ForgottenWeapons
patreon
Soviet World War Two 50mm Light Mortars (RM-39 & RM-40) (Ad-free)
🕑 Added 2025-08-25 12:00:06 +0000 UTCThe Soviet Union decided to adopt a 50mm light mortar in 1937 as a company-level armament. The first such weapon they used was the RM-38, introduced in 1938. It was a complex design, with a gas venting system to adjust range (200m - 800m), a bipod specifically set to either 45 or 75 degrees, and a recoil buffering system. This was clearly too complex, and it was replaced by the RM-39 the next year. This remained a well-made mortar, but now had a freely adjustable bipod. However it quickly proved too complex and expensive and it was in turn replaced by the RM-40.
The RM-40 is a much more efficient (aka, cheap) design. It used simple stamped bipod legs and a heavy stamped baseplate. It still uses adjustable gas venting to set range and retains a simplified recoil buffer, but it is a much more quickly produced weapon. A 1941 model of completely different design did replace it though, and by 1943 the Soviet Union moved to 82mm mortars for better effectiveness.
The Soviet mortars were generally well liked by German troops who captured them, as they were significantly longer ranged than the German 50mm mortar. They were also captured in large numbers by the Finns, who used them as well but found them underpowered. In 1960 some 1,268 Soviet 50mm mortars of all models were sold by the Finnish Defense Forces to Interarms to be imported into the US. Some were registered and sold as Destructive Devices and some were deactivated and sold as dummies.
Comments
Alexander Thomas
So, the Soviets out-Germaned the Germans… No wonder the Germans liked the captured units.
Robert Beattie
I enjoyed the video. Thanks for showing this really forgotten weapon. I am curious as to where someone with an activated model would get shells. Certainly not at the local gun shop:)
Guido Schriewer
maybe not the best balance ever but I still wouldn't want to be downrange facing that thing. ammo has to be lighter even if the effective radius isn't great. still... nobody throws m26s like 150m.
Richard Simon
Ahh Screw Adjustable Venting sounds like the KNS Gas Piston upgrade for the AK. Simplicity can be a good thing.
