These are light 120mm mortars designed by Israel and used by that country and Iran, South Africa, and the US Army. (Iranian spies stole the plans from Israel.) The K-5 and K-6 are light enough to be moved by a vehicle such as a jeep, an animal, or even man-packed for short distances. The K-5 and K-6 have light carriages for transport, but apart from the weight, are conventional in design. They are strong enough to be parachuted. The K-5 is the standard version, and the K-6 is long-range version with extended barrel.
The barrel is made of high quality alloyed steel tube with a honed interior, screwed to breech piece. The breech piece holds the fixed firing pin. To ensure safety while dealing with a misfire, there is a
safety catching which, when rotated, draws the pin back into the interior of the breech piece.
The lower end of the breech piece is shaped into a ball, which enters a socket in the baseplate. The K6 model incorporates reinforced barrel. The manufacturer quotes this barrel as being the one to use with long-range M57 ammunition and it is this barrel which gives a maximum range of 7,200 m.
The bipod is of orthodox pattern with spread legs. The distance between legs is controlled by an adjustale chain. Passing up through the bipod is the traversing, elevating and cross leveling gears.
Two recoil cylinders are interposed between the barrel collar and the aiming gears,to isolate them from the firing shocks and vibrations.Aiming gears are sealed and protected against corrosion. The traversing handwheel is on the right and the sight mounting on the left. The baseplate is a triangle shaped welded steel dish, which has a socket at the center to take the breech piece. The Mortar can traverse through 360° without shifting the baseplate. The ribs welded to the underside of the plate preventthe baseplate from slipping sideways.
The carriage is a lightweight two-wheeled vehicle with a torsion-bar suspension. It enables the Mortar to be towed behind any vehicle with a towing hook of the right height and size, as well as being pulled by troops or air lifted. In some roles the carriage is not used and the Mortar is brought into action without it. The K 5, K 6 Mortars are brought in and out of action by 4 crewmembers in 1 minute. |
