cartridge 60mm TP M50A2

[avernite]

Greetings all,

First time posting here and I already have questions. I have established that the M50A2 cartridge was fired from M2, M19, and M224 mortars but I cannot find any publications or technical data concerning itor the M50A3. What kind of primary cartridge did it have and what kind of spotting smoke did it emit? If anybody's got any info, that'd be awesome.

Cheers,
A.

 

[Fr Cdn AT]

Good evening Avernite,

Here what I got for you body...



Hope that help.
Cheers.
FCAT.

 

[avernite]

Awesome, thanks!

Researching ammunition for M2 and M19 mortars are spotty at best.

 

[jvollenberg]

Why the extention between the M2 fins and the body? We have seen this on several different mortars, but cannot explain why they did this.

Any ideas or publications explaining?

Joe

 

[EODGUY]

Not sure how clear my attachment on the M50A2 will show up. The print is not the best to copy. I too have puzzled over the tail boom extension. The M50A2 did not have it. The M50A3, which was the M50A2E1 before adoption, does have it. Have not been able to find a drawing of the M50A2E1 to see if it did or not, but since it became the M50A3 I assume it did. I also assume that the difference between the M49A2E1, which does not have the extension, and the M49A2E2 is that the E2 has the extension. Here again though, I have not found a drawing of the M49A2E2 to verify. The manual only says that the difference between the M50A3 and the M49A2E2, which it simulates, is the difference in filler. No mention of a different boom. I have never seen anything on the reason for the extension. Only thing I can think of is that they determined they had a center of balance problem in flight and lengthened the projectile the easiest way they could.

 

[Fr Cdn AT]

Good evening EODGUY,

Well... the good news is that I found the ref's for the M49A4 which is the M49A2E2. The picture and tabulated data shows that it use the M2 Fin Assy. + 2" extension, but no mention whatsoever of why it would be add to the cartridge. I would guess that your assumption could be right, either helping balancing the round or mine would be that, it could it just be an evolution thing... who knows??? No seriously... who knows?? :tinysmile_hmm_t2: Anybody!?!
And from there they did the M50A3 as a counterpart for that cartridge for practice...
As for the M49A5, it became the new generation of cartridge as we know them now (Evolution thing again :tinysmile_twink_t meaning new design, more profiled round, less bulky, new fin assy., new ignition cart., and new propulsion system using the horse shoes system and of curse new fuze. New everything
Thats it for me.
Cheers.
FCAT.

 

[leverhead]

Just a guess, but the low temp limitation is changed with the extension and the new propellant. The extension would be fast way of adding "chamber" volume.

 

[inertordnance]

Some photos of a US 60MM M49A2E1 Factory Inert Loaded Variation. Body is dated 1969 and the M525 Inert Loaded Fuze is Dated 1968.