81mm ML 3-inch
Mark II mortar
Overview
76mm ML 3-inch
British 81mm ML 3-inch mortar with Mark 5 barrel and late pattern bipod and square baseplate.
Source: D and B militaria -
© Copyright lies with original owner
ML stands for "Muzzle Loaded"
Mark II mortar (Mark 1, 1A and 2 barrel)
Mark IILR mortar (Mark 4 and 5 barrel)
Canada
India
Variants
The ML 3-inch mortar can be found in many configurations since all major sub assemblies come in multiple versions, which were also used in mixed configurations. The table on the right describes the three most common setups.
From introduction up to halfway World War 2 the ML 3-inch had a poor range of up to 1.45 km. The Mark 4 and 5 barrels were introduced during World War 2 and have a much increased range. For this reason these are also known as the Mark II Long Range mortar.
The early patterns of baseplate were rectangular. The No.5 and No.6 are square. The bipods were in Mark 3, 4 and 5 pattern.
The Mark 1 sight unit is the early pattern and the Mark 2 has a range scale drum.
Most common patterns of ML 3-inch mortar.
Details
Media
76mm ML 3-inch
Canadian forces operating a ML 3-inch mortar in France circa 1944.
Source: National Archives of Canada
Copyright: Public domain
76mm ML 3-inch
British forces firing ML 3-inch mortars during combat in Burma in 1944.
Source: Imperial War Museums
Copyright: Public domain
76mm ML 3-inch
British forces setting up a ML 3-inch mortar during training in 1941.
Source: Imperial War Museums
Copyright: Public domain
76mm ML 3-inch
British forces training with a ML 3-inch mortar in 1940.
Source: Imperial War Museums
Copyright: Public domain
76mm ML 3-inch
British airborne forces training with a ML 3-inch mortar in 1942.
Source: Imperial War Museums
Copyright: Public domain
76mm ML 3-inch
Reenactors alongside a ML 3-inch mortar.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
76mm ML 3-inch
British 81mm ML 3-inch mortar with Mark 5 barrel and late pattern bipod and square baseplate.
Source: D and B militaria
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Related articles
81mm L16
The Ordnance ML 3-inch mortar was replaced in British service by the 81mm L16 mortar, which fires a more powerful shell at longer ranges.