M2 4.2-inch (Goon Gun)

History

Modern infantry mortars can be traced back to the First World War (1914-1918), when British inventor Sir Wilfred Stokes developed his "Stokes Mortar", This is a portable indirect fire weapon system. The mortar only saw its importance in the conflict grow as "trench warfare" spread on the Eastern and Western Fronts. Indirect fire allowed operators to attack enemy positions with relative protection, and it was only a matter of time before other nations followed suit and pursued infantry mortars in large numbers. Besides their obvious value in dropping explosive projectiles, mortars can also raise smoke screens and deliver chemical warfare agents.

By World War II (1939-1945) the mortar had not lost its value on the battlefield - some of the original WWI designs were still in use.

The M1 "Chemical Mortar" became the first 4.2-inch mortar to enter the US Army stockpile in 1928. The design was derived from the original British 4-inch system, which relied on a smooth launch tube and tail stabilized projectile.

The Americans' new 4.2" approach adds a rifling to the barrel, increasing its caliber to give the fired projectile an inherent spin - so the fired projectile doesn't need fin stabilization. The concept is similar to what happens when a bullet is fired from the rifled barrel of a gun.

Due to the palpable anti-war sentiment that still pervaded society after the end of World War I in 1918, the M1 was developed under the guise of being a smoke-generating battlefield system.

The M1 served for the remainder of the interwar period, but gained renewed interest when the United States entered World War II in late 1941 (after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii). A new higher performance HE (High Explosive) projectile was developed for mortars, while the basic design structure was strengthened to better withstand the higher forces in the game.

With these changes, the mortar came in the form of the "4.2" M2 and was first used in combat during the 1943 Italian campaign - the Allied landings in Sicily. From there it could serve wherever it was needed, including the beach raids in Normandy, France (June 1944).

The M2 complete system weighs over 330 pounds and the launch tube alone is about 4 feet long. Its listed diameter is 4.2 inches, or 107 mm. An experienced and well-trained crew can fire at a rate of 5 rounds per minute for 20 minutes. Standard rate of fire changed to one shot at a time.

The effective range is 560 yards and the maximum range is 4,400 yards. In addition to the standard M3 HE shells, the M2 mortar fires WP M2 (White Phosphorus) shells with smoke generation turned off, and H-M2 chemical grenades can be complimented if necessary.

The indirect-fire nature of the mortar and its relative portability (it is divided into three main parts) made the M2 a valuable weapon in World War II combat - especially over rough terrain When other large artillery pieces cannot be used. So, as the battle moves from inland beaches to rough terrain, the series is a godsend for elements of the Italian campaign. In the Pacific theater, it was noted that mortars could be mounted on ships such as landing craft to provide live fire support for troops used to attack enemy beach positions. Some mortars have also been tested as mortar carriers on vehicles. The M2 worked so well that it was a front-line weapon for the U.S.

Army and Marine Corps throughout the Korean War (1950-1953). The U.S. Marine Corps is known to have used this weapon during the Vietnam War (1955-1975).

In the 1950s, the M2 was officially replaced by the modern M30 series mortars, of the same caliber and battlefield role, although it was not until 1974 that the M2 was finally abandoned in US military inventory. Its reach extends beyond the U.S. military, with the M2 stockpiled in the stockpiles of European, South American and Asian powers including Austria, Brazil and Japan.

Although the M2 series originated in the 1940s, some armed forces continue to use it - a testament to its reliable and robust design.

During its service tenure with the United States, the M2 came to be known under two nicknames - the "Goon Gun" and the "Four-Deuce".

M2 4. 2-inch (Goon Gun) Specification

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STRUCTURAL

PERFORMANCE

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