Argentine 81.4 mm mortar, 1975 circa

Argentine 81.4 mm mortar, 1975 circa. Argentina manufactures several French designed mortars under licence. This particular weapon is very similar to the standard British mortar of the same calibre, although heavier and of inferior performance. However, the mortar can still sustain a rate of fire of 12-15 rounds per minute out to 4,000 metres. One problem in the Falklands conflict of 1982 was the boggy nature of the ground which made it difficult to bed the mortar base plate securely. Also, the poor maintenance of Argentine weapons rendered the mortars less effective in repelling British attacks even though the Argentines had plenty of time to range their weapons precisely.