The L16 81mm mortar is a British and Canadian standard mortar used by the Canadian Army, British Army, and many other armed forces. It originated as a joint design by the UK and Canada. The version produced and used by Australia is named the F2 81mm Mortar; the U.S. armed forces version is the M252.

The L16A2 81mm mortar is a Battlegroup level indirect fire weapon which is capable of providing accurate high explosive, smoke and illuminating rounds out to a maximum range of 5650m. The mortar platoon, in mechanised and armoured infantry battalions, are mounted in and fire from armoured personnel carriers.

The L16A2 is lightweight, portable Mortar and made up of 3 main components, the baseplate, the bipod and the barrel.

It is capable of firing a wide range of ammunition types, including high-explosive (HE), smoke, and illumination rounds, making it suitable for offensive, defensive, and support roles. The mortar is typically employed to engage enemy infantry, suppress fortifications, and provide illumination or smoke screens for tactical maneuvers.

Feb 14, 2022 · It has since been improved with the follow up L16A2 with a plethora of nations following the UK lead. The L16 serves as an "indirect fire" weapon meaning that line-of-sight of the target is not a requirement for the operating crew.

Derivative of the L16A2 for US service, introduced in 1987. In US service a blast attenuation device is mounted onto the muzzle. This reduced blast effects on the crew.

May 29, 2018 · The 81mm L16A2 Mortar is the most modern variant of the 81mm L16 Mortar that originally entered service with the British Armed Forces around the mid 1960s and replaced the Ordnance ML 3-Inch Mortar of pre-WWII times.

flash and secondary blast of the British L16A2 Mortar. It documents con-siderations of several alternative approaches to secondary flash (and blast) elimination. It incorporates the British findings relative to flash suppression via chemical suppressant added to the propellant and via a conical suppressor.

The L16 81mm mortar provided in-direct fire support for British troops. High Explosive (HE), Smoke and Illumination rounds can be fired up to 5.5km out at a rate of 15 rounds-per-minute. The modernised L16a2 features GPS and laser-range finding systems, dramatically increasing the weapon's accuracy.

The Mortar Troop is an element of the Command Company of 40, 42 and 45 Commando. The unit provides indirect fire support in the form of the L16A2 81mm mortar. Mortar Troops have 9 L16A2 mortars, each operated by 2-man teams.