The M1943 Mortar or 120-PM-43 () or the 120-mm mortar Model 1943 (), also known as the SAMOVAR, is a Soviet 120 millimeter calibre smoothbore mortar first introduced in 1943 as a modified version of the M1938 mortar. It virtually replaced the M1938 as the standard weapon for mortar batteries in all Soviet infantry battalions by the late 1980s, though the armies of the Warsaw Pact utilised both in their forces.US Army, FM 100-2-3 The Soviet Army: Troops, Organization and Equipment, 5–60

Ammunition Shells specificationsEncyclopedia XXI century. Weapons and technologies of Russia. Volume 12. Weapons of destruction and ammunition, pp. 183, 217-222.Firing tables for 120-mm regimental mortars mod. 1938 and mod. 1943 TS No. 104, Military Publishing House of the USSR - Ministry of Defense (1967) Shot index Shell index Shell weight, kg Mass of explosive, kg Area of manpower destruction, m² Area of damage to equipment, m² Maximum firing range, km HE 53-VF-843 53-F-843 16,2 3,93 4,1 HE/FRAG 53-VOF-843 53-OF-843 15,9 3,0 5,7 53-VOF-843А 53-OF-843A 15,9 1,58 5,52 53-VOF-843B 53-OF-843B 16 1,4 1200 200 5,7 3VOF3 3OF5 15,6 1,25 5,35 3VOF53 3OF34 16,1 3,43 2250 1200 5,7 3VOF57 3OF36 16,1 3,16 1700 700 5,7 Incendiary 53-VZ-843A 53-Z-843A 17 1,359 — — 5,47 3VЗ4 3-Z-2 16,3 1,94 — — 5,7 Smoke 53-VD-843A 53-D-843A 16,44 1,6 — — 5,5 3VD5 3D5 16,6 1,65 — — 5,8 3VD16 3D14 16,1 — — 5,4 Illumination 53-VS-843 53-S-843 16,28 0,875 — — 5,4 3VS24 3S9 16,28 1,28 — — 5,4

Design This muzzle-loading mortar can be easily broken down into three parts – barrel, bipod and baseplate – for movement over short distances or towed by a GAZ-66 truck on a two-wheel tubular carriage. The baseplate mounting permits all-azimuth firing; however, as with most Soviet mortars, it was difficult to turn rapidly over a wide traverse. It could accommodate small-angle shifts of up to 6 degrees without having to shift the baseplate though.

Variants It was copied in China as the Type 53 mortar. A more robust but heavier version, the Type 55, was developed by Norinco. Egypt also produced a locally modified variant, the Helwan Model UK 2. An improved version called the 2B11 Sani was also produced by the Soviets and, in combination with the 2B9 Vasilek, was being used to phase out the M1943 from service.

Users

: Type 53 variant : 6 : 12

: 6 : 12 in store : Manufactured as Type 53 and Type 55 : 28

: PM-43 and Helwan Model UK 2

: 8 : 18 : 1

: 8 : 12 : Type 53 variant

: 24 : Type 53 variant

: Type 55

: Type 53 variant : PM-43, Type 53 and Type 55 : 6

Former users

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

References

External links M-43 120 mm mortar (Russian Federation), Mortars – Jane's Infantry Weapons