Crossing Jordan: Israeli M113s and mortars

TMP Editor · Post by **TMP Editor** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 9:48 am

The Crossing Jordan 1973 scenario for Modern Micro Armour: The Game lists in the Israeli TO&E:

2 x 120mm M65/M113 Mortar(3)

Is this a reference to one of the M113 mortar vehicle variants?
Or is this simply a mortar team being transported by an M113?

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Thu Apr 28, 2016 4:50 am

I believe it is a 120mm mortar with paired with a baseplate modified to be employed either on the ground or carried in M113. Could sub the M106 sp mortar in the NATO line...

TMP Editor · Post by **TMP Editor** » Fri Apr 29, 2016 8:30 am

Thanks! I'm guessing it's the Keshet (Israeli for "bow"), as the M113 mortar vehicle is known in Israeli service.

piersyf · Post by **piersyf** » Fri Apr 29, 2016 9:06 am

I'm going to buck the trend and say it wasn't vehicle mounted.
It might have been, but the design of the M65 is to be towed behind any suitable vehicle. I admit I have no proof; I have not found a single reference showing the M65 and M113 in the same image (towed or mounted), but the only listed vehicle mounts I have found are the M3 MkD, the M1064 and the M1129. Seeing as the last 2 post date 1973, they're out. If the existing specified mount is an M3 halftrack, I think it would have been mentioned somewhere that it was mounted in an M113.
The advantage of the mortar and its mounting is that it can be moved just by the crew (light enough, sprung suspension).
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, but given there isn't a single reference to the thing being mounted ON an M113, but several references to it being mounted on an M3, my guess would be towed.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Fri Apr 29, 2016 5:17 pm

Yeah, I think I was wrong. I've found the piece towed behind, but not mounted in the M113.

33YearsGHQ · Post by **33YearsGHQ** » Sat May 21, 2016 5:21 am

The Israeli's mounted the 120mm Mortar in M3 Halftracks in this time period. The M113 was fairly new to the Israeli's in 1973 and were used primarily in their pure APC role at that time.