An Independent Army For An Independent Nation: The Four Inch Mortar

 

 

Picture: Sergeant A.E.Lemon,Number Nine Army Film and Photo Section,Army Film and Photographic Unit,© IWM SE 4463

 

The Four Inch Mortar shall be the standard medium mortar in the British Army,the Home Guard and the Royal Marines and shall equip platoons or troops held at the battalion level.

 

 

Picture: Sergeant A.Stubbs,Number Nine Army Film and Photo Section,Army Film and Photographic Unit,© IWM SE 2143

 

The Four Inch Mortar shall be issued on the scale of one section of two mortars to every light infantry company,medium infantry company,cavalry squadron,reconnaissance company,reconnaissance squadron and Royal Marines company.

 

 

Picture: Corporal Gary Kendall,Royal Logistics Corps,Crown Copyright

 

The Four Inch Mortar shall have a smooth bore,be muzzle loaded and fire twenty pound fin stabilised bombs,to a range of five miles,at rates of up to twenty bombs per minute.

 

 

Picture: Unknown British Army official photographer,© IWM CT 1241

 

The Four Inch Mortar shall use the same indirect fire sight as the Three Eighths Inch Machine Gun.

 

 

Picture: Lieutenant Ernest Brooks,Ministry of Information First World War Official Collection photograph,© IWM Q 1375

 

The Four Inch Mortar shall fire a variety of bombs including,but not limited to,High Explosive,High Explosive Anti Tank,High Explosive Penetrating,Thermobaric,Flechette,Illuminating,Obscuring,Practice and a family of rocket assisted toffee apple bombs.

 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,National Army Museum Study Collection photograph

 

The Four Inch Mortar bombs shall be able to be fitted with proximity,impact and delay fuses,stand off probes and a variety of terminal homing systems including,but not limited to,active radar,passive thermal,semi active laser and television guidance.

 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,Number One Army Film and Photo Section,Army Film and Photographic Unit,© IWM E 127

 

The Four Inch Mortar may be carried by it's crew of five men when operating on foot.

 

 

Picture: L. (Phot.) Will Haigh,Crown Copyright

 

The Four Inch Mortar crew of five men may be carried in the Ox vehicle,with one mortar and it's ammunition being towed in it's unprotected trailer.

 

 

Picture: Dan Davison

 

The Four Inch Mortar section of ten men may be carried in the Mule vehicle,with two mortars and their ammunition being towed in it's unprotected trailer.

 

 

Picture: Visual Information Specialist Markus Rauchenberger,United States' Army photograph

 

The Four Inch Mortar section of ten men may be carried in the Pony vehicle,with two mortars and their ammunition being towed in it's protected trailer.

 

 

Picture: Sergeant R.Gregory,Number One Army Film and Photo Section,Army Film and Photographic Unit,© IWM E 31736

 

The Four Inch Mortar section of ten men may be carried in the Matilda vehicle,with two mortars and their ammunition being carried in an armoured box above the rear door.

 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,Israel Defense Forces' Spokesperson's Unit photograph

 

The Four Inch Mortar section of ten men may be carried in the Charger vehicle,with two mortars and their ammunition being carried in an armoured box above the rear door.

 

The Five Reconnaissance Vehicles: Ox,Mule,Pony,Matilda And Charger

 

 

Picture: Richard Ellis,Ministry of Defence,Crown Copyright

 

Despite the predictable failure of the Tetrarch,Harry Hopkins,Alecto and Locust air mobile light tanks during the Second World War (bad ideas never die),and despite the fact that the then planned fleet of Hercules aircraft did not have the capacity to rapidly fly a significant armoured force to anywhere outside of Europe,and that there was little need to fly one to anywhere within Europe,shortly after the United States' Army had ordered the M551 Sheridan Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle,British generals decided that a new family of,highly fashionable,air mobile reconnaissance tanks called Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance Tracked (which was a remarkably good design considering the constraints placed on it's engineers,being far superior to it's American counterparts) would be absolutely transformational.

 

 

Picture: Unknown British Army official photographer,© IWM CT 1204

 

In true British Army fashion,thousands of these,lightly armed and lightly armoured,air mobile vehicles were then issued to units which had no need for air mobility but which did need heavy armour and heavy armament,because they were sitting in West Germany waiting for the Soviet Army to roll over the Inner German Border,since then generations of British Army cavalry troopers have been taught that reconnaissance is all about sneaking around the battlefield like ninjas (because they were equipped with vehicles which lacked the protection and firepower needed for anything other than sneaking around the battlefield like ninjas),an approach which may be appropriate when screening a defending light infantry division but which is not viable when reconnoitering for an armoured division advancing in to enemy held territory at a rate of tens of miles per hour,in contrast,elements of the proposed An Independent Army For An Independent Nation may use any vehicle they have been trained on which is appropriate to the situation and herein we shall list the vehicles which they shall typically use for reconnaissance.

 

 

Picture: Unknown Second Commando Regiment Multimedia Technician,Australian Army,© Commonwealth of Australia

 

The Ox vehicle family shall not typically be used by any reconnaissance element but may be used all of them when operating in confined spaces.

 

 

Picture: L.A. (Photographer) Si Ethell,Crown Copyright

 

The Mule vehicle family shall typically be used (for sneaking around the battlefield like ninjas) by army reconnaissance regiments.

 

 

Picture: Corporal Ben Beale,Crown Copyright

 

The Pony vehicle family shall typically be used by army reconnaissance troops,corps reconnaissance regiments,light infantry division reconnaissance battalions and light infantry division reconnaissance platoons and troops.

 

 

Picture: Corporal Andy Benson,Royal Air Force,Crown Copyright

 

The Matilda vehicle family shall typically be used by infantry division reconnaissance regiments and infantry division reconnaissance platoons and troops.

 

 

Picture: Corporal Roei Fux,Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson's Unit,Israel Defense Forces photograph

 

The Charger vehicle family shall typically be used by cavalry division reconnaissance regiments and cavalry division reconnaissance troops.

 

The Seven Vehicles: Ox,Mule,Pony,Horse,Elephant,Matilda And Charger

 

 

Picture: Giles Penfound,British Army official photographer,© IWM OP-TELIC 03-010-18-081

 

Further to earlier pieces on rationalising the United Kingdom's naval and military aeroplane and helicopter fleets,herein we shall list the only families of field vehicles which the armed forces actually need (rather than have or want),these shall use common components wherever practical,shall be available in a variety of configurations such as four,six or eight wheeled,truck or tractor,wheeled,half tracked or full tracked and shall be adaptable to specific environments or roles by the addition of internal and external equipment.

  

 

Picture: Specialist Jesse LaMorte,Special Operations Task Force South,United States' Army photograph

 

The Ox family of Utility Vehicles shall be front engined,one cylinder (powered by the same diesel engine family as the Mule and Pony),four or six wheel,four wheel drive,typically four or six seat vehicles,able to operate on four foot wide foot paths,with a gross weight of around two long tons,gross payload (including the weight of the driver) of over sixteen hundred pounds,optional ballistic and mine protection to STANAG 4569 Level 1 and,by means of netting,protection against occasional Rocket Propelled Grenade hits in lieu of payload.

 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,Supacat photograph

 

The Mule family of Field Cars shall be front engined,two or three cylinder (powered by the same diesel engine family as the Ox and Pony),four wheel or six wheel,all wheel drive,typically ten seat vehicles,with the same internal volume as the Pony,Matilda and Charger,able to operate on six foot wide roads,with gross weights of four or six long tons,gross payloads of over four thousand or fifty-two hundred pounds respectively,optional ballistic and mine protection to STANAG 4569 Level 2 and,by means of netting,protection against occasional Rocket Propelled Grenade hits in lieu of payload.

 

 

Picture: Lieutenant Narey,Crown Copyright

 

The Pony family of Light Protected Trucks shall be front engined,four or six cylinder (powered by the same diesel engine family as the Ox and Mule),four wheel or six wheel,all wheel drive,typically ten seat vehicles,with the same internal volume as the Mule,Matilda and Charger,able to operate on eight foot wide roads,with gross weights of eight or twelve long tons,gross payloads of over four thousand or ninety-two hundred pounds respectively with standard ballistic and mine protection to STANAG 4569 Level 3,optional protection to STANAG 4569 Level 4 and,by means of netting,protection against occasional Rocket Propelled Grenade hits in lieu of payload.

 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,Mack Trucks photograph

 

The Horse family of Medium Protected Trucks and Tractors shall be front engined (powered by the same diesel engine family as the Elephant,Matilda and Charger),all wheel drive,typically three seat vehicles,able to operate on eight foot wide roads and to carry or tow loads of up to fifty long tons with standard ballistic and mine protection to STANAG 4569 Level 3,optional protection to STANAG 4569 Level 4 and,by means of netting,protection against occasional Rocket Propelled Grenade hits in lieu of payload.

 

  

Picture: Unknown photographer,Volat photograph

 

The Elephant family of Heavy Protected Trucks and Tractors shall be front engined (powered by the same diesel engine family as the Horse,Matilda and Charger),all wheel drive,typically three seat vehicles,able to operate on twelve foot wide roads and to carry or tow loads of up to one hundred long tons with standard ballistic and mine protection to STANAG 4569 Level 3,optional protection to STANAG 4569 Level 4 and,by means of netting,protection against occasional Rocket Propelled Grenade hits in lieu of payload.

  

  

Picture: Corporal Andy Benson,Royal Air Force,Crown Copyright

 

The Matilda family of Medium Armoured Tracked Infantry Armoured Personnel Carriers shall be front engined (powered by the same diesel engine family as the Horse,Elephant and Charger),tracked,typically ten seat vehicles,with the same internal volume as the Mule,Pony and Charger,able to operate on ten foot wide roads,with gross weights of up to fifty long tons,gross payloads of up to ninety-two hundred pounds with standard protection against mines,shoulder fired and crew served weapons and able to carry a remotely operated turret or other equipment in lieu of payload.

 

 

Picture: Yadi Cohen,Israel Defense Forces photograph

 

The Charger family of Cavalry Heavy ARmoured vehicles shall be front engined (powered by the same diesel engine family as the Horse,Elephant and Matilda),tracked,typically ten seat vehicles,with the same internal volume as the Mule,Pony and Matilda,able to operate on twelve foot wide roads,with gross weights of up to one hundred long tons,gross payloads of up to ninety-two hundred pounds with standard protection against mines,tank guns,shoulder fired and crew served weapons,with a standard Five And A Half Inch Tank Gun turret and able to carry a remotely operated turret or other equipment in lieu of payload or the gun turret.

 

The Light Infantry Division: The Ox

 

 

Picture: קרלוס הגדול
 

The mechanical Ox shall be a small,front engined,four wheel drive,four or six wheeled beast of burden.
 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,unknown copyright
 

Oxen shall perform tasks for which larger vehicles would be either unnecessary or impractical due to their size and weight.
 

 

Picture: Specialist Scott Lindblom,United States' Army photograph

 

Oxen shall be issued to any unit which has a need of them,they may be found digging fighting positions near the front line,carrying pilots to the flight line or mowing the lawn in front of the officers mess.
 

 

Picture: Corporal Joshua Murray,United States' Marine Corps

 

The Ox shall have a gross payload (including the driver) of at least sixteen hundred pounds and a gross weight of around two long tons.

 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,International Automated Systems photograph

 

The four wheeled Ox shall be less than eight feet long,the six wheeled Ox shall be less than ten feet long,both shall be less than four feet wide,less than four feet high with the roof folded down and less than six feet high with the roof erected.
 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,General Dynamics photograph
 

Floors,doors,bulkheads and roof protected to STANAG 4569 Level 1 may be fitted to the Ox in lieu of payload but the standard vehicle shall only have weather protection.
 

 

Picture: Sergeant First Class Allan Baros,United States' Army photograph

 

The Ox shall not have any provision for armament.

 

 

Picture: Staff Sergeant Jason Hull,United States' Army photograph

 

In the transport role the Ox shall have seats for four or six paratroops,including the driver,and space for their equipment when in heavy Marching Order (Emergency Approach March Load to American readers),a weight of at least four hundred pounds per man.

 

 

Picture: Sergeant Laing,Number Five Army Film and Photographic Unit,© IWM B 8201

 

In the medical role the Ox shall be able to carry three casualties on stretchers in addition to the driver and a medical attendant or two casualties on stretchers,two walking wounded and a medical attendant in addition to the driver.

 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,Department of Defense photograph

 

In the logistical role the Ox shall be able to carry a driver in marching order weighing three hundred and fifty pounds and over twelve hundred and fifty pounds of ammunition,fuel,water,rations or other combat supplies,typical loads might include forty Four Inch Mortar bombs or forty Six Inch Rockets.

 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,Bobcat Company video

 

In the engineering role a powerful hydraulic arm may be fitted in lieu of the Ox's rear load bed and seats and when the transfer case is set in low range,the suspension may be hydraulically locked and power take-offs activated permitting the use of items such as bucket loaders,fork lifts,dumper buckets,back hoes or augers.

 

 

Picture: Specialist Cody Black,United States' Army,United States' Navy photograph

 

The Ox shall have one rearwards facing seat to facilitate the operation of engineering equipment,one forwards facing seat for normal driving and two optional,inward facing seats above the rear wheel arches.

 

 

Picture: Private First Class Alvin Pujols,United States' Marine Corps Photograph

 

Fittings at the front and rear shall permit the carriage of items such as ballast plates or fuel cans or the pushing of items such as dozer blades or mine rollers.

 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,Polaris Government & Defense photograph

 

Front and rear tow hooks shall permit the towing items such as half ton cargo trailers,trenching tools or small aircraft. 

 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,Polaris photograph

 

The Ox shall have a single cylinder diesel engine which shares mechanical components with those of the Mule and Pony.
 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,General Dynamics photograph

 

The Ox shall have an external space frame chassis within which is mounted the ballistic and weather protection which forms the vehicle's "body",this arrangement being similar to the Mule. 
 

 

Picture: Private First Class Paige Behringer,United States' Army photograph

 

By folding down the roof,one Ox may be stacked on top of another,in this manner,ten Oxen shall fit inside a standard twenty foot shipping container.

 

 

Picture: Sergeant Elyssa Quesada,United States' Marine Corps photograph

 

A single Ox,with roof folded,shall fit inside the Mule,Pony,Matilda and Charger family of vehicles.

  

 

Picture: Visual Information Specialist Jason Johnston,United States' Army photograph

 

A Centaurus aircraft shall be able to airdrop forty Oxen and one hundred and sixty paratroops,air drop eighty oxen using the Dual Row Airdrop System or air land one hundred and sixty Oxen.
 

 

Picture: Paul Tolenaar,Netherlands Mediacentrum Defensie photograph

 

A Super Merlin,Ultra Merlin or Hermes helicopter shall be able to carry ten Oxen as a sling load.
 

 
Picture: Unknown photographer,JCB photograph

 

Companies such as J.C.B. and Supacat should be able to design and manufacture Oxen,without accessories,for around fifteen million pounds sterling per thousand.

  

(The Field Car renamed Mule,the Light Protected Truck renamed Pony,dead links replaced,new picture attributions and links added and text and pictures edited on the Thirty-first of January,Twenty Twenty-two)