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  #1  
Old 21-11-21, 01:33
rob love rob love is offline
carrier mech
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
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Default Can Anyone ID this Mortar Bipod and Baseplate

I picked these two items up at my (and Derk's) favorite surplus yard a few months ago. I am guessing by the size it is for the 4.2. The opening of the collar is around 4.750. Despite the rust, the elevation and traverse screws work fine. But the bipod does need a good cleanup. I am including a shot of the buckle on the strap. It is unlike anything I have dealt with before. Maybe someone recognizes it, or what country used this style of buckle?

The baseplate has me puzzled however. It is rectangular in shape with two large springs and clamps to hold the tube into the baseplate. It also has a couple of leather straps. Derk had a tube that came from this yard a decade or so back, and it had two large pins that the clamps would grab onto.
So does anyone recognize what mortar and what country these were from? My internet searched have been without fruition.
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  #2  
Old 21-11-21, 02:19
edstorey edstorey is offline
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Default Type 94 Japanese Infantry Mortar

I suspect what you have are the baseplate and bipod from a Type 94 Japanese Infantry Mortar.
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  #3  
Old 21-11-21, 02:47
rob love rob love is offline
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Not so sure Ed. The rope handles are different, the top of the baseplate is wrong, and the two spring clamps aren't on any photo of the Japanese mortar. Add to that there is two letters and a part number that do not appear to be Japanese.
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  #4  
Old 21-11-21, 03:28
Harry Moon Harry Moon is offline
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Default 3 inch version?

the bipod looks very much like my 3 inch mortar. same feet and mechanics, measurements look to be bigger though. are we sure the base plate goes with it?
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  #5  
Old 21-11-21, 04:03
Bruce Parker (RIP) Bruce Parker (RIP) is offline
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The tripod is almost certainly 4.2" mortar. The base plate may or may not be the same as it doesn't match the typical. That said, 3" mortars had a variety of different baseplates so maybe the 4.2" did too.

Somewhere recently I saw a 4.2" mortar for sale less the tripod. Wouldn't it be nice if the two could meet up.
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  #6  
Old 21-11-21, 13:40
James P James P is offline
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Page 432 of the book Weapons of the WWII Tommy by David Gordon confirm what Bruce P says about the Tripod being for a 4.2 inch mortar and it just stands to reason the rope handled base plate is a variation to go along with said tripod. Cool find you made.

More on Mortars.

https://milart.blog/2014/09/07/canad...ment-projects/

Last edited by James P; 21-11-21 at 15:03.
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  #7  
Old 11-12-21, 07:06
Claude VILLENEUVE Claude VILLENEUVE is offline
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Although I am not a 4.2 inch mortar specialist, I own two complete 3 inch mortars (with CES): Mk II (Cdn 1942) and Mk IV (British 1944). So, I would suggest that we have to go back to the base, therefore to the main source. In this particular case, the reference is “WO 1645, Maintenance Manual for the ML 2-Inch, ML 3-Inch, and SB 4.2-Inch Mortars - Land Service, 21st September 1946”. On page 76 of the document, it is clearly recognized the Mounting Mk I.

IAW “57 Vocabulary 1407 - Vocabulary of Army Ordnance Stores, Section M 1, Miscellaneous Weapons, Bomb-Throwers 2-In, Flame-Throwers Wheeled, Mortars Spigot 29-mm, OML 2-in Mortar, O.M.L. 3-in Mortar, O.M.S. 3-in Gun, O.S.B. 4.2-in Mortar, and Projectors 2 1/2 -in, 22nd April 1944” the Mounting Mk I Part Number was "MR 40GA" and cost 42£.

Regarding the Base Plate, the number "MR 1520" does not appear in the VOAS. The only numbers found are:

- MR 49GA – Plate, Base, 4.2-in S.B. Mortar No. 1, Mk. I
- MR 51GA – Plate, Base, 4.2-in S.B. Mortar No. 2, Mk. I
- MR 62GA – Plate, Base, 4.2-in S.B. Mortar No. 3, Mk. I

Perhaps a post-war Base Plate? There is a VAOS dated 1962 however, sadly, I don't have a copy.

Claude
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  #8  
Old 11-12-21, 13:25
rob love rob love is offline
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The MR1520 is actually on the cradle of the tripod. At this time I have not found a number on the baseplate. I'll sandblast it in the spring and see what comes up. In the last few weeks, I have seen photos of another 4.2 here in Canada with this same baseplate and managed to purchase a deactivated barrel for mine. Not knowing when to stop, I also purchased another 4.2 with a short barrel and tripod but no baseplate, and the sight collar is missing.
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  #9  
Old 11-12-21, 18:12
David Dunlop David Dunlop is offline
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Rob! The OD Train HAS no brakes!

David
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  #10  
Old 31-12-21, 02:07
Wayne Mayo Wayne Mayo is offline
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Not sure if it's the same base plate. 4.2 " mortar.
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  #11  
Old 31-12-21, 05:44
rob love rob love is offline
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It sure looks like it, with the exception that the springs are covered by cylinders. Thanks for the photos...nice to see what the hooks on the tube look like.
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