Taiwan develops 81 mm mobile mortar system

The 81 mm mobile mortar system mounted on a HMMWV was showcased for the first time at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition 2023 (TADTE 2023) held in Taipei from 14 to 16 September. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)

The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense's (MND's) Armaments Bureau has developed an 81 mm mobile mortar system mounted on a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV), a spokesperson for the bureau told Janes in mid-September.

The system is already deployed to an undisclosed number of Republic of China Army's (RoCA's) in-service HMMWVs, the spokesperson said.

The system, according to the Armaments Bureau specifications, is powered by an electronic servo system and equipped with a ballistic computer screen that allows the gunner to choose the type of ammunition and charge increments.

The gyration and elevation of the mortar are automatically regulated by a fire-control system to shorten the engagement time in the battlefield and enhance the accuracy, the bureau said.

The weight and firing range of the system are 1,000 kg and 6,300 m respectively. The system, which uses a muzzle-loading mechanism, can fire 30 rounds of mortar bombs in a minute with an elevation between 45° and 85° and a gyration of 360°.

The spokesperson added that the bureau has also developed two new mortar bombs to be used with the system – 81 mm high-explosive (HE) mortar bomb and 81 mm HE mortar bomb with steel spheres.

The new 81 mm HE mortar bomb configuration and design are based on the M374A3 HE bomb, the bureau said. However, the new bomb is equipped with a 40 mm longer cartridge to accommodate additional quantity of modular propellant increments.