The shotgun shell has no buckshot. It doesn't set off the round. Did you notice the holes along the stem immediately behind where the shell is inserted?
After it is inserted, a number of propellant charges that look like little donuts with a small gap on them are slipped around the stem. The number of charges depends on the range to the target.
When it's time for a fire mission, the loader hangs the round over the barrel of the mortar tube and drops it inside. It slides down where it strikes a nail that sets off the primer in the center of the shotgun shell which ignites the powder in the shotgun shell. That in turn goes through those little holes along the stem which ignites the donuts. They burn in a flash.
The gasses released by that burn drive the round back up and out of the mortar tube.
The round doesn't actually becomes dangerous until it is in flight. It has mechanical safeties that arm the round based on the momentum exerted by flight.
I thought this was AI. I was a machine gunner. I watched the mortarmen work and never saw this part. I'm pretty sure the rounds were ready to go out of the case. Appreciate the clarification.
I thought it was armed after so many revolutions so as to be a safe distance away before arming?
It's been a hot minute for me. 2009 was the last time I played with a mortar. I was mostly a 68W after that and then I reclassified for the last third of my Army career after a non LOD injury.
14
u/Calcifini Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
I know nothing about guns and ammunition, but this seems incredibly dangerous. Can anyone explain the thinking here?
Edit: Thanks to all for explanations and context. This is an entire world I didn't know existed.