[Mobhack]

Mortars have a higher kill value than the equivalent calibre artillery shell.

They come straight down and make a circular daisy-cutter burst, whereas artillery shells come in at speed and at an angle burying themselves before exploding and throwing generally upwards. Arty shells make an oval pattern, with some dead zones even close to the burst.

I have seen fresh 25 pounder craters and also 81mm mortar ones when we went looking for a 'blind' after a shoot.

The mortar impacts were a perfect circle, and the little 1 cm or so hummocks all around on the flattish ground were neatly cut with little radial tracks from the shrapnel, like a sort of spiders web had been laid down on the turf. You would not have lived if out in the open, even if lying down prone. With an arty shell you just might, if lucky.

Cheers
Andy