Munitions

M720A1 60 mm high explosive cartridge

Also known as
  • M720A1
  • M720A1 60mm
  • M720A1 60 mm HE cartridge
  • Cartridge, 60 mm, HE, M720A1
  • M720A1 mortar cartridge
  • DODIC BA16
  • DODIC BA44

The M720A1 60 mm high explosive cartridge is a U.S. mortar round for the M224/M224A1 Lightweight Company Mortar System. Army portfolio material identifies it as a 14.84-inch, 3.65-pound production-and-deployment cartridge with DODIC BA16 and BA44 configurations, while FY 2017 Iraq Train and Equip Fund records document M720A1 combat-resupply planning for Iraqi Security Forces during Operation Inherent Resolve.

M720A1 60 mm high explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, Munitions
Image source: Mortar team with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines conducts range 10

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge
Service note
Modern U.S. mortar ammunition
Produced
Material release in April 2006; production and deployment item in the 2017 Army portfolio book

Specifications

Caliber
60 mm
Designed for
M224/M224A1 Lightweight Company Mortar System
Length
14.84 in
Weight
3.65 lb
Fill
IMX-104 in the Day & Zimmermann datasheet; Army portfolio DODICs include BA16 with PAX-21/Composition B and BA44 with IMX-104
Fuze
M734A1 multi-option fuze
Range
70 to 3,400 m
Rate of fire
30 rounds/minute maximum; 20 rounds/minute sustained
Reliability
98% at 90% confidence level
Probable error
Range 1.5% of mean range; deflection 2.5 mils
DODIC variations
BA16 with PAX-21 and Composition B explosive; BA44 with IMX-104 explosive
Complete round
Projectile body, multi-option fuze, fin assembly, four propellant-charge increments, ignition cartridge, and obturating ring
Intended targets
Personnel and materiel targets with fragmentation and blast effects
Variants

The M720A1 sits in a U.S. 60 mm high-explosive cartridge family for M224-series mortars. Public sources distinguish the adjacent rounds mainly by fuze, insensitive-munition configuration, and cartridge role.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
M720A2Insensitive-munition HE cartridge

Day & Zimmermann lists the M720A2 in the same M224-series 60 mm HE cartridge datasheet, ASSIST identifies M720A2 in the active MIL-DTL-32469 insensitive-munition specification family, and an IMEMTS paper places M720A2 in the 2011 IMX-104 update schedule.

Sources: M720A1 / M720A2 / M768, ASSIST MIL-DTL-32469, IMEMTS CLIMEx Paper

M768 60 mm high-explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, MunitionsM768 60 mm high-explosive cartridgeM783 point-detonating-fuzed HE cartridge

Day & Zimmermann groups the M768 with the M720A1 and M720A2 for M224-series mortar use; the related M768 page documents it as the M783-fuzed member of the set.

Sources: M720A1 / M720A2 / M768

M768A1Insensitive-munition detail-specification variant

ASSIST identifies MIL-DTL-32469 as the active detail specification for M720A2, M768A1, and M888A1 60 mm HE insensitive-munition cartridges for the M224 and M224A1 mortars.

Sources: ASSIST MIL-DTL-32469

M888 60 mm high explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, MunitionsM888 60 mm high explosive cartridgeAdjacent 60 mm HE cartridge

The Army portfolio book says the M888 uses the same body and propulsion system as the M720 series but uses the M935 point-detonating fuze.

Sources: Capability Program Executive - JPEO A&A Portfolio Book

Compatible Mortar Systems

Army portfolio material and the Day & Zimmermann family datasheet identify the M720A1 as ammunition for M224-series 60 mm mortars.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
M224, 60 mm lightweight company mortar, ArtilleryM22460 mm lightweight company mortar

The Army portfolio book says the M720A1 is designed for the M224/M224A1 Lightweight Company Mortar System, and Day & Zimmermann describes the cartridge family as designed for M224-series 60 mm mortars.

Sources: Capability Program Executive - JPEO A&A Portfolio Book, M720A1 / M720A2 / M768

60 mm HE Cartridge Context

The M720A1 is the M734A1 multi-option-fuzed member of a U.S. 60 mm high-explosive mortar-cartridge set for M224-series mortars. Published Army and manufacturer material separates related rounds by fuze, insensitive-munition configuration, and cartridge role.

CartridgeConfigurationSource-backed distinction
M720A1M734A1 multi-option fuzeArmy portfolio material identifies DODIC BA16 and BA44 configurations for the M224/M224A1 Lightweight Company Mortar System and lists the cartridge in production and deployment.
M720A2Insensitive-munition HE cartridgeDay & Zimmermann lists M720A2 beside M720A1 and M768; ASSIST and IMEMTS sources place M720A2 in the insensitive-munition update path.
M768 60 mm high-explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, MunitionsM768M783 point-detonating fuzeThe same manufacturer datasheet groups M768 with M720A1/M720A2 for M224-series use; the related catalog record documents the M783-fuzed configuration.
M768A1Current detail-specification memberASSIST lists MIL-DTL-32469 for M720A2, M768A1, and M888A1 HE IM cartridges for M224 and M224A1 mortars.
M888 60 mm high explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, MunitionsM888M935 point-detonating fuzeThe Army portfolio book says the M888 uses the same body and propulsion system as the M720 series but a different point-detonating fuze.
Timeline

M720A1 60 mm high explosive cartridge Key Events

  1. M720A1 material-release date

    The Army portfolio book lists April 2006 as the M720A1 material-release date and places the cartridge in production and deployment.

    Sources: Capability Program Executive - JPEO A&A Portfolio Book

  2. IMX-104 60 mm family update

    An IMEMTS paper lists 60 mm M720A2, M768, and M888 mortar cartridges in the 2011 IMX-104 fielding schedule, giving context for the M720A1 family transition toward insensitive-munition configurations.

    Sources: IMEMTS CLIMEx Paper

  3. MIL-DTL-32469 validation

    DLA ASSIST lists MIL-DTL-32469 as an active specification covering M720A2, M768A1, and M888A1 60 mm HE insensitive-munition cartridges for M224 and M224A1 mortars.

    Sources: ASSIST MIL-DTL-32469

Media

M720A1 60 mm high explosive cartridge Images

M720A1 60 mm high explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, Munitions - view 1
Source: M49A2 High Explosive 60 mm Mortar Round - Fort Devens Museum - DSC07151.JPG
M720A1 60 mm high explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, Munitions - view 2
Source: U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Ted W. Schroeder, right, with the Regional Corps Battle School, watches as an Afghan National Army mortarman fires a 60 mm high-explosive mortar round at a range near Camp Shorabak 130505-M-RO295-038.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
M888 60 mm high explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, MunitionsMunitionsM888 60 mm high explosive cartridge60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridgeThe M888 is a U.S. 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge for the M224/M224A1 Lightweight Company Mortar System. Army and environmental ordnance references identify it as DODIC B643 with an M935 point-detonating fuze, Composition B fill, 67- to 3,490-meter range, and fragmentation/blast effects against personnel and light materiel. Public conflict-specific evidence for this cartridge currently comes from Afghan National Army and Iraq Train and Equip Fund supply records, so the conflict rows document transfer and delivery context rather than confirmed battlefield firing.
M721 60 mm visible light illumination cartridge, 60 mm visible-light illuminating mortar cartridge, MunitionsMunitionsM721 60 mm visible light illumination cartridge60 mm visible-light illuminating mortar cartridgeThe M721 is a U.S. 60 mm visible-light illuminating mortar cartridge for the M224/M224A1 lightweight company mortar system. Army ammunition materials describe a parachute-and-candle payload, an M776 mechanical time fuze, and roughly 300,000 candlepower for observation, fire adjustment, and signaling, while transfer and budget records place the round in Afghan and Iraqi partner-force ammunition channels.
M224, 60 mm lightweight company mortar, ArtilleryArtilleryM22460 mm lightweight company mortarThe M224 is a U.S. 60 mm lightweight company mortar built for infantry close-support fires from either a conventional bipod/baseplate setup or a lighter handheld mode. Its 70- to 3,490-meter conventional-mode range, high-angle fire, and mix of high-explosive, smoke, illumination, and training cartridges make it useful for small-unit suppression, screening, marking, and illumination; documented uses include Ukrainian front-line employment, U.S. coalition advise-and-assist fires during 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve, and U.S. Army field use in Afghanistan.

Sources

Mortar Ammunition - Army.milPublisher: U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition & Energetics | Note: Supports the Army mortar ammunition listing that includes the M720A1 under 60 mm high-explosive mortar ammunition. | Accessed: 2026-07-01M720A1 / M720A2 / M768Publisher: Day & Zimmermann | Note: Supports the M720A1's manufacturer background and technical data, including M224-series use, M734A1 fuze, IMX-104 fill, 14.84-inch length, 3.65-pound weight, 3,400-meter range, and its relationship to the M720A2 and M768. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Capability Program Executive - JPEO A&A Portfolio BookPublisher: U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition & Energetics | Note: Supports M720A1 system description, M224/M224A1 compatibility, component list, range, rate of fire, weight, length, reliability, DODIC BA16/BA44 configurations, Day & Zimmermann-Kansas load/assemble/pack context, April 2006 material-release date, and production/deployment status. | Accessed: 2026-07-01ASSIST MIL-DTL-32469Publisher: Defense Logistics Agency ASSIST Quick Search | Note: Supports current specification-family context for M720A2, M768A1, and M888A1 60 mm HE insensitive-munition cartridges for M224 and M224A1 mortars. | Accessed: 2026-07-01IMEMTS CLIMEx PaperPublisher: Insensitive Munitions European Manufacturers Group | Note: Supports background on the CLIMEx IMX-104 effort and the 2011 fielding schedule for 60 mm M720A2, M768, and M888 mortar cartridges. | Accessed: 2026-07-01FY 2017 Iraq Train and Equip Fund Budget AmendmentPublisher: Office of the Secretary of Defense / Department of Defense | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct conflict use under Operation Inherent Resolve: Directly supports 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve conflict-use context by listing 31,104 M720A1 60 mm HE cartridges with multi-option fuzes as NATO-standard ammunition combat resupply for Iraqi Security Forces during the counter-ISIL campaign. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Mortar team with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines conducts range 10Publisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports image provenance for public-domain DVIDS photo ID 6400710, whose caption explicitly identifies a 60mm M720A1 mortar round being handed off during Marine Corps training. | Accessed: 2026-07-01M49A2 High Explosive 60 mm Mortar Round - Fort Devens Museum - DSC07151.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a public-domain 60 mm high-explosive mortar round image used as a representative cartridge image. | Accessed: 2026-07-01U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Ted W. Schroeder, right, with the Regional Corps Battle School, watches as an Afghan National Army mortarman fires a 60 mm high-explosive mortar round at a range near Camp Shorabak 130505-M-RO295-038.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a public-domain 60 mm high-explosive mortar round in use with the M224 system. | Accessed: 2026-07-01