History
The M224 LWCMS (Lightweight Company Mortar System) replaced the older (WWII) 60 mm M2 Mortar and M19 Mortar. These weapons only had an effective range of 2,000 m (2,187 yd). While the M224 was designed to fire all types of the older ammunition, its primary rounds are of the newer, longer-range type that range out to 3,489 m (3,816 yd).
In 2011, an improved M224A1 version was brought into service. The M224A1 consists of the M225A1 tube, M170A1 bipod assembly, M7A1 baseplate, M8 auxiliary baseplate and the M67 sight unit. By reducing the number of components, using lighter materials such as aluminium and Kevlar reinforced with composites; the mortar system weighs 20% less with a reduction of 9.3 lb (4 kg). The US Army plans to replace all legacy M224s eventually with the new M224A1. Concurrently, a lighter version of the 81mm M252 mortar is being developed.
Read more about this topic: M224 Mortar
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“In nature, all is useful, all is beautiful. It is therefore beautiful, because it is alive, moving, reproductive; it is therefore useful, because it is symmetrical and fair. Beauty will not come at the call of a legislature, nor will it repeat in England or America its history in Greece. It will come, as always, unannounced, and spring up between the feet of brave and earnest men.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“I believe that history might be, and ought to be, taught in a new fashion so as to make the meaning of it as a process of evolution intelligible to the young.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)
“All objects, all phases of culture are alive. They have voices. They speak of their history and interrelatedness. And they are all talking at once!”
—Camille Paglia (b. 1947)