Mortar bombs, 81mm

81 mm mortar bombs are fin-stabilized indirect-fire munitions made by many state arsenals and ammunition manufacturers for medium mortars. In the Boko Haram Insurgency, AOAV documented 81 mm mortar bombs among captured military ammunition used by Boko Haram to build improvised explosive devices rather than as a precisely identified factory variant.

Boko Haram InsurgencyBoko Haram and ISWAP

Conflict side: Boko Haram and ISWAP
Built by: Various manufacturers
Built in: Multiple countries

Mortar bombs, 81mm, 81 mm mortar bomb, Munitions

Image source: 81mm mortar rounds.png

Profile

Type: 81 mm mortar bomb
Conflict side: Boko Haram and ISWAP
Origin: Multiple countries
Service note: 20th century-present

artillery mortar mine warfare strike

Service History

In service: Standard 81 mm mortar ammunition in many armed forces; documented in Boko Haram IED adaptation in 2015-2016.
Used by: Boko Haram
Wars: Boko Haram Insurgency

Production History

Designer: Various
Designed: 20th century
Built by: Various manufacturers
Built in: Multiple countries
Produced: 20th century-present
Number built: Not publicly stated
Variants: High-explosive, Smoke, Illumination, Practice

Specifications

Caliber: 81 mm
Munition type: Fin-stabilized mortar bomb for 81 mm smooth-bore mortars
Example HE weight: About 4.15 kg for a modern 81 mm HE bomb
Example HE length: About 486-490 mm when fuzed
Explosive filling: TNT or equivalent HE filling, about 0.74-0.75 kg in common HE examples
Fuzing: Point-detonating or impact fuze depending on model
Propelling charges: Primary cartridge with additional increment charges on common designs

Conflict Usage

Boko Haram Insurgency: Side: Boko Haram and ISWAPRole: IED explosive payloads from captured mortar ammunitionmine warfare strike
AOAV reports that Boko Haram used 60 mm and 81 mm mortar bombs as captured military ammunition to devise IEDs, linking such improvised munitions to attacks in Cameroon in October 2015 and near Maiduguri in February 2016.

Mortar bombs, 81mm Images

Mortar bombs, 81mm, 81 mm mortar bomb, Munitions - view 1 — Source: 81mm mortar rounds.png

Mortar bombs, 81mm, 81 mm mortar bomb, Munitions - view 2 — Source: Lt. Col. Andrew Kostic shows an 81mm round

Mortar bombs, 81mm, 81 mm mortar bomb, Munitions - view 3 — Source: USMC 81 mm Mortar Platoon at Townshend Island

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Sources

Understanding the regional and transnational networks that facilitate IED usePublisher: Action on Armed Violence | Note: In the Boko Haram Insurgency, AOAV reports 60 mm and 81 mm mortar bombs used by Boko Haram to devise IEDs and links these improvised munitions to 2015-2016 attacks. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 81mm Mortar AmmunitionPublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Supports current manufacturer background for 81 mm mortar ammunition families, including HE, practice, smoke, and illuminating rounds. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Bomb 81mm Mortar HEPublisher: Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India | Note: Supports official 81 mm mortar bomb construction details, including fin stabilization, forward fuze, tail unit, steel body, and primary plus secondary cartridges. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 81mm Mortar Bomb HEPublisher: Atlas Internazionale Ltd | Note: Supports representative HE mortar-bomb specifications such as caliber, body material, length, weight, explosive charge, fragmentation role, and compatible 81 mm mortars. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Weapon Supplies Fuelling Terrorism in the Lake Chad CrisisPublisher: Conflict Armament Research | Note: Supports Boko Haram and ISWAP weapons-supply background in the Lake Chad basin, including CAR field documentation of weapons and ammunition seized from terrorist groups in Niger's Diffa region. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 81mm mortar rounds.pngPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain U.S. Army status for the primary 81 mm mortar-round diagram. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Lt. Col. Andrew Kostic shows an 81mm roundPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain U.S. Marine Corps status for a photo showing an 81 mm mortar round. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 USMC 81 mm Mortar Platoon at Townshend IslandPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY 2.0 licensing for a photo of an 81 mm mortar round being loaded. | Accessed: 2026-06-21