The 53-OF-843B is a Soviet-designed 120 mm high-explosive fragmentation mortar bomb cataloged today as the VOF-843B. Public references place it in the 2B11 and 2S12 Sani mortar family, describe a steel or cast-iron bodied round with a point-detonating fuze, and cite roughly 16 kg mass with about 1.4-1.6 kg of explosive fill.
Arcus lists the VOF-843B family for 120 mm smooth-bore mortars including the 2B11 mortar used in the 2S12 Sani system.
| Firing weapon | Weapon type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 120 mm heavy mortar system | Arcus names the 2B11 and 2S12 Sani among compatible 120 mm smooth-bore mortars, and BTWOB identifies OF-843B as designed for 120 mm mortar systems like the Soviet 2S12. Sources: 120mm HE Mortar Bomb VOF-843B, 2B11 Ammunition Table, OF-843B identification guide |
Bomb Techs Without Borders says the B variant is easiest to spot by the fin count and gas-check bands, while the earlier OF-843 and OF-843A variants keep the older pattern.
| Variant | Fins | Gas-check bands | Identification note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53-OF-843B / OF-843B | 10 | 5 | Current identification guide cites this as the B-variant pattern. |
| 53-OF-843 / 53-OF-843A | 12 | 6 | Used as the comparison set for earlier family members in the same guide. |
Reference note: Arcus lists an OFZ-2M point-detonating fuze, while BTWOB cites the M-12 point-detonating fuze from Soviet manuals.
Sources: OF-843B identification guide, 120mm HE Mortar Bomb VOF-843B.
Bomb Techs Without Borders' 2023 guide documents OF-843B identification cues, cites the 1990 USSR manual, and highlights the 10-fin / 5-band pattern that distinguishes the B variant.
Sources: OF-843B identification guide
Arcus posts the 120mm HE Mortar Bomb VOF-843B page, listing 120 mm smooth-bore compatibility, 5,800 m maximum effective range, 16.5 kg weight, 1.4 kg fill, and -50 to +50°C storage and handling temperature range.
Sources: 120mm HE Mortar Bomb VOF-843B
