Artillería

Lanzador de mortero, 81 mm

Also known as
  • lanzador de mortero de 81 mm
  • lanzador de mortero 81mm
  • mortero medio de 81 mm
  • mortero L16A2 81mm
  • mortero M252 81mm
  • mortero M252A1 81mm

El lanzador de mortero de 81 mm es una clase de mortero medio servido por dotación para fuego indirecto de ángulo elevado con munición explosiva, de humo, de iluminación y de instrucción. Esta entrada trata la línea L16/M252/M252A1 como representativa de los lanzadores modernos de 81 mm, manteniendo las afirmaciones de uso en conflictos específicas por modelo cuando las fuentes lo permiten: los informes sobre Boko Haram/ISWAP identifican equipo de mortero de 81 mm recuperado sin modelo, las imágenes de CJTF-OIR identifican entrenamiento iraquí con M252 en Camp Taji, y las imágenes de Task Force Southwest identifican el uso de M252 por Marines estadounidenses en Camp Shorab, Afganistán.

Lanzador de mortero, 81 mm, Mortero medio de 81 mm servido por dotación, Artillería
Image source: M252 mortar.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Múltiples países
Type
Mortero medio de 81 mm servido por dotación
Service note
Clase moderna de arma de fuego indirecto servida por dotación
Designer
Múltiples diseños nacionales
Designed
Dependiente del modelo; los sistemas modernos representativos de 81 mm incluyen diseños de la familia L16/M252 posteriores a la Segunda Guerra Mundial
Produced
Dependiente del modelo
Number built
No aplicable a la clase genérica de morteros de 81 mm

Specifications

Calibre
81 mm
Configuración
Mortero de ánima lisa, carga por boca y ángulo elevado; los sistemas representativos usan un tubo, bípode, placa base y mira
Alcance máximo
Aproximadamente 5,6-5,8 km para sistemas representativos de la familia L16/M252A1
Peso
Aproximadamente 35,3 kg para el L16A2 del British Army; 74,9 lb en posición de tiro para el M252A1 estadounidense
Cadencia de fuego representativa
FM 23-90 lista el M252 con 15 disparos por minuto sostenidos y 30 disparos por minuto como máximo durante dos minutos
Elevación
800-1515 mils para el M252A1 estadounidense
Ejemplo F2
Australian Army F2: 36,6 kg y alcance de 200-4.900 m
Longitud del cañón
1.280 mm para el L16A2 del British Army
Velocidad inicial representativa
225 m/s para el L16A2 del British Army
Munición
Bombas de mortero de 81 mm explosivas, de humo, de iluminación, de práctica y relacionadas, según el modelo y el operador
Representative System Notes

El catálogo usa esta página para lanzadores genéricos de 81 mm cuando las fuentes identifican el calibre pero no el modelo nacional exacto. Cuando las fuentes nombran un sistema, la nota conserva esa designación para que los lectores puedan distinguir capturas genéricas de 81 mm del uso documentado de M252 o M252A1.

Referencia L16A2

Los datos del British Army indican un mortero de 81 mm de 35,3 kg con longitud de cañón de 1.280 mm, velocidad inicial de 225 m/s y alcance máximo de 5.650 m.

Referencia M252A1

Los datos del U.S. Army describen el M252A1 como un 13 por ciento más ligero que el M252 heredado, manteniendo el mismo alcance, cadencia de fuego y vida útil del cañón; el peso en posición de tiro es de 74,9 lb.

Funciones de la munición

Los lanzadores representativos de 81 mm disparan munición explosiva, de humo, iluminante y de práctica, con familias exactas de proyectiles que varían según el operador y el modelo.

Variants

La categoría de lanzadores de mortero de 81 mm es una clase de calibre, no un único modelo de fábrica; las variantes siguientes son sistemas representativos L16/L16A1/L16A2, F2, M252 y M252A1 que las fuentes documentan con especificaciones, historial de servicio o contexto de producción.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
L16 / L16A1 / L16A2 81mm mortarFamilia británica y de la Commonwealth de morteros de 81 mm

El IWM registra que el L16 entró en servicio británico en 1965/6, mientras que el British Army lista el L16A2 como su arma actual de fuego indirecto de 81 mm a nivel de grupo de combate.

Sources: 81mm Mortar L16A1, 81mm Mortar

F2 81 mm mortarMortero australiano de 81 mm

El Australian Army describe el F2 como un arma de fuego indirecto servida por dotación que puede ser portátil por personal o desplegarse mediante helicópteros, vehículos de ruedas y vehículos portamortero de transporte blindado de personal.

Sources: 81 millimetre F2 mortar

M252 81mm mortarSistema estadounidense heredado de mortero de 81 mm

Elbit Systems of America lista el sistema de arma de mortero heredado M252 de 81 mm entre los sistemas de mortero de 60 mm, 81 mm y 120 mm cubiertos por su contrato con el U.S. Army.

Sources: U.S. Army Contract for Mortar Weapon Systems

M252A1 81mm mortarSistema estadounidense ligero de mortero de 81 mm

El U.S. Army describe el M252A1 como un sistema de mortero de 81 mm más ligero, entregado por primera vez a Fort Bragg en noviembre de 2014, y CPE AE lista un peso de 74,9 lb en posición de tiro.

Sources: Picatinny lightens Soldiers' load, 81mm M252A1

Plataformas portadoras

Rheinmetall describe variantes del Bulldog como portamorteros de 81 mm.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
FV430 Bulldog, Tracked armored personnel carrier, Armored VehiclesFV430 BulldogTransporte blindado de personal sobre orugas

Rheinmetall afirma que variantes del Bulldog están en servicio como portamorteros de 81 mm.

Sources: Bulldog - Armoured Personnel Carrier

Munición disparada

La familia de morteros de 81 mm está documentada como capaz de disparar munición estándar de mortero de 81 mm.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
Mortar bombs, 81mm, 81 mm mortar bomb, MunitionsMortar bombs, 81mmBomba de mortero de 81 mm

Materiales del U.S. Army y del Marine Corps identifican la familia de morteros de 81 mm, incluido el M252, como capaz de disparar munición de mortero de 81 mm.

Sources: FM 23-90 W CH 1 MORTARS, U.S. Central Command Video Gallery | Official Videos, 81mm M252A1

Timeline

Lanzador de mortero, 81 mm Key Events

  1. El L16 entra en servicio británico

    Imperial War Museums registra que el mortero L16 de 81 mm entró en servicio británico en 1965/6 como sustituto del mortero Ordnance ML de 3 pulgadas.

    Sources: 81mm Mortar L16A1

  2. Primeros sistemas ligeros M252A1 entregados

    Un artículo de Picatinny del U.S. Army afirma que los primeros sistemas ligeros de mortero M252A1 de 81 mm fueron entregados a Fort Bragg en noviembre de 2014.

    Sources: Picatinny lightens Soldiers' load

  3. La 73.ª Brigada iraquí entrena con M252 en Camp Taji

    Imágenes de CJTF-OIR documentaron a un soldado de la 73.ª Brigada iraquí practicando con un mortero M252 de 81 mm durante entrenamiento de desarrollo de capacidad de fuerzas asociadas en Camp Taji.

    Sources: Iraqi army 73rd Brigade range and weapons training, 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve

  4. Contrato del U.S. Army cubre sistemas M252 y M252A1

    Elbit Systems of America anunció un contrato de sistemas de armas de mortero del U.S. Army que cubría sistemas de 60 mm, 81 mm y 120 mm, incluidos los sistemas de mortero M252 y M252A1 de 81 mm.

    Sources: U.S. Army Contract for Mortar Weapon Systems

  5. Task Force Southwest despliega M252 en Camp Shorab

    Marines de Task Force Southwest alinearon un sistema de mortero M252 de 81 mm en Camp Shorab durante una misión de fuego de apoyo a operaciones de las Afghan National Defense and Security Forces en la provincia de Helmand.

    Sources: Camp Shorab, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines with M252 81mm mortar system

Media

Lanzador de mortero, 81 mm Videos

Lanzador de mortero, 81 mm Images

Lanzador de mortero, 81 mm, Mortero medio de 81 mm servido por dotación, Artillería - view 1
Source: JGSDF 81mm Mortar L16(20080113).JPG
Lanzador de mortero, 81 mm, Mortero medio de 81 mm servido por dotación, Artillería - view 2
Source: M252A1 81mm mortar.jpg
Lanzador de mortero, 81 mm, Mortero medio de 81 mm servido por dotación, Artillería - view 3
Source: 81mm mortar rounds.png
Related Weapon Systems
81/82 mm mortar, 81/82 mm crew-served medium mortar, ArtilleryArtillery81/82 mm mortar81/82 mm crew-served medium mortarThe 81/82 mm mortar family covers the modern crew-served, muzzle-loaded, smoothbore indirect-fire class descended from the Stokes mortar lineage and still fielded worldwide in variant-specific forms. This is a family-level page: 81 mm L16/M252/M252A1/F2-type systems and 82 mm Soviet/Russian-pattern systems such as 2B14 and 2B24 share a medium-mortar battlefield role but are not interchangeable hardware. Conflict rows stay at the caliber or named-system level supported by the source, including Boko Haram/ISWAP recovered 81 mm equipment, Iraqi M252 training under Operation Inherent Resolve, U.S. Marine M252 use and Afghan Border Police 82 mm sustainment in Afghanistan, PKK 81/82 mm mortar use where no single model is identified, and Chadian 82 mm mortar training before operations in Mali.
Mortar launcher, 60mm, 60 mm light mortar launcher, ArtilleryArtilleryMortar launcher, 60mm60 mm light mortar launcherA 60 mm mortar launcher is a light infantry indirect-fire system built around a smoothbore, muzzle-loaded tube that can be used in conventional bipod-and-baseplate form or, on some modern systems, in reduced handheld or commando configurations. In the 2009 Boko Haram Insurgency, Nigerian reporting has documented 60 mm mortar tubes recovered from ISWAP fighters around Marte, Gajiram, Mandara Mountain, and the Timbuktu Triangle, while Conflict Armament Research has separately documented mortar materiel and captured 60 mm rounds among JAS/Boko Haram and ISWAP-linked seizures around Lake Chad. The recovered launcher models are not publicly identified, so this entry treats the item as a caliber-class system rather than a specific national model.
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120 mm mortar launcher, Heavy mortar launcher, ArtilleryArtillery120 mm mortar launcherHeavy mortar launcherA 120 mm mortar launcher is a heavy indirect-fire weapon class used to fire high-angle mortar bombs from a tube, baseplate, and bipod, a towed mount, or a vehicle system. This generic entry is for source-backed cases where public evidence identifies the caliber and mortar role but not a precise national model, including Ukrainian 120-mm mortar fire near Chasiv Yar, probable 120 mm mortar shelling in Yemen, Gaddafi-era use around Misratah, and a Nigerien seizure from Boko Haram fighters.
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Sources

81mm MortarPublisher: British Army | Note: Supports 81 mm mortar background and representative L16A2 specifications, including role, weight, barrel length, muzzle velocity, ammunition feed, and maximum range. | Accessed: 2026-07-0481mm Mortar L16A1Publisher: Imperial War Museums | Note: Supports L16/L16A1 service-history context, including 1965/6 British service introduction, replacement of the Ordnance ML 3-inch mortar, and 1965 production date for the museum object. | Accessed: 2026-07-0481 millimetre F2 mortarPublisher: Australian Army | Note: Supports representative F2 81 mm mortar background and specifications, including crew-served indirect-fire role, man-portable and vehicle/helicopter deployment context, 36.6 kg weight, and 200-4,900 m range. | Accessed: 2026-07-0481mm M252A1Publisher: Capability Program Executive Ammunition & Energetics | Note: Supports representative M252A1 81 mm mortar specifications, including lightweight-system context, firing-position weight, component weights, elevation limits, range, and compatibility with 81 mm mortar ammunition. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Picatinny lightens Soldiers' loadPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports M252A1 fielding and lightweight-system context, including first delivery to Fort Bragg in November 2014, the reduction from the legacy M252 weight, and representative M252A1 component layout. | Accessed: 2026-07-04U.S. Army Contract for Mortar Weapon SystemsPublisher: Elbit Systems of America | Note: Supports manufacturer context for representative 81 mm mortar weapon systems, including M252 and M252A1 production under a U.S. Army contract. | Accessed: 2026-07-04B'Haram: troops capture gun trucks, ammunitions in clearance operationPublisher: The Nation | Note: Supports 2009 Boko Haram Insurgency direct use: an 81 mm mortar tube and 81 mm mortar bombs were fielded by Boko Haram fighters and captured by Nigerian troops in Borno State in January 2020. | Accessed: 2026-07-04MNJTF Clearance Operations in the Lake Chad BasinPublisher: Zagazola Makama | Note: Supports 2009 Boko Haram Insurgency direct use: an 81 mm mortar was fielded by Boko Haram/ISWAP elements and recovered by MNJTF troops during June 2022 Lake Chad basin clearance operations. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Iraqi army 73rd Brigade range and weapons training, 2014 Operation Inherent ResolvePublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct conflict use under Operation Inherent Resolve: Supports 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve direct use: an M252 81 mm mortar system was fielded by Iraqi 73rd Brigade soldiers during CJTF-OIR building-partner-capacity weapons training at Camp Taji in June 2015. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Camp Shorab, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines with M252 81mm mortar systemPublisher: NARA and DVIDS Public Domain Archive | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct use: an M252 81 mm mortar system was fielded by U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest during a May 2018 fire mission supporting Afghan National Defense and Security Forces in Helmand Province. | Accessed: 2026-07-04M252 mortar.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the primary M252 81 mm mortar image; Commons identifies it as a public-domain U.S. Marine Corps work. | Accessed: 2026-07-04JGSDF 81mm Mortar L16(20080113).JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for an L16 81 mm mortar view; Commons identifies it as public domain by the copyright holder. | Accessed: 2026-07-04M252A1 81mm mortar.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for an M252A1 81 mm mortar view; Commons identifies it as a public-domain U.S. Army work. | Accessed: 2026-07-0481mm mortar rounds.pngPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for 81 mm mortar ammunition line art; Commons identifies it as a public-domain U.S. Army work. | Accessed: 2026-07-04FM 23-90 W CH 1 MORTARSPublisher: U.S. Marine Corps | Note: Supports the M252-family mortar as a system that fires 81 mm ammunition, including standard mortar bombs. | Accessed: 2026-07-04U.S. Central Command Video Gallery | Official VideosPublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: Supports official 81 mm mortar-system use alongside compatible 81 mm ammunition. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Bulldog - Armoured Personnel CarrierPublisher: Rheinmetall | Note: Supports Bulldog background and its listed 81 mm mortar-carrier variants. | Accessed: 2026-07-04