Shells, 4.2-inch mortar

Comparison of the 1992 and 1999 Trial Bum Results, 9 Processing of 4.2-Inch HD Mortar Shells Through the MPF, 10 Observations Based on HD Operations at JACADS, 10 Findings and Recommendations, 12... 

Kind of shell ( inch) Number of tests Composition Distance from the mortar iSOra 200m 30 0m (phone) (phone) (phone) ... 

That s a three-inch mortar shell, at least, said Sandy. 

By World War II, perchlorates were used mostly for solid rocket motors, which account for most of the emerging perchlorate problem in this country. Besides rocket fuel, perchlorates are used in 3-inch and 4.2-inch mortar shell illumination rounds, perimeter illumination booby traps, artillery simulators used in training, signal flares, smoke pots, artillery tracers, and railway torpedoes. 

November the War Department increased the maintenance factor from 7 percent to percent, but experience in Italy outmoded the new factor before it was received. By the end of 1943 General Porter had personally intervened to secure air shipment of 12 mortars and a few critical mortar parts to the theater. In all, late in 1943 and early in 1944, 172 mortars were scheduled to arrive by air or by convoy to relieve the situation in which depot stocks were nil and there was an actual shortage of 16 mortars in the operating battalions. Also in November 1943, the first serious theaterwide shortage of 4.2-inch mortar ammunition was reported. Despite the mortar shipments and the 40,000 rounds of HE mortar shell en route to the theater, supply proved to be insuflScient. ... 

Colonel Barker toyed with the idea of concealing Vesuvius with 4,a-inch mortar shell, a plan soon discarded as impracticable. 

The determination, mentioned above, to convert the chemical weapons units to the 8i-mm. mortar naturally interrupted negotiations regarding the HE 4.2 mortar shell. A personal conference between General Porter and General Marshall, Army Chief of Staff, resolved the issue in favor of the 4.2-inch mortar, a decision followed by steps to equip the mortar battalions with the approved weapon. Later came the authorization to produce a high explosive filling for the 4.2-inch mortar shell. ... 

Preparing a 4.2-Inch Mortar Shell for Firing, Ardennes counteroffensive. 

The CWS chose two types of munitions for cyanogen chloride—4.2-inch mortar shells and bombs. The mortar shell was made the official CK munition for ground forces in 1S>45, but was not filled. Instead, almost all of the twenty-five million pounds of CK procured by the CWS went into 33,347 M78 500-pound bombs, each holding 165 pounds of agent, and 55,851 M79 1000-pound bombs, each holding 332 pounds. ... 

For delivery of mustard by ground troops the CWS had 4.2-inch mortar shells, artillery shells, and land mines. The land mines were simply rectangular 1-gallon tin cans, such as were commonly used to hold varnish or syrup. They had a capacity of ten pounds of mustard. When exploded with a slow-burning fuze or by electrical means, the mines spread mustard over a considerable area. They were intended for use as booby traps or in contaminating fields, roads, and buildings. The CWS procured and stored (but did not fill) almost two million such mines. For possible use by troops, 540,746 4.2-inch mortar shells were filled and stored. For the artillery, 1,360,338 75-mm. Mk 64, 1,983,945 105-mm. M60, 784,836 155-mm. Mk 2Al, 290,810 155-mm. Ml 10, and smaller quantities of other shells, were readied. ... 

During the war the CWS produced at Edgewood Arsenal and purchased from the Pennsylvania Salt Manufaemring Co. and the Lake Erie Chemical Co. a total of 1,281,560 pounds of chloroacetophenone. A portion of this went to make up 5,282,000 pounds of CNB tear gas solution, another portion went into 3,309,000 pounds of CNS solution. Almost all of this solution was stored, but some was used to fill 4.2-inch chemical mortar shells, and 75-mm., 105-mm., and 155-mm. artillery shells. 

CWTC Item 1060, Military Requirements and Military Characteristics for Jet Accelerator Adapter, for 4.2-Inch Chemical Mortar, 7 Jul 44. (2) CWTC Item 1180, Cancellation of Military Requirements for Jet Accelerator Adapter for 4.2-Inch Chemical Mortar Shell, 26 Oct 44. 

Gilbert C. Bowen, Tests of Various Methods of Obtaining Rotation of the 4.2-Inch Chemical Mortar Shell. OSRD 5694, Oct 45. (2) Gilbert C. Bowen, C. F. Curtiss, R. B. Kersh-ner, and Maj A. R. T. Denues, Extension of Range of the 4.2-Inch Chemical Mortar, M2. OSRD 5789, Jun 46. 

CWTC hem 1326, Military Requirement and Military Characteristics for Incendiary, 4.2-Inch Chemical Mortar Shell, 24 May 45. (2) Alfred E. Gaul and Leo Finkelstein, Incendiaries, vol. 18, 31 Jan 52, in monograph series. History of Research and Development of the CWS (1 July 1940-31 December 1945), pp. 665-75. 

Gaul and Finkelstein, Incendiaries, pp. 663-75. (2) Lt Oren E. Ross, 4.2-Inch Chemical Mortar Shell, Incendiary, E66R3. TDMR 1218, 5 Mar 46. 

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