M1129 Mortar Carrier

Infobox Weapon
name=M1129 Mortar Carrier


origin=flag|United States
type=
is_vehicle=yes
crew=5
length=6.95 m (22.92 ft)
width=2.72 m (8.97 ft)
height=2.64 m (8.72 ft)
weight=ICV: 16.47 t (18.12 sh tn)
armour=Protection against 14.5mm
primary_armament=120mm or 81mm mortar
secondary_armament=M240 7.62 mm MG, 81mm or 60mm mortar
engine=diesel
engine_power=260 kW (350 hp)
suspension=8×8 wheeled
speed=100 km/h (62 mph)
pw_ratio=ICV: 15.8 kW/t (19.3 hp/sh tn)
vehicle_range=500 km (300 mi)

The M1129 Mortar Carrier, is a 8×8 wheeled armoured mortar carrier based on the Stryker combat vehicle, and produced by the American defence company General Dynamics. It is in use with the United States Army.

Description

The M1129 Mortar Carrier, also known as MCV-B (Mortar Carrier Vehicle version B), is based on the Stryker infantry carrier vehicle, which is itself a descendant of the Swiss Mowag Piranha III.

The precursor of the M1129, the MCV-A, carried a mortar that could only be used dismounted, whereas the M1129 is fully capable of firing it's weapon from the mounted position within the vehicle.

The M1129 is used in the US Army Stryker Brigade Combat Teams, where it is part of each Brigade's Field Artillery Regiment. The vehicles are either organically subordinated to battalion level or company level. The battalion level vehicles are armed with the 120 mm M121 mortar system, which is the vehicle mounted version of the M120 mortar. Additionally, they carry the 81mm M252 mortar that can only be used dismounted. The company level vehicles against that carry a vehicle-mounted 81mm mortar, which is augmented by the 60mm M224 mortar for dismounted use. Each Stryker infantry battalion thus has a total number of 10 mortar carriers, of which 4 are equipped with the 120mm system as the vehicle mounted primary armament, and 6 with the 81mm system."Pocket Artillery" by Ian Kemp, in Armada International, Apr 2006. [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Pocket+artillery.(Infantry:+mortars)-a0146354592] ]

The first M1129 vehicles were put into service in August 2005 with the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division. ["Latest Stryker Variant arrives for duty" by J.C. Matthews, in Army Times, Aug 2005. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2005/08/mil-050815-arnews03.htm] ]

A total of 241 vehicles has been ordered and delivered.

Gallery

See also

* Dragon Fire - a similar project by the US Marines, also known as "Expeditionary Fire Support System" (EFSS).
* M1064 mortar - in use with the Army, based on the M113 tracked vehicle.

References

External links

* [http://www.army-technology.com/projects/stryker/ The Stryker family at army-technology.com]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/iav-mc.htm The M1129 at globalsecurity.org]
*YouTube|9JwQBQL4sGY|Stryker family of vehicles