Munitions

M768 60 mm high-explosive cartridge

Also known as
  • M768
  • M768 60mm
  • M768 60 mm HE cartridge
  • Cartridge, 60 mm, HE, M768
  • M768 mortar cartridge

The M768 is a U.S. 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge produced by Day & Zimmermann for the M224-series mortar system. The available family datasheet distinguishes it from the M720A1 mainly by its M783 point-detonating fuze, while Afghanistan reporting documents M768/A1 HE rounds in export data and 22,480 M768 cartridges in Afghan National Army ammunition procurement records.

M768 60 mm high-explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, Munitions
Image source: 60mm Mortar Rounds Image

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge
Service note
Modern U.S. service

Specifications

Caliber
60 mm
Designed for
M224-series 60 mm Mortar System
Length
14.84 in
Weight
3.65 lb
Range
3,400 m
Fuze
M783 point-detonating fuze
Fill
IMX-104 in the Day & Zimmermann datasheet and CLIMEx IMX-104 fielding schedule
Target set
Personnel, bunker, and light materiel targets
Specification family
MIL-DTL-32469 covers M720A2, M768A1, and M888A1 60 mm HE IM cartridges for M224 and M224A1 mortars
Variants

The M768 belongs to a U.S. M224-compatible 60 mm high-explosive mortar-cartridge family where available sources distinguish rounds mainly by fuze and insensitive-munition configuration.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
M720A1 60 mm high explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, MunitionsM720A1 60 mm high explosive cartridgeM734A1 multi-option-fuzed HE cartridge

Day & Zimmermann describes the M768 as identical to the M720A1 except for fuzing; the M720A1 uses the M734A1 multi-option fuze while the M768 uses the M783 point-detonating fuze.

Sources: M720A1 / M720A2 / M768

M720A2Insensitive-munition HE cartridge

Day & Zimmermann lists the M720A2 in the same 60 mm HE cartridge datasheet, and an IMEMTS paper places M720A2 in the same IMX-104 update effort as M768 and M888.

Sources: M720A1 / M720A2 / M768, IMEMTS CLIMEx Paper

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 cartridgeRelated 60 mm HE cartridge

The IMEMTS CLIMEx paper lists the M888 with the M720A2 and M768 in the IMX-104 fielding schedule for 60 mm mortar cartridges.

Sources: IMEMTS CLIMEx Paper

Firing Weapons

The M768 is documented as a 60 mm high-explosive cartridge for the M224-series mortar system.

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

The Day & Zimmermann datasheet says the M720A1/M720A2/M768 high-explosive cartridge family is designed for M224-series 60 mm mortars, and ASSIST identifies the current M768A1 specification family for M224 and M224A1 mortars.

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

60 mm HE Cartridge Context

The M768 sits in a U.S. 60 mm high-explosive mortar-cartridge set where launcher compatibility is shared across the M224 family and the main published distinctions are fuze and insensitive-munition configuration.

CartridgeConfigurationSource-backed distinction
M720A1 60 mm high explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, MunitionsM720A1HE cartridge with M734A1 multi-option fuzeDay & Zimmermann describes M768 as otherwise identical to M720A1 but fitted with the M783 point-detonating fuze instead of the M734A1.
M720A2Insensitive-munition HE cartridgeThe same family datasheet lists M720A2 alongside M720A1 and M768, while the CLIMEx paper places M720A2 in the IMX-104 60 mm update schedule.
M768A1Current detail-specification variantASSIST 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, MunitionsM888Related 60 mm HE cartridgeThe CLIMEx paper lists M888 with M768 and M720A2 in the IMX-104 fielding schedule for 60 mm mortar cartridges.
Timeline

M768 60 mm high-explosive cartridge Key Events

  1. IMX-104 update effort begins

    An IMEMTS paper lists the 60 mm M768 mortar cartridge in a CLIMEx IMX-104 effort with a 2007 project start and a 2011 engineering-change date.

    Sources: IMEMTS CLIMEx Paper

  2. SIGAR reports Afghan National Army procurement

    SIGAR's January 2020 quarterly report lists 22,480 M768 60 mm mortar cartridges under Afghan National Army ammunition procurement.

    Sources: SIGAR Quarterly Report January 2020

  3. Afghanistan export dataset identifies M768/A1

    Small Arms Survey's Afghanistan briefing lists M768/A1 HE 60 mm mortar rounds among light-weapons ammunition exported to Afghanistan during 2002-2021.

    Sources: Small Arms Survey Calculable Losses

Media

M768 60 mm high-explosive cartridge Images

M768 60 mm high-explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, Munitions - view 1
Source: M224 60mm Mortar Image
M768 60 mm high-explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, Munitions - view 2
Source: Soldier Firing M224 60mm Mortar Image
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.
M789 high-explosive dual-purpose round, 30 mm high-explosive dual-purpose cartridge, MunitionsMunitionsM789 high-explosive dual-purpose round30 mm high-explosive dual-purpose cartridgeThe M789 is a U.S. 30x113 mm high-explosive dual-purpose cartridge for the Apache helicopter's M230/AV-30 chain gun and SOCOM MH-60 Black Hawk gunship use. Army budget documents identify it as the Apache M230's qualified combat cartridge, with a shaped-charge liner for light-armor defeat and a steel projectile body for anti-personnel effects. The Army tied M789 replenishment to Operation Freedom's Sentinel combat expenditures in Afghanistan and later used the legacy cartridge as the baseline for Apache counter-UAS and proximity-ammunition testing.

Sources

Mortar Ammunition - Army.milPublisher: U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition & Energetics | Note: Supports the Army mortar ammunition family context and the listing of 60 mm mortar ammunition, including the M720A1, M722A1, and M768. | Accessed: 2026-06-29M720A1 / M720A2 / M768Publisher: Day & Zimmermann | Note: Supports background, manufacturer context, and technical data for the M720A1/M720A2/M768 60 mm cartridge family, including M224-series compatibility, the target set, the M783-fuzed M768 configuration, length, weight, fill, and range. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Small Arms Survey Calculable LossesPublisher: Small Arms Survey | Note: Directly supports 2001 War in Afghanistan supply context by listing M768/A1 HE 60 mm mortar rounds among light-weapons ammunition exported to Afghanistan during 2002-2021. | Accessed: 2026-06-29SIGAR Quarterly Report January 2020Publisher: Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction | Note: Directly supports 2001 War in Afghanistan supply context by listing 22,480 M768 Mortar Cartridge (60 mm) rounds under Afghan National Army ammunition procurement. | Accessed: 2026-06-29ASSIST 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 the M224 and M224A1 mortars. | Accessed: 2026-06-29IMEMTS CLIMEx PaperPublisher: Insensitive Munitions European Manufacturers Group | Note: Supports background on the CLIMEx IMX-104 effort, including the 60 mm M768 mortar cartridge's 2007 project start, 2011 engineering-change date, and relationship to M720A2 and M888 IMX-104 updates. | Accessed: 2026-06-2960mm Mortar Rounds ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the primary 60 mm mortar-round gallery image used on the M768 page. | Accessed: 2026-06-29M224 60mm Mortar ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a representative 60 mm mortar image shown in the M768 gallery. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Soldier Firing M224 60mm Mortar ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a representative 60 mm mortar firing image shown in the M768 gallery. | Accessed: 2026-06-29