British 3-inch mortar with crew

British 3-inch Mortar with Crew (1939-1945)
1/72 Scale Model Kit also suitable for use with the Art of Tactic
This kit includes one plastic model British mortar from World War II with four soldier crewmen.
Models supplied unpainted. Assembly required. Models can be assembled individually, or combined onto the large unit base. This “snap fit” model can be assembled without glue.
Includes unit flag and unit card for use with the Art of Tactic WWII game.
Historical Notes
The standard mortar used by the British army during World War II was the Ordnance ML 3-inch mortar, sometimes called the “Mark II”. Based on the lessons of World War I, the British military wanted to attach some form of light artillery to its infantry units. When this proved too expensive, a portable and reliable mortar was adopted instead. The design was improved many times over the course of the war, and this weapon would continue to see use into the 1960s.
Even though it was called a “3-inch mortar”, this weapon actually had a 3.2 inch caliber (or 81.5mm). It was a conventional-style mortar: muzzle-loaded with shells that were fired by dropping them into the firing tube. Early war models of the 3-inch mortar had an effective range of about 1600 yards. Later designs would expand this range to nearly 2800 yards.

Историческая справка:
Английский 81 мм миномёт Стокса был разработан в 1915 году. Это было новое оружие, которое потрясло немцев. Лёгкий миномёт был намного выгоднее тяжёлой мортиры.  В 30е годы встал вопрос о его модификации, так появился 76,2 миномёт. Он отличался простой конструкции и был дешев в производстве. И простоял на вооружении британской армии до 1960 годов.
 
Использование миномета в Art of Tactic:
Британский миномёт, как и его братья по цеху является мощным средством поддержки пехоты. Низкая стоимость и отсутствие аналогов, ведущих навесной огонь, делают его самым массовым средством поддержки пехоты на поле боя.