Archives for July 2019

Product Manager for Precision Fires and Mortars, a division of JPEO A&A at Picatinny Arsenal is in charge of the 60 mm, 81 mm, 120 mm Mortar Weapon Systems.

The 60 mm mortar weapon system used by the U.S Army and Marines is a basic lightweight weapon which can be carried by a soldier. Within the Infantry Rifle Company, three (3) M224 mortar weapon systems make up a mortar section. These specialty soldiers know as Mortarmen support their teams by providing continuous mortar fires when necessary. Mortars are fired for various reasons such as lighting up targets with Illumination mortar cartridges, destroying targets with High Explosive ammunition mortar rounds, or firing White Phosphorous Smoke rounds.

The M224 60 mm or 60 mm M224A1 mortar system can be fired in either a drop fire mode (conventional method) or by using the firing trigger on the mortar handle. When weapon is fired using the trigger hand-held method a lightweight auxiliary baseplate is used to support the cannon. A Range indicator located in the mortar weapon handle is used to target the weapon. This range indicators scales are illuminated due to the effect of the radioluminescence of Tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen which is encapsulated in the scale assembly, no batteries necessary. When the mortar weapon system is fired in the conventional drop fire mode a bipod assembly, larger baseplate and sight unit are attached.

The Legacy Mortar Weapon System M224 and newer 60mm M224A1 Lightweight Mortar System are the two 60 mm mortar classifications. The M224A1 is twenty one (21%) lighter in weight while at the same time maintaining the same range, rates of fire and barrel life as the existing M224 mortar weapon system.

PM Precision Fires and Mortars is currently looking for new small business to produce all of mortar weapon systems. EFW Inc a subsidiary of Elbit Systems of America currently has an open government contract W15QKN-16-D-0054 to produce most of the Mortar weapon Systems. The new contract(s) (yet to be awarded) will be to produce the mortar weapon series.

The M224A1 uses a cannon tube made from Inconel. The metal alloy Inconel 718 Unified Numbering System (UNS) N07718 is a nickel chromium material with superior characteristics compared to steel. The use of Inconel in mortar weapon systems was studied back in 1972 by Battelle Columbus Laboratories, Columbus, OH. They won Government contract DAAF07-72-R-0082 to do this research for Benet Weapons Laboratory at Watervliet Arsenal, NY. Inconel as well as other nickel alloys are used by the Defense Department due their heat and corrosion resistances and can be found in items such as Inconel fasteners and Inconel aircraft parts.

Inconel a trademark for this specialty alloy was originally registered to International Nickle Company, Inc. on November 21, 1933. If you are Looking for sources of Inconel parts or raw material government contracts, knowing the history of the company will assist in your government contract searching. The company producing Inconel has gone through several name changes and ownerships starting at Inco Alloys International, Huntington Alloys, and currently under the name Special Metals Corporation (CAGE code 28553) a division of Precision Castparts Corp which is owned by Berkshire Hathaway.

Major items – M224 60 mm Mortar System NSN 1010-01-020-5626

M7 Mortar Baseplate NSN 1010-01-043-7504 (14.4 pounds)M8 Mortar Baseplate NSN 1010-01-043-4661 (3.6 pounds) hand-held modeM170 Bipod NSN 1010-01-521-1614M225 Cannon for 60 mm mortar weapon system – No NSNM225 Cannon Barrel NSN 1010-01-044-5883M67 Sight unit NSN 1240-01-366-7322M67 Sight unit – telescope elbow NSN 6650-01-341-5195M67 Sight unit – telescope mount NSN 6650-01-340-6082M64A1 Sight unit NSN 1240-01-379-7953Handle & Firing Mechanism NSN 1010-01-043-2050Handle & Firing Mechanism Range Indicator NSN 5840-01-458-6159

Major items – M224A1 60 mm Mortar NSN 1010-01-586-2874

M7A1 Mortar Baseplate NSN 1010-01-552-9882 (9.2 pounds)M8A1 Mortar Baseplate NSN 1010-01-621-7981 (3.7 pounds)M170A1 Mortar Mount (bipod assembly) 1015-01-561-9234 (12.8 pounds)M225A1 Cannon (60 mm) part number 11581900 – No NSNBarrel NSN 1010-01-581-3156M67 Sight unit NSN 1240-01-366-7322M67 Sight unit – Telescope elbow NSN 6650-01-341-5195M67 Sight unit – Telescope mount NSN 6650-01-340-6082M224A1 BII Management Control Number (MCN) 9999-01-M98-0506M224A1 Direct support tools NSN 1010-01-592-6340

Equipment for the mortar systems such as Additional authorization list (AAL) which are items used to support an end item. Also Basic issue items (BII) are used to support and maintain the end item things like screwdrivers, gauges, grease guns. Repair and spare parts are also items associated to the end item. The list below is only a sample of the things found to support the mortar weapon system.

Equipment for the mortar systems such as Additional authorization list (AAL) which are items used to support an end item. Also Basic issue items (BII) are used to support and maintain the end item things like screwdrivers, gauges, grease guns. Repair and spare parts are also items associated to the end item. The list below is only a sample of the things found to support the mortar weapon system.

Additional Items

Dial bore gage NSN 5280-01-560-1762M45A1 Boresight NSN 1240-00-152-3512M19 Plotting board NSN 1120-01-059-7989M16 Plotting board NSN 1220-01-548-9063M3 Borescope NSN 6650-01-063-0035M2A2 Aiming Circle NSN 6675-01-067-0687M2 Compass NSN 1290-00-930-4260Combat arms earplugs NSN 6515-01-576-8861Wire rope assembly NSN 4010-01-050-9735Connecting link NSN 3040-01-079-1795Hinge pin NSN 5315-01-047-6512Shoulder screw NSN 5305-00-923-8599 MS51975Lock washer NSN 5310-00-933-8120Retaining ring NSN 5325-01-048-7838Screw thread insert (Helicoil) NSN 5325-01-048-6354Identification plate NSN 9905-01-624-0166Preformed packing NSN 5330-00-433-9640Gasket NSN 5330-01-047-1046Helical compression spring NSN 5360-01-047-1397Helical torsion spring NSN 5360-01-047-14013.0 Volt Lithium Battery NSN 6135-01-351-1131

Technical Manuals for the 60 mm Mortar SystemTM 9-1010-233-10TM 9-1010-233-23&P

Field Manuals for the 60 mm Mortar SystemFM 23-90FM 23-91FM 7-9

Ranges of the 60 mm Mortar Weapon System:Elevation – Minimum 800 mils, Maximum 1511 mils.Range – Minimum 70 meters, Maximum 3490 meters

Ammunition for the M224A1 60 mm Weapon System60mm – M720A1 HE (High Explosive)60mm – M722A1 SMK – White Phosphorous Smoke60mm – M721 VL Illum – Visible Light Illumination Cartridge60mm – M767 IR Illum – Infrared Illumination Cartridge60mm – M769 Training – Full Range Practice Cartridge60mm – XM1061 MAPAM – Mortar, Anti-Personnel, Anti-Material (MAPAM)

The Lightweight Mortar Systems are fairly simple systems compared to other weapon systems. From the list of parts above you can see how many items and potential government contracting opportunities that could be available in supplying and producing these parts. Successful government contracting companies spend time not only "searching for government bids" they spend time researching past contracts and solicitations which in turn can lead you to discover things that may result in long term profitable government contracts. Try searching for yourself here at BidLink.

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