240 mm mortar M240 vs M19 mortar: Specs Compared

FORCETALLY

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AMortars

240 mm mortar M240

Towed mortar

Credit

ShinePhantom · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source ↗ · Modified

AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph — Representative exterior of M19 mortar

BMortars

M19 mortar

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

240 mm mortar M240larger figure on 3 of 3

Range+1199%
Barrel length+636%
Calibre+300%

M19 mortarlarger figure on 0 of 3

None

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

Measured figures

Head to head

10 of 45 rows sourced on both sides

—

819mm

Length

All recorded figures & sources

0.819 m

Length

Single source

81.9 cm (2 ft 8.2 in)^[source]

4.2tCombat

23.4kgM5 mount

Configuration

Details

240 mm mortar M240 and M19 mortar configuration
Specification	240 mm mortar M240	M19 mortar
Type	Towed mortar^[source]	Infantry mortar^[source]
Place of origin	Soviet Union^[source]	United States^[source]
In service	1953–present^[source]	—
Wars	Yom Kippur War Lebanese Civil War Soviet–Afghan War Iran–Iraq War First Chechen War Second Chechen War Syrian Civil War Russian invasion of Ukraine^[source]	Korean War Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Salvadoran Civil War^[source]

Shell	(HE) 130 kg (286 lbs)^[source]	—

Elevation	+45° to +65°^[source]	+40° to +85° on M5 mount free on M1 mount^[source]

Traverse	17°^[source]	14° on M5 mount free on M1 mount^[source]

Rate of fire	1 round/minute^[source]	—

Manufacturer	Yurga Machine-Building Plant^[source]	Watervliet Arsenal^[source]

Used by	—	See Users^[source]

Shell weight	—	1.36 kg (3 lb 0 oz)^[source]

Feed system	—	manual^[source]

Source measurement	—	The M19 mortar is a light, smoothbore , muzzle-loading , high-angle-of-fire weapon for light infantry support developed and produced in the United States. It has been replaced in service by the more modern 60 mm M224 mortar , which has a much longer range and improved ammunition.^[source]M19 mortar · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The development of the M19 began in 1942 as the T18E6, a light weapon weighing only 19.5 pounds (8.8 kg) and intended to be man-carried troops in rough terrain and quickly brought into action against enemy positions. The primary differences between the M2 and T18E6 was that the M2 was drop-fire only (the bomb being fired by a fixed firing pin at the base of the tube), while the T18E6 could be either drop-fired or a round loaded into the barrel and then fired by a lever-like trigger at the base of the tube. In addition, the original T18E6 only had a simple spade -like M1 baseplate , leaving the elevation and traverse free for the firer like the Japanese Type 89 grenade discharger or British Two-inch mortar .^[source]M19 mortar · History and description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage A 7th Infantry Division operations report from the Battle of Leyte stated that "During this operation, the 60mm Mortar with T18E6 tube and M2 base plate, bipod, and sight, were employed.^[source]M19 mortar · History and description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage This weapon has not proved as efficient as the M2 Mortar, since it is less accurate." Conversely, War Department observers in early 1944 found that after demonstrations of the weapon in the European and Mediterranean Theaters , "The lightness and versatility of the new 60-mm mortar firing mechanism and baseplate were appreciated, and this mortar is preferred to the present standard weapon." Postwar, the T18E6 was standardized as the M19, and saw action during the Korean War and Vietnam War alongside the M2 before being replaced by the M224 mortar in the late 1970s.^[source]M19 mortar · History and description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Source measurement

—

The M19 mortar is a light, smoothbore , muzzle-loading , high-angle-of-fire weapon for light infantry support developed and produced in the United States. It has been replaced in service by the more modern 60 mm M224 mortar , which has a much longer range and improved ammunition.^[source]M19 mortar · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The development of the M19 began in 1942 as the T18E6, a light weapon weighing only 19.5 pounds (8.8 kg) and intended to be man-carried troops in rough terrain and quickly brought into action against enemy positions. The primary differences between the M2 and T18E6 was that the M2 was drop-fire only (the bomb being fired by a fixed firing pin at the base of the tube), while the T18E6 could be either drop-fired or a round loaded into the barrel and then fired by a lever-like trigger at the base of the tube. In addition, the original T18E6 only had a simple spade -like M1 baseplate , leaving the elevation and traverse free for the firer like the Japanese Type 89 grenade discharger or British Two-inch mortar .^[source]M19 mortar · History and description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

A 7th Infantry Division operations report from the Battle of Leyte stated that "During this operation, the 60mm Mortar with T18E6 tube and M2 base plate, bipod, and sight, were employed.^[source]M19 mortar · History and description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

This weapon has not proved as efficient as the M2 Mortar, since it is less accurate." Conversely, War Department observers in early 1944 found that after demonstrations of the weapon in the European and Mediterranean Theaters , "The lightness and versatility of the new 60-mm mortar firing mechanism and baseplate were appreciated, and this mortar is preferred to the present standard weapon." Postwar, the T18E6 was standardized as the M19, and saw action during the Korean War and Vietnam War alongside the M2 before being replaced by the M224 mortar in the late 1970s.^[source]M19 mortar · History and description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Country of origin	—	United States^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 5, row 21, cell 4; revision 1372817704; retrieved 2026-10-01

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