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TTPs for the 60mm mortar section
Infantry Magazine, May-June, 2004 by Jason E. Levy
The mortar section's best contribution to combat success is its immediate responsiveness to the company commander's orders, the speed in which it can be brought into action, and the effectiveness and accuracy of its multi-option fuze-equipped round.
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Tough and demanding live-fire training is the only way to accomplish this. Live-fire training should be as realistic as possible. Do not allow the mortar section to fire from some distant firing point while the company conducts live fires. Instead conduct long-range movements with all equipment to the mortar firing point so Soldiers can feel the effects of fatigue, sleep loss, and loss of energy. During company live fires, we would conduct all foot movements with our company and co-locate with the support-by-fire position. This allowed us to practice emergency occupations, crew drills, and forward observer coordination's on close targets. Once mortar fires are shifted off of the objective, prepare to displace. Once the company clears the objective, coordinate with the commander to move onto the objective in order to prepare for a counterattack. Conduct fire missions around the objective while the company is reconsolidating and reorganizing. Vary the engagement method during the training iteration. For one iteration use direct lay fires. For the next, use the handheld method. Make the live fire challenging for the mortar section. Integrate the use of rifle platoons transporting ammunition to the new firing point. Test all of the company's systems during the reorganization. One of the critical steps should be the cross loading of ammunition. Use this ammunition for your counterattack missions. It will aid the company in tracking and maintaining ammunition. Train hard and give your Soldiers tough, realistic goals to strive for. This type of training will help the mortar section to develop and control specific rates of fire by planning additional ammunition for future missions.
The mortar section must be able conduct operations at night and in all weather conditions in order to know the true measure of the section. Any 60mm section can have a great live fire on a sunny day. Train to accomplish a great live fire after a 12-mile foot march, in the rain with a 100-pound rucksack on your back. A mortar section that can ruckmarch all night after an airborne assault, and be prepared to deliver close, accurate, timely fires is the goal for training. Physical fitness is the cornerstone of a combat ready Soldier. The mortar section must exert maximum effort during physical training.
A strong road marching plan with loads in excess of eighty pounds should be instituted. Mortarmen must become conditioned to the heavy loads they will be carrying in combat operations. Unit commanders must give specific guidance and training plans for foot marching. This hard training will condition the unit to the rigors of combat loads. Conduct forced marches with loads in excess of 80 pounds. Mortar men must have strong upper bodies in order to handle the extreme loads that come with the duty position. Physically fit Soldiers perform better and are proven to adjust to stress more adequately. Hard physical training will payoff in combat operations. I highly doubt that my section would have been successful on our mission on the drop zone in Iraq if they were not fit. The mud, heavy loads, and environmental factors were handled well due to the fact my Soldiers were all in top condition.
