Munitions

M721 60 mm visible light illumination cartridge

Also known as
  • M721 Visible Light
  • M721 60 mm illuminating cartridge
  • 60mm Illum M721
  • CTG 60mm Illum M721
  • Cartridge 60mm Illum M721 with fuze M776

The 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.

M721 60 mm visible light illumination cartridge, 60 mm visible-light illuminating mortar cartridge, Munitions
Image source: M721 60mm Illuminating Mortar Cartridge

Role in Conflicts

2013 War in Iraq
Role in conflict
Train-and-equip mortar illumination ammunition

The FY 2017 Iraq Train and Equip Fund amended request listed 3,600 60 mm Illum M721 cartridges among NATO-standard ammunition resupply for Iraqi partner-force support during the counter-ISIS campaign; the budget document does not document battlefield firing.

Documented Transfer Context

Public conflict-specific evidence for this cartridge consists of transfer and procurement documentation, not imagery of the round being fired in combat. Those records support partner-force supply context while leaving battlefield expenditure unconfirmed.

Conflict contextDocumented recordReader caveat
2001 War in AfghanistanSmall Arms Survey data lists M721 60 mm illumination cartridges with M776 fuzes in Afghan National Army ammunition lines.Documents supply accounting, not a named firing incident.
2013 War in IraqThe FY 2017 Iraq Train and Equip Fund amended request lists 3,600 60 mm Illum M721 cartridges for Iraqi partner-force support.Documents procurement requirements during the counter-ISIS campaign, not confirmed battlefield expenditure.
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
60 mm visible-light illuminating mortar cartridge
Service note
1987 to present; production and deployment item since June 2001
Unit cost
$215 per round requested in FY 2017 Iraq Train and Equip Fund budget material
Produced
June 2001

Specifications

Caliber
60 mm
Cartridge type
Visible-light illumination mortar cartridge
Fuze
M776 Mechanical Time Super Quick (MTSQ)
Weight
3.79 lb (1.7 kg)
Length
16.81 in
Light output
300,000 candlepower
Burn time
32 seconds
Minimum range
200 m
Maximum range
3,200 m
Rate of fire
30 rounds/minute maximum; 20 rounds/minute sustained
Reliability
95% at 90% confidence level
Compatible system
M224/M224A1 Lightweight Company Mortar System
Variants

The M721 is the visible-light member of the U.S. 60 mm illumination cartridge set for M224-series mortars; Army portfolio material describes the M767 as the infrared counterpart, and FAS identifies XM767 as a material change to the M721.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
M76760 mm infrared illumination cartridge

The Army portfolio book describes the M767 as ballistically similar to the M721 but using infrared illumination for night-vision-device observation with minimal visible light.

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

XM767Material-change designation

FAS identifies the XM767 as a material change to the M721 illuminating cartridge.

Sources: M721 60mm Illuminating Mortar Cartridge

Compatible Mortar Systems

The M721 is a visible-light illumination cartridge designed for the M224/M224A1 lightweight company mortar system.

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

The Army portfolio book lists the M721 Visible Light cartridge for use with the M224/M224A1 Lightweight Company Mortar System in light infantry battalions.

Sources: Capability Program Executive - JPEO A&A Portfolio Book, Mortar Ammunition

Timeline

M721 60 mm visible light illumination cartridge Key Events

  1. Type classified standard

    FAS identifies September 1987 as the M721's type-classification date for the U.S. 60 mm illuminating mortar cartridge.

    Sources: M721 60mm Illuminating Mortar Cartridge

  2. Production and deployment item

    The Army portfolio book identifies June 2001 as the M721 visible-light cartridge's production and deployment date.

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

  3. Afghan National Army ammunition line

    Small Arms Survey transfer data lists M721 60 mm illumination cartridges with M776 fuzes in Afghan National Army ammunition records, documenting partner-force supply rather than a named firing incident.

    Sources: Small Arms Survey Afghanistan Arms Transfers Dataset

  4. Iraq Train and Equip request

    The FY 2017 Iraq Train and Equip Fund amended request included 3,600 M721 illumination cartridges among NATO-standard ammunition resupply items for Iraqi partner-force support.

    Sources: FY 2017 Iraq Train and Equip Fund Amended Request

Media

M721 60 mm visible light illumination cartridge Images

M721 60 mm visible light illumination cartridge, 60 mm visible-light illuminating mortar cartridge, Munitions - view 1
Source: US Navy 040520-N-3750S-010 Illumination rounds silhouette ...
M721 60 mm visible light illumination cartridge, 60 mm visible-light illuminating mortar cartridge, Munitions - view 2
Source: Illuminating the night 160725-A-JW984-398
Related Weapon Systems
120 mm illumination ammunition, 120 mm illuminating ammunition, MunitionsMunitions120 mm illumination ammunition120 mm illuminating ammunition120 mm illumination ammunition is a heavy mortar munition class that ejects a parachute-retarded candle to light target areas for night observation, signaling, and fire adjustment. Nammo publishes a representative 120 mm illuminating round with time-fuze deployment at 500-700 meters, while U.S. Army sources identify visible-light M930 and infrared M983 cartridges for the M120A1 and M121 mortar systems. In the 2001 War in Afghanistan, U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest fired 120 mm mortar illumination rounds from Bost Airfield to support Afghan government forces during combat operations in Helmand Province.
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.
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

M721 60mm Illuminating Mortar CartridgePublisher: FAS | Note: Supports the M721 identifying label, September 1987 type-classification date, contractor context, image provenance, and published performance data for the visible-light illuminating mortar cartridge. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Capability Program Executive - JPEO A&A Portfolio BookPublisher: U.S. Army CPEAE | Note: Supports the M721 Visible Light cartridge's M224/M224A1 compatibility, production and deployment date, component breakdown, performance data, M767 infrared-cartridge comparison, and Army ammunition portfolio context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Mortar AmmunitionPublisher: U.S. Army CPEAE | Note: Supports the Army mortar ammunition family context and the 60 mm M721 visible-light illumination round listing. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Small Arms Survey Afghanistan Arms Transfers DatasetPublisher: Small Arms Survey | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct transfer context by listing M721 60 mm illumination cartridges with M776 fuzes in Afghan National Army ammunition records; this documents supply to Afghan government forces rather than a specific firing incident. | Accessed: 2026-06-29FY 2017 Iraq Train and Equip Fund Amended RequestPublisher: U.S. Army Financial Management & Comptroller | Note: Supports 2013 War in Iraq transfer/procurement context and unit-cost context by listing 3,600 60 mm Illum M721 cartridges in the Iraq Train and Equip Fund request for Iraqi partner forces. | Accessed: 2026-06-29US Navy 040520-N-3750S-010 Illumination rounds silhouette ...Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a public-domain photo showing illumination rounds with an M224 60 mm mortar. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Illuminating the night 160725-A-JW984-398Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a public-domain U.S. Army photo showing illumination ammunition in mortar night-fire training. | Accessed: 2026-06-29