- Ordnance ML 3 inch Mortar
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This article is about the World War II mortar. For the World War I Stokes mortar, see Stokes Mortar.
Ordnance ML 3-inch mortar 
In action in Burma, 1944Type Mortar Place of origin 
United KingdomService history Used by see users Wars Second World War Production history Designed 1920s Specifications Weight 50.8 kg (112 lb) Barrel length 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) Calibre 81.2 mm (3.20 in) Muzzle velocity 198 m/s (650 ft/s) Maximum range Mk.1: 1,463 m (1,600 yd)
Mk.2: 2,560 m (2,800 yd)The Ordnance ML 3-inch mortar was the United Kingdom's standard mortar used by the British Army from the late 1920s to the late 1960s, superseding the Stokes Mortar.
History
Based on their experience in World War I, the British infantry sought some sort of artillery for close support. The initial plan was for special batteries of artillery, but the cost was prohibitive and the mortar was accepted instead.
The ML mortar is a conventional Stokes-type mortar which is muzzle-loaded and drop-fired. Experience in World War II showed that it did not have sufficient range compared to the German 81 mm s.Gw.34 mortar and so a new barrel was designed. This became the Mark 2 mortar, which remained in service until replaced by the L16A1 81mm mortar.
Users
See also
Media related to Ordnance ML 3 inch Mortar at Wikimedia CommonsBritish & Commonwealth small arms of World War II and KoreaSide-arms Rifles & submachine guns SMLE No.1 Mk III* & Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.I · Pattern 1914 Enfield · Lee-Enfield No.5 Mk.I "Jungle Carbine" · De Lisle Commando Carbine · Sten · Lanchester · Austen · Owen Gun · Welgun · M1921/M1928/M1 ThompsonMachine-guns &
other larger weaponsBren Gun · Charlton Automatic Rifle · Lewis Gun · Vickers MG · PIAT · Rifle, Anti-Tank, .55 in, Boys · SBML 2inch Mortar · ML 3-inch Mortar · No.2 "Lifebuoy" FlamethrowerGrenades British grenades of WWI and WW2 · Mills BombSmall arms cartridges Weapons of the British Empire and the Commonwealth of Nations 1722–1965Handguns Rifles and carbines Brown Bess Musket · Ferguson rifle · Nock gun · Baker Infantry Rifle · Brunswick rifle · Enfield 1853 Rifled Musket · Snider-Enfield · Martini-Henry · Martini-Enfield · Lee-Metford · Lee-Enfield · Ross rifle · Lee-Enfield No.5 Mk.I "Jungle Carbine" · Howell Automatic Rifle · Huot Automatic Rifle · Reider Automatic Rifle · De Lisle Commando Carbine · L1A1 SLRSubmachine guns Rapid-fire weapons Bira gun · Nordenfelt gun · Gatling gun · Gardner gun · Maxim gun · QF 2 pdr "Pom-Pom" · Vickers Gun · Lewis Gun · Vickers-Berthier · Vickers K machine gun · Charlton Automatic Rifle · Besa · Besal · Bren gunAnti-tank weapons Field guns
and other weapons25 pdr Field Gun · Congreve rocket · SBML 2-inch Mortar · Ordnance ML 3 inch Mortar · No.2 "Lifebuoy" Flamethrower · Stokes Mortar · OTO Melara Mod 56
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