60 mm Mortar M2

60mm Mortar M2 and M19
(Ref. Field Manual 23-85)

A smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded, high-angle-of-fire weapon. The mortar (barrel) was normally used in conjunction with a bipod and base plate and had an overall weight of 45.2 pounds. It would be disassembled for transport into its three main components.
Maximum rate of fire was 30 rounds per minute, with a sustained rate of 18 rounds per minute.
Maximum range with high-explosive ammunition was 2,000 yards. Other types of ordnance included illumination rounds, smoke, and incendiary.

An indication of the men needed to keep a weapon like the 60 mm in the field.  Note the man second from right bedding the bipod legs in
The 60 mm mortar was one of the more useful light mortars to see service.  It was a normal 'drop fired' weapon issued on the scale of one per Rifle Platoon; in Infantry and Marine Companies they were grouped into a single section, while Airborne, Armored and Ranger units deployed them within the individual Platoons.  If it had one drawback it was the weight, which normally meant a five or six man Squad was required to carry weapon, mount and ammunition.  A cut down model, with no bipod and a spade plate saw some Airborne service.  The M19 weighed over 9 kg, but was not as successful as the standard model.