When firing mortars or other ballistic ordnance, there is a particular launch angle (a little below 45 degrees, owing to wind drag) that results in the maximum possible distance downrange. For any shorter distance, there are two launch angles possible. A low launch angle provides a shorter flight path/time and greater immunity to winds aloft, while a high launch angle may allow the projectile to clear obstacles between the launcher and the target.
Or at least that’s my perception as a person who has never been in the military. What’s the reality on the ground? How does an artillery/mortar team decide whether to use a high launch angle or a low launch angle to hit a particular target?
I’m not a military guy, either, but I imagine it depends on what you’re trying to hit and why. For instance, if you’re trying to make holes in the hull of a ship below the waterline, you’ll need a flat trajectory, but if your enemy figures that out and puts really thick armor on the sides, you’ll instead want a high plunging trajectory. Or maybe your gun only has a limited range of angles, so you use whichever one is possible. Or maybe you always stay at 45 degrees, and change range by adjusting the amount of propellant. Or maybe you shoot at both angles, high and then low, so your enemy is hit from two directions at once.
I saw a segment (on the old Military Channel) about an automatic artillery piece that fired several shots on different trajectories. The firing intervals and flight times were calculated to bring down all the shells on target at the same time.
That’s pretty much it. The lowest possible angle will always be preferred. When shooting into urban terrain or when masking problems exist, they’re going to use high angle. If they’re firing illumination rounds, it’s going to be high angle.
An example of options is the Javelin missile. Against armored vehicles, the default top-attack mode is selected to more easily penetrate the thinner armor. Missile flies high and descends at a steep angle on the tank/target. Throw a switch and the missile flies a lower trajectory to penetrate side walls of buildings or bunkers.
For long range artillery, maximum range is obtained at more than 45 deg. Forget the wiki entries. From memory, it’s around 56 deg. Gets the projectile sooner into the less dense atmosphere. Less drag, more range.
Mortars are generally high angle. Used against troops in trenches with an airburst or near surface burst mode selected. Also against troops in the open on the back side of hills.
I imagine the desired range might have something to do with the tube angle also. One can attach charges to the “neck” of a mortar round to add to the range. Also depends if you’re using direct or indirect fire.
The US 60mm has a direct fire mode, sort of. Stick the butt under your foot, there is a trigger mechanism, be sure to use minimum charge.
From Wiki:
"The M224 system is composed of the
M225 Cannon: 14.4 lb (7 kg)
M170 Bipod: 15.2 lb (7 kg)
M7A1 Baseplate for use in conventional mode: 9.6 lb (4 kg) or
M8 baseplate for use in handheld mode: 3.6 lb (2 kg)
M64A1 Sight Unit: 2.5 lb (1 kg)
The mount consists of a bipod and a base plate, which is provided with screw type elevating and traversing mechanisms to elevate/traverse the mortar. The M64A1 sight unit is attached to the bipod mount. The mortar can be fired in the conventional mode or the handheld mode:eek::eek:. This smooth-bore system can be gravity-fired or fired by using a manual spring-loaded firing system."