WEAPONS OF THE WORLD WAR II MARINE The 60mm Mortar, M2 The 60mm
mortar was a versatile weapon organic to the Marine rifle
company. It was sometimes called the company commander's "hip
pocket artillery" because the mortar section was always
available for fire support. Providing high angle fire, the 60mm
mortar was an important part of the company's firepower in both
offensive and defensive combat. It was ideal for for engaging
targets in ravines, reverse slope positions, and in other
defiladed positions. The 60mm mortar was developed by the US
Army Ordnance Department. It gave the infantry an indirect fire
weapon to span the gap between hand grenades and the 81mm
mortar. Testing took place in the late 1930s, and the first
order for 1,500 M2 mortars was placed in January, 1940. During
World War II, more than 60,000 M2 mortars were produced by the
Read Machinery Co., Kennedy–Van Saun, and the Firestone Tire and
Rubber Company. Until May 1944, the mortar section fell under
the rifle company's weapons platoon. Und