Chemical Mortar Battalion - Chemical Mortars

Chemical mortars are so named because of their capability of firing not only high explosive, but also chemical, gas, incendiary and smoke marker shells. Chemical shells were on stand-by during World War II, to be used in retaliation should the enemy employ chemical weapons first.

These same mortars, using high-explosive shells, came to be acknowledged by the U.S. Army command and army personnel as being one of the most effective means of striking at stationary targets, such as machine gun nests, prepared strong points, pillboxes and even the powerful German 88 mm guns. Other advantages chemical mortars offered were their maneuverability, easy assembly, disassembly and reassembly from one location to another. The mortars were able to fire high-explosive shells from concealed positions, such as natural escarpments on hillsides, or from woods. The rifled barrel gave the mortar remarkable accuracy; fire was often called on targets within fifty yards of friendly positions. The low-velocity shell was totally silent in transit and gave no warning of the huge thump of the explosion, which tended to create panic among enemy forces who were subjected to their firepower. The mortar was called the "grass-cutter" by German troops because its HE shell exploded and fragmented just a few inches above ground level. The mortars often fired white phosphorus (WP) shells to block enemy observation with smoke; WP also caused casualties and fires, being especially effective against dug-in troops because the burning WP particles arced upward and fell directly down into foxholes.ref>http://www.4point2.org/mortar42.htm Description of the mortar