Rediscovering the 60: Handheld Mortars for the Modern Fight by Capt Mitchell Teefey, USMC
Writer: thewarfightingsociety
Jun 30
There’s little middle ground when it comes to employing the M224 60mm mortar in handheld mode. You either think it’s the most versatile, underappreciated weapon in the rifle company’s armory, or you dismiss it as a dangerous and pointless gimmick. Say “handheld” to a group of grunts and you’ll get ten different reactions: a fired-up, advanced school-trained corporal who swears by it, a skeptical gunny who remembers a safety incident from ’09, and a lost lieutenant still trying to figure out what the hell a “surface danger zone” is.
But here’s the thing: Handheld 60s aren’t some fringe technique. They’re a valuable tool that fits the type of war we expect to fight—distributed operations, small unit initiative, fast tempo, and minimal logistics. If we’re going to win through our small unit tactics, why are we afraid to lean into the most mobile indirect fire support asset in the Marine Corps arsenal?
Let’s make the case. Not with theory, but with history, fieldcraft, and some hard-won lessons from the jungle and the bush. If you’re a company-grade infantry officer or non-commissioned officer looking to make better use of your 60s, this one’s for you.
How We Got Here
https://www.themaneuverist.org/post/rediscovering-the-60-handheld-mortars-for-the-modern-fight-by-capt-mitchell-teefey-usmc
