hi guys,

after lots of pondering i have decided to make a american mortar pit using taimya gun and mortar kit and italeri 1/4 tonne utility truck does anybody have any pics or tips on how to make the base does it need to be dug in or just in the open

cheers luca

It all depends on the action that you want to depict. If they are in a hasty firing postion then they would not dig in,just stabilize the bipod and baseplate. If they have time,every good soldier will dig in as soon as possible as you never want to be a shrapnel magnet. The longer you stay,the more elaborate the position.
J

hi

i was planning a well dug in position i was just wondering would it be a a curved wall pit like artillery or a fox hole style pit with flat walls.

luca

Well,there you go,can't get any better than the original field manual drawings! They show the 60mm and 81mm mortar pits.
If you want to get even more into it you could show a seperate pit for the ammo as it was usually kept appart from the tube for obvious reasons.
J

hi

thanks for those pics there really useful.

im gonna start preparing for the build. ill post back when i start

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-PR-Japan/img/USA-PR-Japan-86.jpg

It is a Marine mortar team in action, but shows some of the setup.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-PR-Japan/img/USA-PR-Japan-119.2.jpg

4.2" mortar, in action in the Pacific. Ammo stockpiled close to the mortar.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-PR-Japan/img/USA-PR-Japan-138.jpg

Sand bags around a pit. I couldn't get any photos of a mortar pit in the ETO, but again, the setup should be similar.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-PR-Japan/img/USA-PR-Japan-425.2.jpg

Here's one from Italy.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YU7rmcyplNc/TaM_E_PFGcI/AAAAAAAAAEc/itWO_Wlal1w/s1600/african-americans-wwii-035.jpg

Hillside positions.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Rabaul/img/USA-P-Rabaul-p354.jpg


Another from Italy.

http://www.red-dragons.org/02%20B%20firing%20at%20Cassino%20shot%202.jpg

You may find a few more options by doing an online image search.

Luca,
If you are just starting out you might want to check out this topic;

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/188765&page=1

If you need any help or have any questions please feel free to ask. Love the mortar pit idea.

Shaun

hi shaun

ive been following your blog its great ive put it on hold as im missing a few parts but ill get started soon.

luca