Introduction

During WW2 the need for portable mortars increased in a big way. Not only did ground troops need a portable weapon, but tanks, armoured cars and armoured vehicles like the Universal Carrier also need mortar protection especially in the form of smoke cover.
I have previously reviewed the Infantry weapon here:
Infantry Weapon Review
and the Infantry Mortar Team here:
Infantry Mortar Team Review

This is a brief review of the Resicast Accessories kit 35.297 outlining the weapon as used on armoured vehicles. Smoke screens for armoured vehicles were provided by two inch and four inch bomb throwers that were attached to the vehicles. Many British vehicles were thus kitted out. Pictures of these weapons can be seen on many tanks and carriers fixed in a variety of locations, both internally and externally. Resicast have had available for some time a neat set of both early and late pattern bomb throwers that will add that little extra detail to you vehicles and save you the effort of cutting up the hard to come by Short Magazine Lee Enfield, that provided the firing mechanism.

The Set

Cast in a light cream resin the set comes in the standard Resicast zip bag. The insert sheet contains three good colour pictures of the three types of weapons. Inside you receive a selection of weapons, two of each type. These are both early and late configuration and are contained in two further separate zip bags. The casting is excellent and I could see no flaws in this process. The barrels of the mortars have been cast as drilled out. The parts fit together easily and should only need the addition of some wiring leading to the vehicle firing point. Consult you references as necessary the four inch bomb thrower was mounted both as a single unit as seen on some Universal carriers and as a double unit as seen on Sherman and other armoured vehicles.

Bag 1

The first bag contains two sets of of early four inch bomb throwers complete with mounting brackets and firing handles. The first bag also contains two turret mounted two inch mortars with their complete with mounting brackets.

Bag 2

The second bag contains two sets of late pattern four inch bomb throwers complete with mounting brackets and firing handles.

Conclusion

A very simple and useful set of accessories for both tanks and armoured vehicles. The castings are excellent and the range of early and late bomb throwers should prove extremely useful for Commonwealth armour builders. The turret mounted 2” mortars are a real plus.