Mortar Platoon
(US775)
Includes Command Rifle team, four M1 81mm Mortars teams or three M2 60mm Mortar teams, one small three-hole base, four medium four-hole bases, and one base plug sprue.
Mortars are ideal support weapons for the infantry. They can be called on to give instant support against assaulting enemy. On attack they can bring fire down on the enemy positions to keep their heads down, while your infantry approach to assault.
As ’the infantry’s artillery’, mortars could provide infantry units artillery-like fire support when artillery either was not available, or could not be moved forward fast enough.
The finned projectile, known as a 'bomb', is dropped down the barrel, fin end first. The primer strikes the fixed firing pin, which detonates the primer and ignition cartridge in the base of the bomb, which in turn ignites the propellent, forcing the bomb out of the barrel, carrying the primer and cartridge with it and readying the mortar for the next round.
This blister pack lets you choose from two different mortar platoon options fielded by the US Marines in the Pacific: the 60mm Mortar Platoon, with up to three M2 60mm mortar, or the Mortar Platoon with up to four M1 81mm mortars.
60mm Mortar Platoon
The Marines operating the M2 60mm mortar were often the first called upon to provide fire support to their comrades in the rifle platoons. Advancing right beside and suffering the same privations as their more storied brethren, the light mortar men could set up and fire within seconds, delivering a bombardment far before heavier weapons could respond.
During the night the crew of the 60mm mortar also played an important role in stopping Japanese infiltration attacks. Deployed on the front line they could fire illumination shells to warn the Marine Riflemen that an attack was underway.
Gung-Ho
Around 1900 the Chinese described Marines in China as gung-ho. In Chinese, gung-ho means working together, as that is what the Chinese saw the American Marines always doing. Gung-ho conveys the Marines’ willingness to tackle any task and their commitment to the Corps.
Marine platoons use the German Mission Tactics special rule (see page 242 of the rulebook).
Mortar Platoon
The next step up in firepower that supported the Marine rifle company was the M1 81mm mortar, which appear in the Mortar Platoon, the second option which you can make with this blister pack.
Capable of laying down heavy barrages of high explosive shells, the 81mm mortar was the largest weapon available at battalion level and would often be deployed in support of the Marines at the front. As they could fire at a high trajectory they were perfect for hitting Japanese soldiers hiding in defilades wanting to attack. The four mortars assigned to each battalion would work closely with the Marine riflemen to spot targets. The 81mm mortar platoon was often the target of counterbattery fire due to the devastating effect that could have on an infantry attack.
You may choose to add a DUKW Section to transport your Mortar Platoon into battle.
Smoke
Sometimes your weapons won’t destroy the enemy quickly enough to prevent them from wreaking havoc on your own troops first. One way to protect your troops in the meanwhile is to fire smoke at the enemy to temporarily impair their vision
The Command Rifle Team
Semper Fi
Semper fidelis (often shortened to Semper fi) is the motto of the United States Marine Corps. It is a Latin phrase that means ‘always faithful’ or ‘always loyal’.
When Marine platoons test their Motivation to Counterattack in Assaults, you may re-roll the die and apply the re-rolled result to all Marine platoons that failed on the original roll.
Contents of the Mortar Platoon Blister Pack
1x Standing officer.
1x NCO with Thompson SMG.
1x Standing rifleman.
1x Crouching NCO.
1x NCO gesturing with right hand.
2x Kneeling crewman.
2x Kneeling crewman.
2x Crewman with hands over ears.
4x Crewman with 81mm mortar bomb.
4x 81mm mortar sprue.
3x Crewman with 60mm mortar bomb.
3x 60mm mortar sprue
1x Small three-hole base
4x Medium four-hole bases
1x Base plug sprue
15mm, metal
Battlefront Miniatures
