The Ordnance ML 3-inch mortar was the United Kingdom's standard mortar used by the British Army from the early 1930s to the late 1960s, superseding the Stokes mortar. Initially handicapped by its short range compared to similar Second World War mortars, improvements of the propellant charges enabled it to be used with great satisfaction by various armies of the British Empire and of the Commonwealth.
== Design == The ML 3-inch mortar is a conventional Stokes-type mortar that is muzzle-loaded and drop-fired. The ammunition used many of the Brandt mortar features.
== History == Based on their experience in World War I, the British infantry sought some sort of artillery for close support. The initial plan was for special batteries of artillery, but the cost was prohibitive and the mortar was accepted instead.
The Mark II mortar (Mark I was the Stokes) was adopted by the British Army in the early 1930s; and this was the standard British mortar when World War II broke out in September 1939. Experience in the early part of the war showed that, although the Mark II was reliable and sturdy, it did not have sufficient range compared to the German 81 mm s.GW.34 mortar. A series of experiments and trials using new propellants improved the range from 1,600 to 2,800 yards (1,500 to 2,600 m) by about 1942; and, by 1943, the barrel, baseplate and sights had also been improved. The ML 3-inch mortar was carried on three packs by infantry or on Universal Carriers. An infantry battalion had six mortars with their Universal Carrier transports forming the Mortar Platoon within the HQ Company (later the support company). The carrier would carry the mortar, the three man crew and 66 mortar bombs (the Carrier crew would carry the bombs from the Carrier to the mortar The Mark II remained in service with the British Army until replaced by the L16 81mm mortar in 1965.
Ammunition was HE, Smoke (white phosphorus or titanium tetrachloride), and Illumination
== Variants == Mark II LR - long range Mark IV - heavier baseplate and new sight Mark V - lightened for use by airborne units and in the Far East, about 5,000 produced. The Canadian Army modified some of its 3-inch mortars, lengthening them to increase their range. This modification was abandoned as it was considered too heavy. The Australian Army, for its part, shortened the barrel for use in jungle.
Users
Afghanistan – used by the anti-Soviet insurgents in the 1980s Australia Biafra Canada Egypt Greece India Iraq Ireland Italy (1944–1946) Jordan Luxembourg Myanmar – Inherited from British-Burma Army and also bought from India. Main medium mortar used by the Myanmar Army until 1970s. New Zealand Nigeria Pakistan Philippines Poland – Used by the Polish Armed Forces in the West South Yemen Tibet United Kingdom Yugoslavia – Used by Yugoslavian Partisans
Conflicts
Second World War Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948 1948 Arab–Israeli War Korean War Suez Crisis Sino-Indian War Nigerian Civil War Soviet-Afghan War
== See also == Stokes mortar : British WWI predecessor List of infantry mortars Weapons of comparable role, performance and era
8 cm Granatwerfer 34 – German WWII equivalent 82-BM-37 & 82-PM-41 – Soviet WWII equivalents Brandt Mle 27/31 – French WWII equivalent M1 mortar – US WWII equivalent Type 97 81 mm infantry mortar – Japanese WWII equivalent
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