PM-38 Mortar

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Soviet 120-mm regimental mortar M1938 on wheeled carriage

120mm M1938 Regimental Mortar (known also as PM-38 and 120-PM-38, the index "PM" means "polkovoy minomyot" - the mortar for regimental service) is a Soviet mortar, designed by B.I.Shavyrin design bureau and accepted into service in February 1939. A simplified version was created in 1941 (120-PM-41, M1941), and an improved version - in 1943 (120-PM-43, M1943). Nazi Germany produced a nearly direct copy of PM-38 as 12cm Granatwerfer 42; captured Soviet mortars were also issued into service by Finnish and Romanian armies. In post-WW2 era M1943 mortar was used by Soviet Army and widely supplied abroad.

Specifications

(1939 - 1943 (M1938), 1943 - ???? (M1943))

Type: Heavy mortar

Calibre: 120 mm (4.72 in)

Weight: 282 kg (621.7 lb) (on position), 557 kg (1228 lb) (on two-wheeled limber)

Barrel length: 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)

Rate of fire: 15 rpm

Muzzle velocity: 272 m/s (890 ft/s)

Maximum range: 5,700 m (6,233 yd)

Shell: 16 kg (35 lb)

The M1938 and M1943 Mortar and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Notation	Date
The Last Hill (Malakhov kurgan)		Soviet troops		1944
Retribution (Vozmezdie)		Soviet troops		1967
The Shield and the Sword (Shchit i mech)		Soviet troops		1968
Fit for Non-Combatant Duty (Goden k nestroevoy)		Soviet soldiers		1968
Steal the Sky		Iraqi troops	Probably M1943	1988
Cargo 300 (Gruz 300)		Afghan mujaheddins	M1943	1989

Television

Title	Actor	Character	Notation	Date
Omega Option (Variant "Omega")		Soviet soldiers	Seen in documentary footage; early M1938	1975

Video Game

Game Title	Appears as	Note	Release Date
Forgotten Hope 2		PM-43	2007
Company of Heroes 2		Incorrectly called HM-38	2013