TTPs for the 60mm mortar section

Infantry Magazine, May-June, 2004 by Jason E. Levy

In the first week of April 2003, Task Force Red Devil, comprised of the 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry (Airborne) and Delta Battery, 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery, conducted two artillery/mortar raids outside of the northern Iraqi city of Irbil. These missions were against an Iraqi Republican Guard Battalion supported by armor and artillery.

The mission was to destroy forward Iraqi observation posts, dug-in Iraqi positions, and to neutralize Iraqi armor and artillery pieces. The 60mm mortar primary targets were personnel and light-skinned vehicles near the observation posts. The battalion 120mm mortar section and two 105mm howitzers were tasked to neutralize the enemy armor and artillery. The mounted rifle companies were tasked to provide route security, security of the firing elements at the firing points, quick reaction force (QRF) duties, and to emplace accurate fires onto the enemy using their vehicle-mounted 50-caliber machine guns and Mk-19 grenade launchers.

The 60mm mortars from Alpha Company, 1-508th Infantry, were tasked to provide immediate indirect fire support onto known and suspected targets. Upon reaching their planned mortar firing point, the section immediately dismounted their HMMWV (high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle) and conducted an emergency occupation. The section immediately received a call for fire from their forward observers. Within 60 seconds of occupation, the section was placing accurate high explosive (HE) and white phosphorus (WP) rounds onto and in the vicinity of the Iraqi observations posts.

While conducting the fire mission, the Mk-19 and 50-caliber machine gunners opened fire in order to suppress Iraqis in the trench line and on a ridgeline to their front. The gunner's well-aimed suppressive fire enabled the mortar section to continue their mission.

The Iraqis responded with poorly aimed direct and indirect fires. The 105mm howitzers and 120mm mortars set up and were firing onto the artillery and tank positions. The 105mm howitzers fired more than 50 rounds from their two cannons in support of the operation. The 60mm mortar sections emplaced traversing fire onto the Iraqi trench line and observation posts. The Iraqis in one observation post attempted to flee but were fixed with white phosphorus fires. As they attempted to flee again, white phosphorus rounds impacted the vehicle and set it on fire. The section continued to fire a mix of high explosive and white phosphorus rounds into the objective area. The section fired more than 80 rounds in support of the mission. Upon receiving the order to displace and reorganize for the movement back to the battalion assembly area, the 105s, 120s and 60s quickly broke their systems down and moved out. The rifle companies continued to provide suppressive fire onto the objectives.

Upon reconsolidation of all elements, the task force moved back to the battalion assembly area. The total mission time for each raid was approximately 30 minutes.

The two raids were responsible for the neutralization of a Republican Guard Unit. Follow-on battle damage assessments reported that numerous fighting positions, equipment, and personnel were destroyed.

This raid was imperative because it validated the extensive and difficult training, leader development, standard operating procedures, and complete integration of light mortars in combat operations.

The focus of this article is to discuss the tactics, techniques, and procedures utilized by the 60mm mortar section in Bravo Company, 1-508th (ABN) during combat operations in Iraq, as well as to discuss tactics and techniques that will aid the light infantry company mortars in combat operations. This article will discuss training conducted prior to the deployment, SOP development, and lessons learned from combat operations.

Light mortar sections consist of two squads, each consisting of one mortar system and its three-man crew. In airborne, air assault, and light infantry rifle companies, the senior squad leader is the section leader. I feel this is completely inadequate for the 60mm mortar section. Recent detailed studies of an airborne infantry battalion in Afghanistan showed that the average approach load for a 60mm mortar section was in excess of 115 pounds. The average emergency approach load for the 60mm mortar section was in excess of 140 pounds. Soldiers were carrying over 90 percent of their body weight. A study at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in 1995 concluded that the average approach march load should kept at less than 30 percent of a Soldier's body weight.

The simple solution to this problem would be to increase the amount of Soldiers in the 60mm mortar section. The distribution of equipment and added mobility would greatly aid the section in conducting its combat mission. The battalion and company leadership in my unit was outstanding and extremely supportive of mortars. We were able to man each 60 section in battalion with nine Soldiers. This enabled each mortar team to have three Soldiers and an radio operator in addition to the section sergeant and squad leader. Some sections opted to carry an additional radio in order to monitor both company command and company fires nets. This added manpower enabled the sections to carry more ammo, move faster tactically, and conduct missions more efficiently. Mortar sections can cross train the company armorer, NBC NCO, and any other members of the headquarters platoon to fill the additional three slots. While I do not foresee the Department of the Army increasing our modified table of organization and equipment (MTOE), I highly encourage unit commanders to increase the number of Soldiers in their mortar sections. The added manpower will only increase the lethality of your mortars.