RMR members train locally on the 81mm mortar
Westmount, Quebec, 08 April 2025 – Some of the 25 members of the RMR who have qualified on the 81mm mortar over the past 2-years had the opportunity to train with the weapon at the RMR’s armoury on Tuesday night. Big thanks to Master-Corporal Pratt who managed to arrange for two 81 mm tubes to be lent to the RMR from some of his contacts.
The weapon is a versatile and potent indirect fire weapon used by the Canadian Army, including both regular and reserve units. This medium mortar system is designed to provide infantry units with high-angle fire support, bridging the gap between the maximum range of hand-thrown grenades and the minimum range of artillery.
Role: The primary role of the 81mm mortar within the Canadian Army is to offer quick, responsive, and relatively precise fire support to infantry units during operations. This includes suppression of enemy positions, neutralization of threats, and illumination or smoke screen generation for concealment and signalling. Mortars are valued for their ability to engage targets that are not in the direct line of sight, such as those in defilade or behind obstacles.
Function: The 81mm mortar operates by launching shells at high angles so that they descend on the target from above. This is particularly effective against enemies in entrenched positions or in urban warfare settings where direct fire is obstructed. The system functions through a smoothbore metal tube, into which shells are dropped. The shell’s primer is struck by a fixed firing pin at the base of the tube when the shell reaches the bottom, propelling the shell out of the tube and toward the target.
The mortar itself can be broken down into several components for transport, including the barrel, base plate, and bipod, making it relatively mobile and easy to reposition as needed. Its operation requires a crew, usually of three to four soldiers, who are responsible for aiming, loading, and firing the weapon, as well as calculating adjustments to ensure accuracy.
