Mortar Platoon (HU705)

Mortar Platoon (HU705) 36M & 36/39M 81.4mm Mortar During the years after the First World War the Hungarian Army used the 17M and 18M Skoda mortar they had inherited from the Austro-Hungarian Army.

In 1936 the State Weapons Factory at Diósgyör started to produce the 36M 81.4mm Mortar based on the modern French Brandt design. The Brandt 81.4mm mortar proved a popular weapon with many countries with it also being adopted by France, USA, and Romanian among others.  In 1939 the design underwent some minor modifications. This was designated the 36/39M.

A number of captured and German supplied mortars were also used through out the war, as they were able to fire the standard Hungarian 81.4mm Mortar ammunition. Among them were Dutch, Czech, Yugoslav and Soviet medium mortars.

36M (36/39M) Technical Specifications Calibre: 81.4mm Weight: 85 Kg Shell weight: 4.125 Kg Rate of Fire: 20-25 rounds per minute Elevation: +40° to +88° Traverse: +6° to +130° Range: 50-4300 meters (6200 meters)

Each Infantry battalion had available a mortar platoon of four medium mortars, with an additional 1-2 Mortar platoons available from the regiment.

In Flames Of War The Hungarian medium mortars are little different from those of other nations. 81mm 36/39 mortar: Range 40”/100cm, AT 2, FP 6 and can fire Smoke Bombardments. Designed by Evan Allen Painted by Wayne Turner