LLR 81mm

The Mortier de 81mm léger long renforcé (LLR 81 mm) is a mortar used by the French Army, manufactured by Thales. Introduced in 1997, it is the latest iteration of the TDA 81 mm light mortar family.^[2]

Mortier de 81mm léger long renforcé
Mo 81 LLR of the French Army 1st Infantry Regiment during Exercise Cold Response (Norway, 2022)
Type	Mortar
Place of origin	France
Service history
Used by	See users
Wars	Battle of Kolwezi (MO-81-61-C) Rhodesian Bush War War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)[1] Northern Mali Conflict[1] Central African Civil War[1]
Production history
Designed	1997
Produced	1997 - present
Specifications
Mass	45.2 kg (100 lb) (total) 18.3 kg (40 lb) (barrel) 12.6 kg (28 lb) (bipod) 14.6 kg (32 lb) (base)
Barrel length	1,639 mm (5 ft 4.5 in)
Crew	5 men
Calibre	81 mm (3.2 in)
Rate of fire	12 to 20 rpm.
Effective firing range	3,100 m (3,400 yd) with model 1944 shell. 5,600 m (6,100 yd) with special ammunition.

Description

The original TDA 81 mm was designed in 1961 (hence the MO-81-61 designation). Since then, three variants have been fielded:

• the 81mm LC or MO-81-61-C (Léger court, "light short"), with a 1.15-metre barrel;
• the 81mm LL or MO-81-61-L (Léger long, "light long"), with a 1.55-metre barrel;
• the 81mm LLR (Léger long renforcé, "light long reinforced"), paratrooper version with a 1.55-metre barrel.^[2]

The LLR 81mm is composed of a base plate, a barrel comprising the breech, and a bipod. It can use the same pointing optics as the MO-120-RT-61.^[3]

The LLR 81mm can be parachuted either piece by piece, in a kit comprising a dismantled weapon and ammunition, or in larger crates comprising several weapons. The barrel was reinforced so as to allow firing of all existing 81 mm mortar ammunition.^[3]

Users

•  Benin: MO-81-61^[4]
•  France: MO-81-61-C^[5] and MO-81-LLR (2 per infantry company of the French Army in the 2010s)^[3]
•  Ireland: light long-barrel version^[6]
•  Italy: MO-81-LL built under license by OTO Melara^[7][5]
•  Kuwait: South African M8 mortar^[8]
•  Malaysia: South African M8 mortar version
•  Pakistan: MO-81-LL built under license^[9]
•  Peru: South African M8 mortar^[8]
•  South Africa: MO-81-61 produced by Vektor as M3 mortar and M8 mortar (upgraded variant with heavier barrel).^[8]

Former users

•  Rhodesia

External links

Bibliography

1. "MO 81MM LLR". tda-armements.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
2. Gander, Terry J. (4 June 2001). "TDA 81 mm light mortars". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. pp. 1841–1842.
3. "Mortier 81 mm LLR". defense.gouv.fr. 13 July 2016.
4. Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Benin". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 949.
5. Wiener, Friedrich (1987). The armies of the NATO nations: Organization, concept of war, weapons and equipment. Truppendienst Handbooks Volume 3. Vienna: Herold Publishers. p. 464.
6. "Army Weapons - 81 mm mortar". military.ie. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010.
7. Gander, Terry J. (27 April 1994). "Italian mortars". Jane's Infantry Weapons 1994-1995. pp. 2977–2978.
8. Gander, Terry J. (4 June 2001). "Vektor 81 mm M3 mortar". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. pp. 4024–4025.
9. Gander, Terry J. (4 June 2001). "81 mm light mortar". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. pp. 3218–3219.