Artillery

81/82 mm mortar

The 81/82 mm mortar family covers the standard crew-served, muzzle-loaded, high-angle indirect-fire class used by infantry and light artillery units worldwide. In the Kurdish-Turkish Conflict, a 2018 analysis of PKK tactics describes Russian-made 82 mm mortars used against Turkish security facilities in mountainous areas and later PKK use of 81 mm mortar tools as well, without identifying one specific model. In the War in Afghanistan, U.S. budget documents show Afghan Border Police 82 mm mortars sustained for patrol and border checkpoint missions, reflecting continued Afghan government fielding of the system.

Kurdish-Turkish ConflictKurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)War in AfghanistanUnited States and Afghan government forces
Conflict side
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)United States and Afghan government forces
Built by
Various manufacturers
Built in
Multiple countries
81/82 mm mortar, 81/82 mm crew-served medium mortar, Artillery
Image source: M252 mortar.jpg

Service History

In service
In service worldwide as a light-to-medium infantry indirect-fire weapon class
Used by
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Afghan Border Police
Wars
Kurdish-Turkish Conflict, War in Afghanistan

Production History

Designer
Multiple national ordnance design bureaus
Designed
Early 20th century onward; representative modern 81 mm and 82 mm systems are postwar designs
Built by
Various manufacturers
Built in
Multiple countries
Unit cost
Varies by model, manufacturer, and ammunition package
Produced
Varies by model and producer
Number built
Unknown; produced by many national arsenals and defense manufacturers
Variants
81 mm mortar families, 82 mm mortar families, L16/M252-family 81 mm mortars, 2B14 Podnos / 82-BM family

Specifications

Caliber
81 mm / 82 mm
Configuration
Smoothbore, muzzle-loaded, high-angle mortar with tube, bipod, baseplate, and sight
Crew
Usually 3-4
Representative range
About 5,650 m for the British L16A2 81 mm mortar and 4,270 m for the 2B14 Podnos 82 mm mortar
Representative weight
About 35.3 kg for the L16A2; 41.88 kg in firing position for the 2B14 Podnos
Representative rate of fire
About 15 rounds per minute sustained; 24-30 rounds per minute maximum on the 2B14 Podnos
Ammunition
High-explosive, smoke, illumination, practice, and related mortar bombs

Conflict Usage

Kurdish-Turkish Conflict
Side: Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)Role: Standoff indirect-fire attacks on security facilitiesstrike

SETA's Kurdish-Turkish Conflict analysis says the PKK used Russian-made 82 mm mortars against security facilities in mountainous regions and also used 81 mm mortar tools; the report does not identify a single factory model.

War in Afghanistan
Side: United States and Afghan government forcesRole: Border security indirect fire supportstrike

In the War in Afghanistan, Afghan Border Police fielded 82 mm mortars for patrol and border control checkpoint missions; the FY 2016 ASFF request funded sustainment for those mortars as patrols and checkpoints increased.

81/82 mm mortar Images

81/82 mm mortar, 81/82 mm crew-served medium mortar, Artillery - view 1
Source: M252 mortar.jpg
81/82 mm mortar, 81/82 mm crew-served medium mortar, Artillery - view 2
Source: JGSDF 81mm Mortar L16(20080113).JPG
81/82 mm mortar, 81/82 mm crew-served medium mortar, Artillery - view 3
Source: 82mm mortar training image
81/82 mm mortar, 81/82 mm crew-served medium mortar, Artillery - view 4
Source: 81mm mortar rounds.png

Related Weapon Systems

Mortars, Infantry and artillery mortar class, ArtilleryArtilleryMortarsInfantry and artillery mortar classMortars are short-barreled, high-angle indirect-fire weapons used by infantry, artillery units, and armed groups for close support, harassment, and attacks on positions behind cover. The catalog entry treats mortars as a broad weapon class because the direct conflict sources usually document mortar use without identifying exact calibers or models, including Philippine government support fires at Marawi, Hezbollah fire at Mount Dov, jihadist attacks in Mali and Sinai, FARC dissident improvised mortars in Colombia, Sudan War battlefield use, and Cambodia-accused cross-border fire.

Sources

81mm MortarPublisher: British Army | Note: Supports 81 mm mortar background and representative L16A2 specifications, including role, weight, ammunition types, and maximum range. | Accessed: 2026-06-2182mm 2B14 PodnosPublisher: Weaponsystems.net | Note: Supports representative 82 mm mortar background, caliber, crew, weight, range, rate of fire, and portability specifications for the 2B14 Podnos. | Accessed: 2026-06-21When Strategy Collapses: The PKK's Urban Terrorist CampaignPublisher: SETA | Note: Supports Kurdish-Turkish Conflict direct use: the PKK used Russian-made 82 mm mortars against security facilities in mountainous regions, and the same source says the PKK used 81 mm mortar tools; the report does not identify a single model. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Contrasting Statements From TSK and PKK on Mortar ExchangePublisher: bianet | Note: Supports Kurdish-Turkish Conflict direct use: Turkish Armed Forces and PKK statements described a mortar exchange in Dağlıca, with TSK saying PKK forces fired three mortars; the report does not identify the caliber. | Accessed: 2026-06-21FY 2016 Afghanistan Security Forces Fund RequestPublisher: U.S. Army Financial Management and Comptroller | Note: Supports War in Afghanistan direct use: the FY 2016 ASFF request funded sustainment for Afghan Border Police 82 mm mortars used on patrols and border control checkpoints. | Accessed: 2026-06-21M252 mortar.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the primary M252 81 mm mortar image; Commons identifies it as a public-domain U.S. Marine Corps work. | Accessed: 2026-06-21JGSDF 81mm Mortar L16(20080113).JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for an L16 81 mm mortar view; Commons identifies it as public domain by the copyright holder. | Accessed: 2026-06-2182mm mortar training imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain U.S. Navy licensing for the 82 mm mortar gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-2181mm mortar rounds.pngPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for 81 mm mortar ammunition line art; Commons identifies it as a public-domain U.S. Army work. | Accessed: 2026-06-21