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May 24th, 2010, 05:11 PM
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#1 | | Grunt
Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 123
| 60 MM Mortar, When
I have been reading John Culbertson's series about the operations of the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines in Vietnam in 1967. He mentions the use of the 60mm mortars several times.
I am curious as to when they became part of the Marine company TO.
It seems to me that I have read that the 60mms were used in WW2 and Korea. I certainly don't recall them in 65 when I left South East Asia.
When I was in the only mortars we had at the battalion level were the 81. We didn't have any in the company weapons platoon, which I assume is where they would be.
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May 24th, 2010, 05:19 PM
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#2 | | Lifer | Quote:
Originally Posted by The Pistoleer  I have been reading John Culbertson's series about the operations of the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines in Vietnam in 1967. He mentions the use of the 60mm mortars several times.
I am curious as to when they became part of the Marine company TO.
It seems to me that I have read that the 60mms were used in WW2 and Korea. I certainly don't recall them in 65 when I left South East Asia.
When I was in the only mortars we had at the battalion level were the 81. We didn't have any in the company weapons platoon, which I assume is where they would be. | I Can't Speak for the Marines, but when I was in RVN with the 2nd Bn, 7th Cavalry in 1968-69, there were Many, Many 60mm's in the hands of the ARVN and the RF's and PF's...
They Really Couldn't Hump an 81 Plus Plate and Legs and Ammo...They Really Liked the Much Smaller Stuff!
I Guess That's Why They Still Carried M-1 Carbines!
I Remember That They Were Always Asking Us If We Get Them More 60mm Ammo...
(We Sometimes Were Able To Do Some...Trading...) 
CAVman in WYoming
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June 3rd, 2010, 07:56 AM
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#3 | | Master Gunner
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Franklin County, Vermont
Posts: 948
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We had three 60mm Mortars in the mortar section of our rifle company's weapons platoon in the mid-'80s to mid-'90s.
I suppose they're still in use today.
The only time we ever saw 81s was when we had attachments from the weapons company of the Bn.
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June 4th, 2010, 03:41 PM
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#4 | | Old Salt
Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Coastal NC
Posts: 1,862
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We had 60's when I was in my company from 98-02.
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June 5th, 2010, 02:21 AM
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#5 | | Lifer
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Houston Texas
Posts: 2,570
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In the book Lima Six about a marine rifle company in 1968 the author mentions 60mm mortars in his company.
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June 10th, 2010, 07:18 PM
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#6 | | Newbie
Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: west central Wi
Posts: 9
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We had sixty's when I was over there with the third herd in 67-68.
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June 10th, 2010, 07:42 PM
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#7 | | R T Delta
Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Tripoli, Pa
Posts: 2,611
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When I was in the companies had the 81mm and the headquarters company platoon had the 4.2 inch mortar.
That was the 82d and 173d during the 1960's. I remember the 60mm coming out again, but with lightweight components sometime circa late 1970's.
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June 13th, 2010, 02:06 AM
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#8 | | Designated Marksman
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: sw SD
Posts: 676
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Same time frame Bill 82nd Combat Support CO's had 4.2in
mortars,TOW heavy AT,Recon Jeeps/M60s-Inf Co's, 81mm mortarsl,Dragon Med AT WPN's
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August 11th, 2010, 10:09 PM
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#9 | | Newbie
Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 1
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Charlie 1/1 had two 60mm M2 mortars from at least 12/65 when I hit Nam. In late May, 66, they got an M19 60mm (improved M2), factory fresh, sealed in a can.
I switched from 0351 ammo-humper to 0341 A-gunner on that tube to help form up the 3rd "squad". In early July, the Gunner/squad leader rotated out and I moved into his position.
The 60 only moved when the rifle platoon it was attached to moved. There was a shortage of pistols, so I still carried my M14. It made quite a load with the tube, base plate, rifle and 5 mortar rounds.
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August 12th, 2010, 04:53 AM
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#10 | | Platoon Sergeant |
We used a 60mm mortar as a part of team house defense in Samarra Iraq in 03. You can fire ALOT of rounds in a few short seconds 
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August 12th, 2010, 12:49 PM
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#11 | | Rifleman
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northeastern California, North of Denver and West of LA
Posts: 79
|  60 mm
While I was in country 68 and 69 the 60's were carried by the rifle companies, while the 81' and the 4.2's were used in as support weapons batteries attached to the rifle companies. The 60 were light enough that if the sh*t hit the fan, they could be fired with out the use of the base plate. Weapons development in later years doubled the kill radius of the 60 mm shell over the rounds we had in Viet nam.
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July 19th, 2011, 04:21 PM
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#12 | | Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Kansas City Ks
Posts: 1
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60's were left over in Nam from WWII.
New 60's were invented in the early 80's? Longer range, better ammo. When I was in Hotel 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines in 68-69 every man carried one 60 round on operations. I bet it's still the same, except no one humps like we did!!!!
Semper Fidelis,
Tippy
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July 19th, 2011, 06:25 PM
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#13 | | Old Salt
Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Coastal NC
Posts: 1,862
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If I remember E.B. Sledge wrote about them in the book "With the Old Breed" in WWII. I also have a weapons performance manual from the Korean War that mentions them.
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July 19th, 2011, 07:02 PM
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#14 | | Scout Sniper
Join Date: May 2011 Location: US
Posts: 751
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They're still around. Getting to use them in the Contemporary Operating Environment (COE) is a different matter entirely....
I'm with B 2/75: They're great. Pocket artillery.
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