81mm mortar

[Sharif]

Hello all serving or ex: mad and mental mortarmen!

I start my Mortars course on monday 10th june, just wondering if anyone can send me some info, on the mortar. much appreciated!!

Sharif.

[harry hackedoff]

Sharif all I remember is HALFABECK prob is, I can`t remember what it stands for

Enjoy the bacon and egg banjos Good luck with the course, mate


Aye,

Harry

[Pilgrim Norway]

What Cheor Sharif ....

Long time since I used mortars ( short range - close enemy - ) -

The main things I remember are :-

1...The tail end - with the fin things - goes in first ....

2...One mortar bomb at a time down the tube thingy is good....

3...Do not point straight up - the sound of incoming is awful....

4...Give the base plate to a Sigs .... he's used to yomping around with
Bergan rucksacks full of batteries and can use the handicap....

Hope the sarnies were good - I remember with affection the bagrations of
my day - boiled eggs of dubious age and a wedge of bread...

[Andy O'Pray]

Hi Sharif,

Don't listen to Pilgrim Norway, the closest he got to an 81mm mortar was to bum a wet of tea and an egg banjo.

Don't worry about the technicalities, you will learn those on your HW3 course. It is suffice to know that the 81mm mortar is one of the most accurate mortars in existance, providing the people involved in it's operation are proficient.

There is a crew of 3 to each mortar, No 1, No 2, No 3. There are two mortars per section. Each section is commanded by a Sgt (Control Post Operator). Manpower permitting, there will also be an Assistant Control Post Operator. Out front will be two HW2 Mobile Fire Controllers. The mortar troop consists of six mortars, (3 sections). There is normally a section attached to each rifle coy. There is a troop commander and a troop sgt, (C/Sgt).

Best of luck on your course, I hope that you can carry heavy weights.

[Mutley]

Always knew DLs could count (almost) to three.

Never thought about HW(Mors) making it to three.
(but agree, the wets and banjo's - par excelante)

Sadly, I got stuck at two-six.

Sharif:

Sound advice by a Training Team introducing the 2" mortar, when asked about firing positions

Never fire a mortar from the hip or the shoulder

[Sharif]

Cheers Gents!
Thought i'd let everyone know the course is going well! im enjoying it! what a quality weapon system, just 1 fault, why the hell are Royal the only stupid buggers to man pack the mortar in the whole of bloody NATO????? oh well!!

i've got a load carry tommorow. seen as i'm number 2 ive been seen off with carrying the Barrel!!

i'll keep you all updated with any news from the branch!!!

Sharif

[Andy O'Pray]

Sharif,

We used to use camels and donkeys to carry heavy weapons, but they ate too much and were always complaining, so get your manpack on and grin and bear it.

Unless things have changed, there should be a section in the pamphlet that deals with manpacking, (not intended purely for RM's). There are many occasions where one must manpack. Don't forget that it is the rifle troops who are carrying the ammunition.

While slogging along the countryside, just recount all that has been taught to you thus far. Best of luck on the rest of your course.

Andy O'Pray.

[Guest]

the most important thing to remember is , the Number three, makes the wets. anyone out there in the mortar world remember,john gregory, george stayman, eric blythe, uckie walker, noel mulligan, katie kehoe, and Tommy Atkins, who later went into the world of, the DL. he was quite chuffed, whilst in Newfoundland, he was asked if he was over 21, he couldn`t get his ID card out quick enough sharif, have you been to the, "PUFF" range yet?

[harry hackedoff]

Tommy Atkins, great name for a R.M. Top bloke as well. Heard he went to Exeter (gaol, not station) when he went outside. Of course, as a Prison Officer ,you cult.
And Noel, what can one say? Gave me far too many lectures on what was accepted behaviour in the Sgts Mess for my liking. Always began with"Lets go for a stroll along the B.V. track, shall we?" Much better relations when he was a mortar stripey. What do I know?
Nice guy, all the same. Drives a bus, now, I heard. Best wishes to both.
Never liked Noel`s nickname and my most abiding memory was of him trying to get airborne by flapping a Pusser`s camp-bed whilst running about shouting "One day, man will fly"or some such.
He posted this on Once A Marine:-
Greater Love Hath No Man, than he who spent his kit up-keep allowance...on kit.
Can`t be all bad

Tommy and Noel, take a tot

Aye Harry

[Andy O'Pray]

Bootneck. You are into my era of HW. Eric Blythe died many years ago, as did Mick Milsom and Bob Purvis, I last saw Lt. Hookie Walker when he and a crew of retrobates, (SD officers) stayed with me in Calgary in the early 80's. George Stayman I have not seen in years. I am still in touch with a few of the old crew.

Aye - Andy.

[Mutley]

Uncle Eric , he must have smoked for NATO under that puff range! Remember during my Seniors one of the syndicates took so long,he had actually nodded off under it!

You would always get a good lamp swinging sesh, of Korea and the vickers during his lectures!

God Bless him.

[feathers]

RM not the only ones to man pack... Jumping with the buggers aint much fun either...

[Mutley]

Sorry feathers but this time it really is an ND in the foot. Even a nod knows you jump light.

Please sir, I'll strap the tube to my testicles!

[Guest]

aye, uncle eric and uckie came out to malta, to see what a shower of shyte the grav coys were sending through.must admit though, couple of great guys,and when I had passed, and believe me, I tried like F*"K to fail, George Stayman took me under his wing, "AND TAUGHT ME HOW TO MAKE A DECENT WET OF TEA", Bless him, then when we went on excercise, he showed me how to keep the beer cool in the hot sun on sardinia and corsica. I remember Noel Mulligan trying to fly the pussers cakp bed out in Blue Mountains, near Gagetown, June 1976. we were bivvied in 12x12`s, with them tardis heads, well, someone was inside parting with something, when a bear started sniffing round the said tardis, the door flew open, and some bootneck ran down the hill, trousers round his ankles, and the bear fled in the opposite direction, laugh I wet myself. People took to feeding the year old bear, and it was onto a good freebie scran, honey most days, but it didn`t want to go home to mum every night, so stripey stalker, let it have two between the eyes, great, bear steaks? no, dig a F*"+ing hole and bury it, I had some great times in Support Company, as did most of you by the sound of it, great bunch of guys. uckie was my last o/c before he went outside, was always a case of , "write your own 365a, and I`ll sign it". Top Man. always remember eric saluting with his left arm, and telling the younger officers in the unit to,well you probably all know that anyway. cheers to The Mighty "S" Oh, another name " Dozy DAY", anyone remember him, Big guy

[Guest]

Jimmy Marr??