2001 War in Afghanistan

M888 60 mm High-Explosive Cartridge in the 2001 War in Afghanistan

M888 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridges are documented in Afghanistan through Afghan National Army ammunition-transfer records, with available sources supporting supply and fielding context rather than a named combat firing incident.

Weapon profileM888 60 mm high explosive cartridge
SideUnited States, NATO, and Afghan government forcesRoleTraining & Foreign Aid
M888 60 mm high explosive cartridge, 60 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, Munitions - 2001 War in Afghanistan
Image source: M888 High Explosive Mortar Round Image

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
M888 60 mm HE cartridges with M935 fuzes were listed in an Afghan National Army ammunition case implemented on April 25, 2013.

Sources: Small Arms Survey Afghanistan Arms Transfers Dataset

A later Afghan National Army ammunition line listed 46,000 60 millimeter high-explosive M888 cartridges on February 13, 2015.

Sources: Small Arms Survey Afghanistan Arms Transfers Dataset

Small Arms Survey's 2024 briefing lists M888 HE 60 mm mortar rounds among ammunition models exported to Afghanistan during 2002-2021.

Sources: Small Arms Survey Calculable Losses

The M888 is a 60 mm high-explosive cartridge for the M224/M224A1 mortar system, fitted with the M935 point-detonating fuze.

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

Afghan National Army soldiers were documented training and live-firing the M224 60 mm mortar system in January 2014, but the public article does not identify the specific ammunition model fired.

Sources: 10th Mountain Division M224 Training

Timeline

M888 60 mm high explosive cartridge In 2001 War in Afghanistan

  1. M224 mortars listed for the ANA

    Small Arms Survey's transfer data lists 902 M224 lightweight 60 mm mortars in an Afghan National Army 60 mm mortar case implemented on January 29, 2013.

    Sources: Small Arms Survey Afghanistan Arms Transfers Dataset

  2. M888 ammunition line implemented

    The dataset lists 45,088 60 mm HE M888 cartridges with M935 fuzes under an Afghan National Army 60 mm ammunition case implemented on April 25, 2013.

    Sources: Small Arms Survey Afghanistan Arms Transfers Dataset

  3. ANA 60 mm mortar live-fire training

    U.S. Army reporting describes 4th Brigade, 201st Afghan National Army Corps soldiers completing M224 60 mm mortar training and live fire at Forward Operating Base Gamberi; the report supports M224/60 mm mortar context but not an M888-specific firing identification.

    Sources: 10th Mountain Division M224 Training

  4. Second M888 line for the ANA

    Small Arms Survey's transfer data lists 46,000 60 millimeter high-explosive M888 cartridges under a February 13, 2015 Afghan National Army ammunition line.

    Sources: Small Arms Survey Afghanistan Arms Transfers Dataset

  5. Small Arms Survey publishes transfer briefing

    Small Arms Survey's Afghanistan briefing lists M888 high-explosive 60 mm mortar rounds among light-weapons ammunition exported to Afghanistan during 2002-2021.

    Sources: Small Arms Survey Calculable Losses

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The M888 appears in Afghanistan records as 60 mm high-explosive mortar ammunition for Afghan government forces during the 2001 War in Afghanistan. Small Arms Survey's Afghanistan arms-transfer data lists an Afghan National Army 60 mm ammunition case implemented on April 25, 2013, with 45,088 cartridges identified as 60 mm HE M888 rounds with M935 fuzes.

The same dataset also lists a February 13, 2015 Afghan National Army ammunition line for 46,000 60 millimeter high-explosive M888 cartridges. These entries document supply to the Afghan National Army; they do not identify a province, unit, target, or observed firing event for the M888 cartridge.

Sources: Small Arms Survey Afghanistan Arms Transfers Dataset

Timeline

The public record gives dated transfer and procurement milestones rather than a battlefield chronology. In January 2013, the Afghanistan transfer dataset records a separate Afghan National Army case for 902 M224 60 mm lightweight mortars, followed in April 2013 by the M888 ammunition line.

A later February 2015 ammunition line shows another M888 quantity for the Afghan National Army. Small Arms Survey's 2024 briefing places M888 high-explosive 60 mm rounds among light-weapons ammunition exported to Afghanistan across the wider 2002-2021 period.

Sources: Small Arms Survey Afghanistan Arms Transfers Dataset, Small Arms Survey Calculable Losses

Narrative

The M888 is a U.S. 60 mm high-explosive cartridge for the M224/M224A1 Lightweight Company Mortar System. The U.S. Army portfolio book describes it as a fragmentation-and-blast round against personnel and light materiel, using the M935 point-detonating fuze rather than the M720-series multi-option fuze.

In Afghanistan, the cartridge's sourced role is partner-force ammunition supply. U.S. Army reporting from Forward Operating Base Gamberi in January 2014 shows Afghan National Army soldiers training with the M224 60 mm mortar system and firing 60 mm mortar rounds, but that article does not identify the fired rounds as M888. The exact M888 evidence remains the Afghan National Army ammunition-transfer lines in the Small Arms Survey data.

Sources: Capability Program Executive - JPEO A&A Portfolio Book, 10th Mountain Division M224 Training, Small Arms Survey Afghanistan Arms Transfers Dataset

Related Weapons by Role

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.
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Sources