A report on Italian 81-mm mortar ammunition weight variations, from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 24, May 6, 1943. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

ITALIAN 81-MM MORTAR AMMUNITION--WEIGHT VARIATIONS An Italian document discloses that the Italian 81-mm mortar ammunition in actual use varies considerably in weight. At least as a partial remedy, a system of weight markings has been devised. The weight markings appear halfway up the ogive of the mortar shells as follows:        0  (less than 1 percent above or below the standard weight)        0+ (between 1 and 4 percent greater than the standard weight)        0‡ (between 4 and 7 percent greater than the standard weight)        -0 (between 1 and 4 percent less than the standard weight)        =0 (between 4 and 7 percent less than the standard weight) The standard weight is also marked on the shell.

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