US 81mm Mortar Platoon

A mortar is usually a simple, lightweight, man-portable, muzzle-loaded weapon, consisting of a smooth (although some models use a rifled) metal tube fixed to a base plate  with a lightweight bipod mount and a sight. They launch explosive shells in a high-arcing trajectory, and are primarily used as indirect weapons for close fire support with a variety of ammunition.

The M29 was an American-produced 81 millimeter mortar that began replacing the World War II version in U.S. service beginning in 1952 being both lighter and with greater range. Vietnam variants included the M29E1 and M29A1, adopted in 1964 to improve barrel life, being easier to clean, and more resistant to the tropical elements.

Typically crewed by 5 the maximum rate of fire of is 27-to-30 rounds per minute, while the sustained rate of fire is 4-to-5 rounds per minute. While range was determined by ammunition type.