160 mm mortar M1943 vs 82-BM-37: Specs Compared

FORCETALLY

Loading the evidence…

Preparing your view.

AMortars

160 mm mortar M1943

Heavy mortar

Credit

Torin · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified

BMortars

82-BM-37

Infantry mortar

AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph

Credit

ForceTally · AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph · AI-generated · OpenAI output terms · Source ↗ · Modified

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

160 mm mortar M1943larger figure on 4 of 4

Mass+1989%
Barrel length+148%
Calibre+95%
Muzzle velocity+16%

82-BM-37larger figure on 0 of 4

None

Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.

Measured figures

Head to head

19 of 64 rows sourced on both sides

1.2t

56kg

Mass+1989%

All recorded figures & sources

1,170 kg

Mass

Single source

1,170 kg (2,580 lb)^[source]

56 kg

Mass

Single source

Configuration

Details

160 mm mortar M1943 and 82-BM-37 configuration
Specification	160 mm mortar M1943	82-BM-37
Type	Heavy mortar^[source]	Infantry mortar^[source]
Place of origin	Soviet Union^[source]	Soviet Union^[source]
In service	1943–present^[source]	1937–present^[source]
Wars	World War II Korean War Six-Day War Vietnam War Yom Kippur War Lebanese Civil War 1978 South Lebanon conflict South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)^[source]

Shell	40.8 kg (90 lb) bomb^[source]	—

Elevation	+45° to +80°^[source]	+45° to +75°^[source]

Traverse	25°^[source]	6° to 15°^[source]

Role	smoothbore breech loading heavy mortar^[source]	Soviet 82 millimeter calibre mortar^[source]

Source measurement	The Soviet 160 mm mortar M1943 is a smoothbore breech loading heavy mortar that fired a 160 mm (6.3 in) bomb. The M1943 (also called the MT-13 ) was one of the heaviest mortar used by Soviet troops in World War II . Around 535 of these weapons were fielded with Soviet forces during the war. It was replaced in Soviet service after World War II by the M-160 mortar of the same caliber.^[source]160 mm mortar M1943 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Originally a simple scaling-up of the 120 mm (4.7 in) M1938 mortar , it soon became apparent that drop-loading a 40.8 kg (90 lb) bomb into a 3.03 m (9.9 ft) long tube would be too difficult for any man to do. It was redesigned into a breech loading weapon , and contains a substantial recoil system to soak up the massive shock of firing a 160 mm (6.3 in) bomb and prevent the baseplate from burying itself too deeply.^[source]160 mm mortar M1943 · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage	The M-37 or 82-BM-37 (батальонный миномёт, battalion mortar) is a Soviet 82 millimeter calibre mortar designed by B.I. Shavyrin and accepted into service in 1937. The design of the M-37 is based on the earlier French Brandt mle 27/31 mortar with Russian modifications. The main difference between the 82-PM-37 and the earlier 82-PM-36 was the adoption of a round base plate, revised traverse/elevation controls, simplified sights and spring-loaded shock absorbers on the bi-pod to reduce the amount of relaying needed between shots. It was designed to be able to fire western 81 mm captured ammunition whilst not permitting the enemy the same advantage The German designation for captured M-37 mortars was 8.2 cm GrW 274/2(r) .^[source]82-BM-37 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The M-37M is an improved version with a lighter base plate and a device to prevent double loading.^[source]82-BM-37 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Source measurement

The Soviet 160 mm mortar M1943 is a smoothbore breech loading heavy mortar that fired a 160 mm (6.3 in) bomb. The M1943 (also called the MT-13 ) was one of the heaviest mortar used by Soviet troops in World War II . Around 535 of these weapons were fielded with Soviet forces during the war. It was replaced in Soviet service after World War II by the M-160 mortar of the same caliber.^[source]160 mm mortar M1943 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Originally a simple scaling-up of the 120 mm (4.7 in) M1938 mortar , it soon became apparent that drop-loading a 40.8 kg (90 lb) bomb into a 3.03 m (9.9 ft) long tube would be too difficult for any man to do. It was redesigned into a breech loading weapon , and contains a substantial recoil system to soak up the massive shock of firing a 160 mm (6.3 in) bomb and prevent the baseplate from burying itself too deeply.^[source]160 mm mortar M1943 · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The M-37 or 82-BM-37 (батальонный миномёт, battalion mortar) is a Soviet 82 millimeter calibre mortar designed by B.I. Shavyrin and accepted into service in 1937. The design of the M-37 is based on the earlier French Brandt mle 27/31 mortar with Russian modifications. The main difference between the 82-PM-37 and the earlier 82-PM-36 was the adoption of a round base plate, revised traverse/elevation controls, simplified sights and spring-loaded shock absorbers on the bi-pod to reduce the amount of relaying needed between shots. It was designed to be able to fire western 81 mm captured ammunition whilst not permitting the enemy the same advantage The German designation for captured M-37 mortars was 8.2 cm GrW 274/2(r) .^[source]82-BM-37 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The M-37M is an improved version with a lighter base plate and a device to prevent double loading.^[source]82-BM-37 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Used by	—	Soviet Union^[source]

Shell weight	—	3.05 kg (6 lb 12 oz)^[source]

Country of origin	—	Soviet Union^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 12, cell 4; revision 1347912314; retrieved 2026-10-02

Reported operators	Reported operator · Algeria Reported operator · Egypt Reported operator · Guinea Reported operator · Hezbollah Reported operator · North Korea Reported operator · Vietnam	Reported operator · Algeria Reported operator · Egypt Reported operator · Guinea Reported operator · North Korea Reported operator · Vietnam Reported operator · Albania Reported operator · Afghanistan Reported operator · Bangladesh Reported operator · Bulgaria Reported operator · Central African Republic Reported operator · China Reported operator · Czech Republic Reported operator · Democratic Republic of the Congo Reported operator · East Germany Reported operator · Ethiopia Reported operator · Ghana Reported operator · Grenada Reported operator · Hungary Reported operator · Indonesia Reported operator · Iraq Reported operator · Ivory Coast Reported operator · Kazakhstan Reported operator · People's Republic of Kampuchea Reported operator · Libya Reported operator · Madagascar Reported operator · Mali Reported operator · Malta Reported operator · Morocco Reported operator · Pakistan Reported operator · Poland Reported operator · Nicaragua Reported operator · Romania Reported operator · Russia Reported operator · Soviet Union Reported operator · Slovakia Reported operator · Sri Lanka Reported operator · Sudan Reported operator · Syria Reported operator · Tanzania Reported operator · Togo Reported operator · Uganda Reported operator · Ukraine Reported operator · Donetsk People's Republic Reported operator · United States