Artillery

M933-series mortar projectile

Also known as
  • M933
  • M933 HE
  • M933A1
  • M933A1 HE
  • 120mm M933A1
  • 120 mm M933A1
  • Cartridge, 120mm: High Explosive (HE), M933A1
  • DODIC CZ20

The M933-series mortar projectile is a U.S. 120 mm high-explosive mortar cartridge family centered on the M933A1, a Comp B-filled round for M120/M121 mortar systems using the M783 point-detonating/delay fuze. Public records document production by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems and Day & Zimmermann, Ukrainian battlefield use, and U.S. transfer notifications for Israel and Saudi Arabia.

M933-series mortar projectile, 120mm high-explosive mortar cartridge, Artillery
Image source: Wikimedia Commons 120mm mortar shell

Role in Conflicts

Design Notes

The M933A1 is the documented A1 high-explosive member of the M933-series 120 mm mortar cartridge family. Manufacturer sheets also compare it with the adjacent M934A1 HE cartridge, which uses a multi-option fuze instead of the M933A1's M783 fuze.

TopicDocumented detail
M933A1 fuzingM783 point detonating / delay fuze.
Adjacent M934A1 distinctionDay & Zimmermann lists the M934A1 with an M734A1 multi-option fuze while retaining the same caliber, length, fill, and range class.
PropulsionM1020 ignition cartridge plus four M234 propelling charges.
FillComposition B explosive fill in a steel projectile body.
IdentificationGDOTS lists DODIC CZ20 for the M933A1 cartridge.
Effectiveness claimGDOTS says the round is about 50% more lethal than the 4.2-inch M329A2 HE round.

Sources: 120MM M933A1 HE; Day & Zimmermann M933A1 M934A1 product sheet; PEO Ammunition 2017 Portfolio Book.

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Caliber
120 mm
Projectile class
High-explosive mortar cartridge
Range
200 m minimum to 7,200 m maximum
Weight
30.2 lb in the GDOTS sheet; Day & Zimmermann lists 31.2 lb for its M933A1/M934A1 line
Length
27.99 in
Fuze
M783 point detonating/delay fuze
Fill
Composition B
Propellant
M1020 ignition cartridge plus four M234 propelling charges
DODIC
CZ20
Compatibility
M120A1 towed and M121 carrier-mounted 120 mm mortar systems
Target set
Personnel, bunker, and light materiel targets
Firing Weapons

Army, Marine Corps, GDOTS, and Day & Zimmermann materials place the M933-series round in the M120 and M121 120 mm mortar-system family.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
120 mm mortar, Heavy mortar, Artillery120 mm mortar120 mm mortar system

The Army mortar ammunition page lists 120 mm HE mortar ammunition, Marine Corps doctrine says M933 HE cartridges are authorized for the M120 and M121, and manufacturer sheets identify the M933A1 as designed for those 120 mm systems.

Sources: Mortar Ammunition, FM 23-90 W CH 1 MORTARS, 120MM M933A1 HE, Day & Zimmermann M933A1 M934A1 product sheet

Timeline

M933-series mortar projectile Key Events

  1. Materiel release date listed

    The Army portfolio book lists the M933A1's materiel release date as July 2008 and places it in production and deployment for M120A1 and M121 mortar systems.

    Sources: PEO Ammunition 2017 Portfolio Book

  2. GDOTS brochure approved for public release

    General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems' M933A1 brochure was approved for public release on 2017-01-26.

    Sources: 120MM M933A1 HE

  3. Saudi export disapproval resolution passed Senate

    The Senate passed S.J.Res.45, which identified a proposed export of 15,000 M933A1 120 mm mortar bombs to Saudi Arabia for Royal Land Forces end use.

    Sources: GovInfo S.J.Res.45 M933A1 Saudi transfer

  4. Ukrainian use reported

    Militarnyi reported Ukrainian use of U.S.-made M933A1 120 mm mortar rounds with M783 fuzes.

    Sources: Militarnyi M783 fuzes with M933A1

  5. Foreign Military Sale notified

    DSCA notified Congress of a sale of 50,400 M933A1 mortar cartridges to Israel, with deliveries estimated to begin in 2026.

    Sources: DSCA Israel M933A1 mortar cartridges notification

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.
Composition B, RDX/TNT melt-cast explosive filler, MunitionsMunitionsComposition BRDX/TNT melt-cast explosive fillerComposition B is a castable RDX/TNT military explosive mixture used as a high-explosive filler rather than as a standalone weapon. U.S. Army technical material describes a British formula transferred to the United States in 1940, then documents melt-cast processing, grade distinctions, density, and detonation data. Cataloged munitions such as the M107 projectile, M933A1 mortar cartridge, M888 mortar cartridge, M106 projectile, and 76mm HE-T M330 show how the filler appears inside shells, mortar rounds, and fixed ammunition.

Sources

Mortar AmmunitionPublisher: U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition & Energetics | Note: Supports the Army mortar ammunition page listing 120 mm HE mortar ammunition used with the M120 and M121 mortar systems. | Accessed: 2026-06-23FM 23-90 W CH 1 MORTARSPublisher: U.S. Marine Corps | Note: Supports Marine Corps doctrine stating that the M933 HE and M934 HE cartridges are authorized for the M120 towed 120-mm mortar and the M121 carrier-mounted 120-mm mortar. | Accessed: 2026-06-23Procurement of Ammunition, Army FY 2022Publisher: Department of the Army | Note: Supports the FY 2022 Army procurement line for 35,434 M933A1 cartridges at $29.366 million. | Accessed: 2026-06-26120MM M933A1 HEPublisher: General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems | Note: Supports manufacturer background and the M933A1 cartridge's configuration, range, weight, DODIC CZ20 listing, fill, M783 fuze, M1020 ignition cartridge, M234 propelling charges, M120/M121 compatibility, training and combat use, and public release date of 2017-01-26. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Day & Zimmermann M933A1 M934A1 product sheetPublisher: Day & Zimmermann | Note: Supports Day & Zimmermann production of M933A1 and M934A1 120 mm HE mortar cartridges, M120/M121 compatibility, target set, Comp B fill, M933A1 M783 fuzing, M934A1 M734A1 fuzing, range, length, and listed weight. | Accessed: 2026-07-01PEO Ammunition 2017 Portfolio BookPublisher: U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition & Energetics | Note: Supports the M933A1's materiel release date of July 2008, production-and-deployment context, M120A1 and M121 compatibility, and target-set context for personnel, bunker, and light materiel targets. | Accessed: 2026-06-26DSCA Israel M933A1 mortar cartridges notificationPublisher: Defense Security Cooperation Agency | Note: 2023 Israel-Hamas War transfer context: the U.S. notified a sale to Israel of 50,400 M933A1 mortar cartridges on 13 August 2024, with deliveries estimated to begin in 2026. | Accessed: 2026-06-26Militarnyi M783 fuzes with M933A1Publisher: Militarnyi | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct-use context: reports Ukrainian forces using U.S.-made M933A1 120 mm mortar rounds with M783 fuzes. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Sappers Basic Identification of Ammunition in Ukraine v9Publisher: Sappers / Bomb Techs Without Borders | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War identification context: the 2025 Basic Identification of Ammunition in Ukraine guide includes the 120 mm M933A1 in its mortar-projectile section. | Accessed: 2026-07-01GovInfo S.J.Res.45 M933A1 Saudi transferPublisher: U.S. Government Publishing Office | Note: Supports the 2019 Senate joint resolution text identifying a proposed export of 15,000 M933A1 120 mm mortar bombs to Saudi Arabia for Royal Land Forces end use. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Security Assistance Monitor Saudi UAE Yemen sales factsheetPublisher: Security Assistance Monitor / Center for International Policy | Note: 2014 Yemen Civil War transfer context: groups the M933A1 mortar-bomb sale to Saudi Arabia with expedited U.S. arms transfers to Saudi Arabia and the UAE amid the Yemen campaign. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Wikimedia Commons 120mm mortar shellPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: CC BY 2.0 illustrative image of a generic 120 mm mortar shell used as the primary image because no open-license M933A1-specific product image was identified. | Accessed: 2026-07-01