40 deg south
Well-Known Member
On a different topic, noticed a couple of recent news stories from the other side of the Tasman.
Defence Technology Review : DTR AUG 2019, Page 1
Firstly, Defence Technology Review announced the arrival of new 81mm mortars for ADF. The new M252 A1 is a lightweight version of the existing 81mm mortar made in the US - the Wikipedia (sorry) description is as follows:
Secondly, the regular 'Across the Tasman' column in APDR features news that NZ has awarded a contract for replacement 81mm mortars to Hirtenberger Defence Systems of Austria.
GETS | Ministry of Defence - Contract Award 81MM Mortar
Sure enough, a bit of googling throw up info on a contact signing in May 2019. It appears Hirtenberger has been supplying NZ with 81mm ammunition since at least 2015, and also supplied the 60mm system in service.
81MM SYSTEM | Hirtenberger Defense Systems
Comany promotional site here.
I'm intrigued that NZ and Australia, despite replacing the same weapon system with a lighter-weight updated version at the same time, have settled on different suppliers. It would be interesting to know what the selection critieria was for each country, and why they ended up making different choices.
One possibility is that NZ simply found it more convenient to work with a single supplier across their entire mortar range, and that was the decisive factor? Or are their performance differences between the two systems that influenced the decision?
Defence Technology Review : DTR AUG 2019, Page 1
Firstly, Defence Technology Review announced the arrival of new 81mm mortars for ADF. The new M252 A1 is a lightweight version of the existing 81mm mortar made in the US - the Wikipedia (sorry) description is as follows:
https://venturaapdr.partica.online/apdr/apdr-julyaugust-2019/flipbook/52/A much lighter version, the M252A1, was fielded for the first time in late 2014. By reducing the number of parts and using lightweight materials, the total weight was reduced by 9.4 kg (20.8 pounds) to 35.8 kg (79 pounds). In the next two years, all U.S. Army M252s will be replaced by the M252A1. As part of the same program, a lightweight version of the M224 60mm mortar was also developed.
Secondly, the regular 'Across the Tasman' column in APDR features news that NZ has awarded a contract for replacement 81mm mortars to Hirtenberger Defence Systems of Austria.
GETS | Ministry of Defence - Contract Award 81MM Mortar
Sure enough, a bit of googling throw up info on a contact signing in May 2019. It appears Hirtenberger has been supplying NZ with 81mm ammunition since at least 2015, and also supplied the 60mm system in service.
81MM SYSTEM | Hirtenberger Defense Systems
Comany promotional site here.
I'm intrigued that NZ and Australia, despite replacing the same weapon system with a lighter-weight updated version at the same time, have settled on different suppliers. It would be interesting to know what the selection critieria was for each country, and why they ended up making different choices.
One possibility is that NZ simply found it more convenient to work with a single supplier across their entire mortar range, and that was the decisive factor? Or are their performance differences between the two systems that influenced the decision?