FMC/Rheimetall M-113G
Mortar Carrier (PzMrs)
Notes:
This design is in many ways similar to the current US heavy mortar carrier;
however, the Germans have been using their license-produced M-113Gs as a basis
for a Tampella mortar carrier since the late-1960s.
Like virtually all German Army mortars, the M-113G Mortar Carrier series
mounts a 120mm mortar; it is a point of controversy both in the German military
and outside of it as to why the German Army does not feel the need to use any
light mortars. As with US
M-113-based mortar carriers, the exterior is largely the same, but the rear
area, what is normally the passenger area, is heavily-modified for its role as a
mortar carrier. This includes an
extra long-range radio, racks for ammunition for the mortar, and the baseplate
and bipod as well as special mounting features for the mortar.
Unlike similar US mortar carriers, the M-113G Mortar Carrier does not
carry a baseplate on the side of the vehicle, as the mortar is not meant to be
dismounted except for repairs. The
Germans are currently looking for a replacement for the M-113G mortar carrier,
including versions of the Puma AFV and Boxer ACV.
Like the M-113,
there have been several versions of the M-113G mortar carrier over the years.
The Germans use the abbreviation for their word for armored mortar, PzMrs
(Panzermörser) as part of the designation for their mortar carriers, including
those based on the M-113. The first
were the M-113G PzMrs, which were modified from M-113G infantry carriers, when
they were replaced by the M-113A1G. The M-113G PzMrs was used from 1969-1973,
when the infantry got new M-113A2Gs and the old M-113A1Gs were modified into
M-113A1G PzMrs. (The old mortar carriers were then scrapped for parts of used as
range targets – always a sad end in my mind.)
The M-113A1G Mortar Carriers were used only from 1977-78, when, like the
infantry and specialist carriers were upgraded to the M-113A2GE standard.
In 2001, the mortar vehicles, along with the rest of the German
M-113-based fleet, were subject to an NDV (the German acronym for a SLEP), with
included an upgrade to a M-113A3GE base; this was not a simple upgrade to the
M-113A3GE, but included a number of improvements.
The M-113A1G was
Germany’s first update for their M-113 fleet.
The M-113A1G Mortar Carrier updates entered service in 1977, but only
stayed in service until 1978, as the M-113A2G mortar carrier quickly followed
it. The upgrade generally followed those of the M-113A1 in the US, such as the
use of a General Motors 6V53 unitary powerpack and a matching transmission.
The new engine developed 212 horsepower, but was a diesel engine that
greatly increased the M-113A1G Mortar Carrier’s operating range.
The M-113A1G did not have the transmission problems of the M-113A1 in the
US, as they were sorted out before the M-113A1G upgrade occurred.
Like the M-113A1G had the larger fuel tanks, but also had the hazard of
the fuel tanks in the walls of the vehicle.
The M-113A1G had the battery warmer.
However, the Tampella-made mortar was replaced by a Rheinmetall-based
mortar of about the same capabilities, but greater strength and reliability, and
able to fire more modern projectiles.
At this point
(in the early to late-1990s), upgrading of the M-113A1G PzMrs sort of -- forked.
The M-113A2GE is used not only by the German Army, but also by the Danish
Army starting in 2002; the Danes used the M-113A2GE plans and upgrade kits to do
a licensed upgrade for their M-113A1 mortar carriers.
Australia and Norway have also shown interest in the upgrade.
The major part of the upgrade package for the M-113A2GE PzMrs is the
drive train, including driver’s controls.
The new engine is an MTU 6V 183 TCU supercharged diesel developing 300
horsepower. The new powerpack meets
EURO II emission standards (and has the secondary effect of reducing the
characteristic M-113 exhaust plume). The engine is coupled to a ZF LSG 1000
automatic transmission. This is
controlled in the driver’s compartment, who has a small steering wheels and
pedals for braking and gas. The
driver also has a parking brake, and an electric gearshift control. The driver’s
seat back has been moved back and the padding improved; the seat back can still
be removed to allow the driver to go into the crew compartment. The brakes have
also been replaced; it has a dual-circuit power-assisted system with hydraulic
boosting. The brake system is
independent of the drive train; even if the M-113A2GE PzMrs loses all power for
any reason, the driver can still brake with full force if necessary.
The pivot steer system has been improved to keep the tracks from shedding
in a pivot turn and allow for a rapid turn around its center of gravity.
Also with the M-113A2GE came a mortar ballistic computer, which allows
the crew to compute fire coordinates if the position of the target is known, and
new radios which are smaller but can work over longer ranges; this allowed a
second long-range radio to be installed.
Meanwhile,
another version of the M-113 mortar carrier began deliveries to the German Army
– the M-113G3 PzMrs. It too has
been taken into service by the Danish Army. It has much of the improvements of
the M-113A2GE PzMrs, but also several differences.
The M-113G3 uses the MTU 6V183 TC 22 supercharged diesel engine, which
develops 335 horsepower and is a variant of a commercial truck engine, the
Mercedes-Benz OM 441 LA. The
transmission is also a ZF LSG 1000, the radios and mortar ballistic computer are
also present. Instead of an MG-3
machinegun for the commander, the M-113G3 PzMrs gives the commander an M-2HB
machinegun. Cross-country
performance is improved due to modification of the standard M-113 suspension.
New tracks are installed which have a much longer life than the standard
M-113 tracks. The M-113G3 can be easily distinguished from its brethren by
noting it’s rear-mounted fuel tanks, one on each side of the rear of the vehicle
at the rear on either side of the ramp.
The M-113G3 PzMrs will probably be the version of the M-113 PzMrs that
will be accepted for the German Army, in favor of the M-113A2GE.
Twilight 2000
Notes: The M-113A2G PzMrs and the M-113G3 PzMrs are present in the Twilight 2000
timeline, but they are few in number (with the M-113G3 PzMrs fewer in number
than the M-113A2G). The primary
version in service with the Germans and Danish in the Twilight 2000 timeline is
M-113A2G PzMrs.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M-113G PzMrs |
$223,174 |
G, A |
838 kg |
11.6 tons |
5 |
10 |
Passive IR (D) |
Shielded |
M-113A1G PzMrs |
$204,374 |
D, A |
850 kg |
12.1 tons |
5 |
10 |
Passive IR (D) |
Shielded |
M-113A2GE PzMrs |
$266,314 |
D, A |
813 kg |
12.5 tons |
5 |
11 |
Passive IR (D) |
Shielded |
M-113G3 PzMrs |
$296,233 |
D, A |
836 kg |
12.5 tons |
5 |
11 |
Passive IR (D) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
M-113G PzMrs |
151/105 |
42/29/4 |
303 |
111 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF6
TF4 TR4 |
M-113A1G PzMrs |
128/90 |
36/25/4 |
360 |
78 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF6
TF4 TR4 |
M-113A2GE PzMrs |
165/116 |
46/32/5 |
360 |
111 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF6
TF4 TR4 |
M-113G3 PzMrs |
181/126 |
50/35/5 |
360 |
124 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF6
TF4 TR4 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M-113A3G/M-113A1G/M-113A2GE PzMrs |
None |
None |
120mm Mortar,
MG-3 (C) |
2000x7.62mm,
63x120mm |
M-113G3 PzMrs |
None |
None |
120mm Mortar,
M-2HB (C) |
2000x.50 BMG,
63x120mm |
Notes: This is a
Wiesel 2 with an externally mounted 120mm mortar, and with a special soft recoil
system designed for use with the light Wiesel chassis.
It is also known as the Wiesel 2 Advanced Mortar System and the Wiesel 2
Air Transportable Mortar System; the German Army designation is the Wiesel 2
LePzMrs. The Wiesel 2 Mortar Carrier is very useful in adding heavy bombardment
capability to Airborne, Airmobile, and Light Divisions. The Wiesel 2 Mortar
Carrier will fit inside the cargo bay of almost any heavy or medium transport
aircraft, as well as a CH-53 helicopter.
It can be parachuted to the ground, or delivered by LAPES.
Making the Wiesel 2 Mortar carrier into a heavy mortar carrier, and it
took a lot of research and testing to do it.
Though design work began in 1984, it was not until 1988 that deliveries
(in small numbers) took placed, and then some problems cropped up.
The Wiesel 2 Mortar Carrier and its mortar quickly developed materiel
fatigue, including cracks in the metal of the mortar tube and rear parts of the
vehicle. These problems took until
1997 to fix, and then the German Army tested a few vehicles again.
However, budgetary problems with the German Army and German government
further delayed full production until 2002. There is still a controversy among
technical design experts and in the German Army itself, centering around whether
it is even possible to mount a long-barreled 120mm mortar on such a light
vehicle without undue or early wear and tear.
This has further delayed full deployment; until 2011, only eight of these
vehicles were put into service. The
Wiesel 2 Mortar Carrier, however, has been used in most of the recent NATO
interventions, including Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Afghanistan.
Some 67 have been supplied to the German Army as of 2012.
The Wiesel 2
Mortar Carrier has a body that is specialized for use with the variant of the
Tampella mortar it carries. The
sides and front of the rear compartment have been raised almost a full meter,
and the rear compartment has been heavily modified for its mission.
The rear of the vehicle is not raised, and there is only a small door in
the rear which is difficult to use due its size and the position of the mortar
when it is in transport position. The driver is in the front right side, with
the engine, transmission, and cooling system next to the driver on the front
left. The commander and ammunition
handler are seated on the left of the vehicle and the commander has a hatch on
the roof with the hatch having all-around vision blocks, with the front block
having an infrared viewer. The hatch is mounted on a ring and can be moved
around to allow the commander to scan other places with his IR viewer. On the
center of the right side is a somewhat small hatch.
There is also a hatch on the roof near the rear of the vehicle. The
engine of the Wiesel 2 Mortar Carrier is an Audi 2.1-liter turbocharged diesel
which develops 109 horsepower. The
transmission is automatic, with the driver using a yoke for steering and pedals
for driving and braking. The armor
is steel and noting to write home about – it can be penetrated by some 7.62mm
rounds or just about any autocannon, and of course, a hit by a tank gun will
completely trash the vehicle. This
choice of light armor was deliberate; the Wiesel 2 family are meant to be small,
lightweight vehicles which are agile and fast.
The Wiesel 2 Mortar Carrier can raise some extra protection with its four
smoke grenade dischargers on either side of the front of the vehicle.
The crew can protect themselves in an NBC environment using a collective
NBC system; the mortar is, like most mortars, muzzleloaded, but the mortar moves
into a horizontal position to receive another round of ammunition, and then
moves back to the firing position (or travel position if desired).
This does not break the NBC seal, allowing the crew to work in their
normal uniforms instead of roasting in MOPP suits.
Normally, the driver stays put during a fire mission so the Wiesel 2
Mortar Carrier can quickly “shoot and scoot.”
He can, however, slip into the combat compartment and help with the
ammunition handling or operate equipment.
Before the
mortar can be fired, hydraulic cylinders must move the mortar out to its firing
position. The mortar has a
specially designed baseplate; between the hydraulic cylinders, the baseplate,
and a pair of shock absorbers, the mortar system can absorb 25 tons of force
from the mortar firing. This is
more than enough to keep the mortar from damaging the Wiesel 2 when it is fired.
The mortar is also of the recoiling type, which further reduces the shock of
firing to the vehicle. The
deployment of the mortar is automatic, and the crew simply has to push a button
to get the mortar in firing position or travel position after its fire mission;
this takes under a minute. After deployment, the Wiesel 2’s crew becomes a
mortar crew. Initially, the Wiesel
2 Mortar Carrier can use its onboard ammunition, but in a lengthy fire mission,
the mortar carrier must be fed from an accompanying ammunition-carrying vehicle.
The Wiesel 2 Mortar Carrier is normally accompanied by an FDC based on
the Mungo 4x4 armored vehicle, with additional information coming from a JFST
(Joint Fires Support Team) team in a specially-equipped Wiesel 2, but the
LePzMrs also has self-laying capability due to a GPS-equipped automatic gun
laying computer called the MRT 86 CODU (Central Operating and Display Unit) that
tells the crew how to set the mortar and face the vehicle.
(The Mungo can also control air strikes, and acts as ammunition carriers
for the Wiesel 2 LePzMrs.) The Wiesel 2 Mortar Carrier is also equipped with a
limited mapping computer.
The special
recoiling mortar system was designed especially for the Wiesel 2 chassis.
Rheinmetall based the mortar on a Tampella design, but highly modified
the mortar for the very light Wiesel 2 chassis.
Twilight 2000
Notes: It is possible that the Wiesel 2 Mortar Carrier could be present in the
German Army in small numbers in the Twilight 2000 timeline.
If so, it will not have the mapping computer and will have to rely on the
Wiesel 2 FDC for coordinates to its target.
The Wiesel 2 Mortar Carrier could also use coordinates from a unit
requesting fire support, but the mortar crew would have to use paper maps or FDC
vehicle can give the mortar crew the correct fire information.
The GM will have to take into account that a Wiesel 2 Mortar Carrier is
not a perfected vehicle in the Twilight 2000 timeline, and damage to the mortar
and the vehicle may result over time.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$234,592 |
D, A |
300 kg |
4.62 tons |
3 |
4 |
Passive IR (C) |
Shielded |
Tr
Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
162/113 |
45/31 |
80 |
40 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF4
HS3 HR2 |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
None |
None |
120mm
Rheinmetall Recoiling Mortar |
25x120mm |
Notes: This
version of the Wiesel 1 is still experimental, despite having been first
displayed about 25 years ago (under the MaK name), and Rheinmetall still offers
it for sale. The BTM-263 mortar
vehicle (PzDkMors, or Armored Direct-Fire Mortar) is topped with the French SAMM
BTM-263 turret, hence the name. It
is not designed as a bombardment vehicle, like most mortar vehicles, but it can
be used as such. Instead, the
BTM-263 mortar vehicle is meant to be a reconnaissance vehicle, with a secondary
role as a fire support vehicle. The
BTM-263 mortar vehicle was in fact designed to provide scouting capability and
rapid, mobile fire support to Airborne, Air Assault, and light Infantry
Divisions. Like the standard Wiesel
1, the BTM-263 mortar vehicle can be air-dropped, deployed by LAPES, carried in
heavy-lift helicopters like the CH-53 and CH-47, sling-loaded by any helicopter
able to lift 6 tons, or have several of them loaded onto a C-17, C-130, or
C-160.
The BTM-263
turret is light in weight – little more than 300 kilograms.
The one-man turret is armed with a Brandt 60mm long-range gun/mortar
capable of flat firing like a conventional light cannon or as a standard, if
breech-loaded, 60mm mortar. The
barrel is a long 1.8-meter barrel capable of long-range fire in either mode of
use. The mortar (and its coaxial machinegun) has an elevation range from -7 to
+70 degrees. The BTM-263 turret has conventional fire control systems for direct
fire as well as conventional mortar-sighting controls as well as a mortar
ballistic computer. The turret is
also armed with an MG-3 machinegun (MAG for export models) for direct defense
against infantry or light vehicles, or to use in covering fire.
On each side of the glacis near the bottom is a cluster of four smoke
grenade launchers on each side. The
turret also provides the Commander/Gunner with night vision sights.
The lack of
large amounts of ammunition limits the BTM-263 mortar vehicle in a long
bombardment, but if accompanied by a vehicle or trailer, that can carry
additional ammunition, it can fulfill this role.
For the most part, however, it is meant for immediate fire support and
reconnaissance.
The BTM-263
mortar vehicle is otherwise the same as its Wiesel 1 chassis.
Originally, the Wiesel 1 was supposed to have an Audi 100-horsepower
gasoline engine, but this was changed to an 86-horsepower VW turbocharged diesel
which, while it provided less horsepower, provided more torque and improved
performance over rough ground, and gave the Wiesel 1 some towing capability.
(I have this version below, but note that the gas-powered early version
does not have a mortar ballistic computer.) The driver has conventional driving
controls, and the transmission is automatic.
The brakes are power brakes (hydraulically-boosted) and can bring a
Wiesel from full speed to a stop in almost no time.
Pivot steering is possible, and depending upon the Wiesel 1’s speed at
the time, turn radii can range from 0 (turning in place under pivot steering) to
a mere 2.3 meters. Originally, the tracks were completely of rubber, but current
tracks are light steel with rubber track pads. The armor is thin, but adequate
for the BTM-263 mortar carrier’s role; nonetheless, the Wiesel 1 should stay
away from circumstances that would subject it to more than assault rifle fire or
shell fragments. The fuel tank is interesting – it is a flexible rubber bag
inside of a plastic containing tank, and between the plastic containing tank and
the rubber bag is a polyethylene foam that makes the fuel source self-sealing.
The BTM-263 is,
along with other AWC variants, is often known as a “Tankette.”
Twilight 2000
Notes: The German Army often deployed these vehicles in scout elements of up to
six vehicles; in addition, they performed their intended role as fire support
vehicles for Airborne, Air Assault, and Light Infantry units.
The scout vehicles often had night-capable video cameras and even shotgun
microphones, which were recorded on an early digital system and then
burst-transmitted to higher headquarters. (The digital storage on the BTM-263 in
the scout role was limited to 30 GB, so frequent transmission bursts were
essential, and recording was done only when necessary.) The long-range radio
was, by necessity, data-capable, and the burst transmission was done via a
relatively small (but visible) antenna. The scout BTM-263s also had an inertial
navigation system with a mapping computer (again, this was limited to the area
they were expected to operate plus a little extra). KSK sometimes “borrowed” one
or two to take along during certain raiding operations.
Each of the six US Ranger Battalions were equipped with two of these
vehicles in the Twilight 2000 timeline; they had in fact been testing their use
in their operations since 1992. The
Army designation was the M-1012, though it was still called the Weasel, or
“Ranger Fire Support Vehicle.” A
common nickname for this enhanced Wiesel, both in the German Army and among the
Rangers, was the “Electric Weasel” (“Elektrisch
Wiesel”), though
the rangers generally called the Wiesels (of all types operating with them) as
Tankettes.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
PzDkMrs
(Original) |
$122,823 |
G, A |
300 kg |
2.86 tons |
5 |
4 |
Passive IR (D),
Passive IR (G), Image Intensification (C) |
Shielded |
PzDkMrs
(Current) |
$129,143 |
D, A |
300 kg |
2.91 tons |
5 |
4 |
Passive IR (D),
Passive IR (G), Image Intensification (C) |
Shielded |
PzDkMrs (T2K
Scout Variant/M-1012) |
$253,643 |
D, A |
300 kg |
2.98 tons |
2 |
6 |
Passive IR (D),
Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (C), CCD Camera, Shotgun
Microphone |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
PzDkMrs
(Original) |
239/167 |
66/47/7 |
80 |
45 |
Trtd |
T2 |
TF2
TS2 TR2
HF4 HS2
HR2 |
PzDkMrs
(Current) |
210/147 |
58/41/6 |
80 |
32 |
Trtd |
T2 |
TF2
TS2 TR2
HF4 HS2
HR2 |
PzDkMrs (T2K
Scout Variant/M-1012) |
203/142 |
57/40/6 |
80 |
32 |
Trtd |
T2 |
TF2
TS2 TR2
HF4 HS2
HR2 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control* |
Stabilization* |
Armament |
Ammunition |
PzDkMrs
(Original) |
+1 |
Basic |
Brandt 60mm LR
Gun/Mortar, MG-3 |
24x60mm,
200x7.62mm |
PzDkMrs
(Current) |
+2 |
Fair |
Brandt 60mm LR
Gun/Mortar, MG-3 |
24x60mm,
200x7.62mm |
PzDkMrs (T2K
Scout Variant/M-1012) |
+3 |
Fair |
Brandt 60mm LR
Gun/Mortar, MG-3** |
24x60mm,
200x7.62mm |
*The Fire Control and
Stabilization modifiers apply only to direct fire from the gun/mortar or coaxial
machinegun; they cannot be used during indirect fire.
**The M-1012 used by US
Army Rangers has an M-240 as a coaxial machinegun instead of an MG-3.