needed.
Mortars remain one of the most important tools available to ground forces around the world and continue to play an integral role in modern warfare. They provide commanders with flexible and effective means of delivering firepower to the enemy, allowing for increased success in any mission. As we can see in the The Armourer’s Bench video below, the silent mortar allows shooting targets up to 1000 meters, with the ability to fire 3 rounds before the first one hits. A dangerous weapon in the hands of a trained crew.
2.1 Why Are Silent Mortars So Effective?
The main advantage of silent mortars is that they allow Russian forces to fire without giving away their position. This allows them to surprise their opponents, as enemies often don’t hear the mortar rounds until they land.
Silent mortars also allow Russian forces to remain hidden, ensuring that they are not targeted by enemy artillery or missiles.
Finally, silent mortars can be used by small groups of troops without the need for a large support team, making them ideal for special operations missions where stealth is key.
3. Conclusion
The silent mortar is a great tool for ground forces, offering them the capability to surprise their adversaries with powerful and accurate indirect fire. It can provide troops with a significant tactical advantage in any situation, allowing them to remain hidden while delivering devastating firepower. Mortars are an invaluable asset to any ground force’s arsenal and will continue to be used as long as there is war.
The war in Ukraine shows modernization for a lot of infantry weapons as both sides are trying to
gain the upper hand. Silent mortars, as we can see in The Armourer’s Bench video, are a great tool for ground forces. They offer troops the capability to surprise their adversaries with powerful and accurate indirect fire – allowing them to remain hidden while delivering devastating firepower.