Re: Portugal OOB73
Yes, we love mortars, you can see that in 1946 we only had 3 2inch in each rifle coy, from 1952 the US supplied 3 M2 60mm m/52 for replacement. Then came the colonial wars and the FBP factory develop the m/65 60mm to replace the m/52. Troops in African Jungles asked for a Commando type mortar to better react to ambushes and the Morteirete m/68 60mm was born. During this time Battalion level fire support was provided by 4-6 FBP m/937 81mm mortars, a licence built Italian WWII mortar. This was the best ranged mortar +4000m and fired light and heavy grenades. During war in Africa sometimes they carried them into the jungle, usually when a man had to sit down with the mortar on its back, it took 2 men to help lift him, but the result was very satisfactory with the blast effect compared to a 105mm artillery shell.
After the war we prepared to fight in Europe again, there were plenty of roads to travel, plenty of motor vehicles to use it and plenty of mortars. The Portuguese Armed Forces went down from some 250000 men in 1975 to some 50000 men in 1982. They decided to invest in firepower, so when I was at Azores a Rifle Coy was:
CAt (Companhia de Atiradores) (143) (Rifle Coy)
Cmdt (Comandante) (1) (1 P38) (Coy Commander)
SecCmd (Secção de Comando) (7) (HQ Sec)
Secretaria (3) (1 P38+1 M2HB+2 G3A3+1 G3A3 c/HK79) (Quartermaster)
Reabastecimentos (2) (1 VTP+1 AtrM+1 M2HB+2 G3A3+36 M72) (Supply)
Transmissões (2) (1 VTL+2 G3A3) (Signals)
3x PlAt (Pelotão de Atiradores) (34) (1of+4sar+9cb+20sol) (Rifle Platoon)
Cmd PlAt (3) (3 G3A3+1 P/PRC425 radio) (Platoon HQ)
3x SecAt (Secção de Atiradores) (11) (Rifle Sec)
Cmdt SecAt (1) (1 G3A3) (Section Commander)
2x EqAt (Esquadra de Atiradores) (5) (Rifle Squad)
Each (3 G3A3+1 G3A3 c/Bipé+1 G3A3 c/HK79+2 M72)
2x EqMeL (Esquadra de Metralhadora Ligeira) (3) (LMG Squad)
Each (1 HK21+1 G3A3+2 P38)
PlAp (Pelotão de Apoio) (33) (Support Platoon)
Cmd PlAp (3) (3 G3A3) (Platoon HQ)
SecACar (Secção Anti-carro) (7) (Antitank Sec)
Cmdt SecACar (1) (1 G3A3) (Commander)
2x EqACar (Esquadra Anti-carro) (3) (Antitank Squad)
Each (1 M-40A1 106mm+1 G3A3+2 P38+1 M72) (1 VTL)
SecMoMed (Secção de Morteiros Médios) (23) (Medium Mortar Sec)
Cmd SecMoMed (2) (1 G3A3+1 P38) (Sec HQ)
4x EqMoMed (Esquadra de Morteiros Médios) (5) (Medium Mortar Squad)
Each (1 m/937 81mm+1 G3A3+4 P38) (1 VTM+1 AtrM)
3x EqOAv (Esquadra de Observadores Avançados) (2) (FO Squad)
Each (1 G3A3+1 G3A3 c/HK79+ P/PRC425)
At Battalion level there was a Heavy Mortar Platoon with 4 Tampella B m/74 120mm
PlMoP (Pelotão de Morteiros Pesados) (36)
Cmd PlMoP (8) (6 G3A3+1 G3A3 c/HK79+1 P38) (1 VTL+1 VTM+1 AtrL+1 AtrM)
4x SecMoP (Secção de Morteiros Pesados) (7)
Each (1 Tampella 120mm+2 G3A3+1 G3A3 c/HK79+4 P38) (1 VTM+1 AtrM)
VTP – Heavy Truck
VTM – Medium Truck
VTL – Jeep
AtrM – Medium Trailer
AtrL – Light Trailer
When I went to the Mechanized Brigade, the Mechanized Infantry Bns had 3 M125A1 in each Coy and 4 M106A1 at Battalion level
So my answer is yes, every normal rifle coy has 3 81mm mortars, and when we went to the field we took them with us, sometimes by foot with some ammo.
Right now there are 3 “normal” Infantry Bns at the PO Army, two in the Azores and one in Madeira. On the Continent the Mechanized Brigade have just one Mechanized Infantry Bn (Track-M113), the Intervention Brigade has two Mechanized Infantry Bn (Wheal-Pandur) and the Rapid Reaction Brigade have two Paratrooper Bns, one Commando Bn and a Special Forces Bn.
Thanks
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