Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1
Encyclopedia
The MO-120 RT-61 or MO-120-RT is a heavy mortar of French origin. It was designed by Thomson-Brandt as the successor for the MO-120 AM-50. The RT in the designator stands for rayé, tracté which means rifled, towed.
The RT-61 is currently used by the French Army
(where it is known as RT F1 or Mortier de 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1 - "120 mm rifled towed mortar, model F1"), and is produced under licence by Germany
, Italy
, Belgium
, the Netherlands
, Brazil
, Japan
and Turkey
(as HY-12 "Tosam"). The MO-120 RT-61 is issued to artillery units, where it augments the 155 mm towed artillery.
In French service, this weapon is normally towed by the VTM 120 (Véhicule Tracteur Mortier de 120 mm), wheeled armored vehicle that is a derivative of the VAB 4x4
series of armored personnel carrier. Towing is accomplished by a towing hitch that is screwed onto the muzzle of the weapon. The VTM 120 carries 70 mortar rounds of 120 mm and also offers basic ballistic protection from small arms fire and shrapnel for the mortar's crew. The RT-61 can also be towed by the AMX-10 TM (Tracteur de Mortier) which is a version of the AMX-10P
tracked APC. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
have a self-propelled version of the RT-61 with 50 rounds, the Type 96 SPM.
Currently, there are eight 120 mm mortars assigned to each French Regiment d'Artillerie.
Normally not deployed during peacetime, all of the infantry's 120 mm mortars have been transferred to artillery regiments where they augment the 155 mm towed artillery. This allows both the towed 155 TR-G2 artillery guns of 155 mm caliber and the 120 mm mortars to be deployed simultaneously.
The RT-61 uses standard NATO rounds as well as the specially designed PR-14 (HE) and the PRPA (HERA). The weapon can be fired either by dropping the round down the tube (after aligning of the rifling bands) resulting in an automatic firing once the bomb hits the tube base, or by a controlled firing by dropping the bomb down the tube and pulling on a lanyard that will in turn set off the triggering mechanism in the base of the tube.
Manufacturers other than Thomson-Brandt as mentioned above include Thomson-CSF/Daimler Benz Aerospace (France/Germany(?)), Hotchkiss Brandt (Netherlands) as the "HB Rayé" and under license by MKEK in Turkey.
The RT-61 is currently used by the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
(where it is known as RT F1 or Mortier de 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1 - "120 mm rifled towed mortar, model F1"), and is produced under licence by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
(as HY-12 "Tosam"). The MO-120 RT-61 is issued to artillery units, where it augments the 155 mm towed artillery.
In French service, this weapon is normally towed by the VTM 120 (Véhicule Tracteur Mortier de 120 mm), wheeled armored vehicle that is a derivative of the VAB 4x4
Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé
The Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé or VAB is an armoured personnel carrier and support vehicle designed by the Euro Mobilité Division of GIAT Industries of France. It entered service in 1976; around 5,000 were produced.- Design :The VAB was designed as a wheeled troop transporter, complementing the...
series of armored personnel carrier. Towing is accomplished by a towing hitch that is screwed onto the muzzle of the weapon. The VTM 120 carries 70 mortar rounds of 120 mm and also offers basic ballistic protection from small arms fire and shrapnel for the mortar's crew. The RT-61 can also be towed by the AMX-10 TM (Tracteur de Mortier) which is a version of the AMX-10P
AMX-10P
The AMX-10P is a French infantry fighting vehicle. It was developed after 1965 to replace the AMX-VCI in French service, and the first prototypes were completed in 1968. It has NBC protection and amphibious capabilities, with hydro jets to swim in water...
tracked APC. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
The , or JGSDF, is the army of Japan. The largest of the three services of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Ground Self-Defense Force operates under the command of the chief of the ground staff, based in the city of Ichigaya, Tokyo. The present chief of ground staff is General Yoshifumi Hibako...
have a self-propelled version of the RT-61 with 50 rounds, the Type 96 SPM.
Currently, there are eight 120 mm mortars assigned to each French Regiment d'Artillerie.
Normally not deployed during peacetime, all of the infantry's 120 mm mortars have been transferred to artillery regiments where they augment the 155 mm towed artillery. This allows both the towed 155 TR-G2 artillery guns of 155 mm caliber and the 120 mm mortars to be deployed simultaneously.
The RT-61 uses standard NATO rounds as well as the specially designed PR-14 (HE) and the PRPA (HERA). The weapon can be fired either by dropping the round down the tube (after aligning of the rifling bands) resulting in an automatic firing once the bomb hits the tube base, or by a controlled firing by dropping the bomb down the tube and pulling on a lanyard that will in turn set off the triggering mechanism in the base of the tube.
Manufacturers other than Thomson-Brandt as mentioned above include Thomson-CSF/Daimler Benz Aerospace (France/Germany(?)), Hotchkiss Brandt (Netherlands) as the "HB Rayé" and under license by MKEK in Turkey.
Users
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