Hirtenberger commando mortar approved for use in the Dutch army and naval infantry and special forces

Like an article in the information magazine published in June 2019MaterieelgezienAs can be seen from the Dutch procurement office “Defensie Matterel Organisatie'' (DMO), the procured M6 C-640 Mk1 command mortars were qualified with the appropriate ammunition and released for use by the troops. The command mortar from the Austrian manufacturer Hirtenberger Defense Europe is intended to be used in the infantry units of the Dutch Army, the Korps Mariniers (marine infantry) and the Korps Kommandotroepen (special forces).

The functional principle of a commando mortar is very simple. After setting the distance to the target and the type of ammunition used on the mortar aiming device, the cartridge must be inserted into the barrel. After aligning the mortar using a spirit level (height and side inclination), the firing takes place by actuating the trigger mechanism. Hirtenberger exhibited at the DSEi 2017 with theGRAM an electronic aiming devicewith the help of which both the accuracy and effective combat distance of a command mortar can be increased. In addition, GRAM enables the use of the command mortar in indirect targeting.

Procurement and qualification

155 command mortars were already contracted in 2015, the qualification of the ammunition was completed by Hirtenberger in 2018 and released at the beginning of 2019 by DMO with the support of the Dutch Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO).

The Dutch procurement program, similar to the one still ongoingProcurement of a 60 mm mortarfor the Bundeswehr, has been extremely lengthy. After the now equipped units expressed their need for a new portable mortar in 2011 - the systems in use date back to the 1960s - several delays meant that the new systems could only recently be made available to the troops.

The original project duration, according to the report, was estimated at three years: one year for the tender (including signing the contract), nine months of ammunition production and then one to one and a half years of qualification of the ammunition in connection with the weapon. The latter was only released by the Netherlands in 2019, which means that from then on the weapon/ammunition system is considered qualified and can be used. The reasons for the delay can probably be found in the particular meticulousness of the 60 mm qualification.

Martin Perka, Hirtenberger's sales manager for the Netherlands, points out, "that after the death of two Dutch soldiers, a lot of attention was paid to a successful system qualification. Therefore, the system was only released at the beginning of 2019, as several audit instances and release steps on the part of the DMO were necessary." In the qualification that has now been carried out, the types of ammunition "tested through its paces' and IM (Insensitive Munitions) qualified. The TNO supported the manufacturing company and the DMO in qualifying the individual types of ammunition. The experience gained in the process is to be used in future ammunition procurement by the Dutch armed forces. The DMO states that it intends to give far greater consideration to the qualification process for explosives when planning new procurement projects in the future. The Director of the DMO, Vice-Admiral Arie Jan de Waard, commended the project team's commitment and tenacity in procuring this weapon. "It is good that the weapon is now available and that the user is satisfied with the quality of the system."

Ammunition accident in Mali in 2016

In autumn 2017, the Dutch Safety Investigation Board (OVV) published an investigation report into the accident in July 2016, in which two soldiers died and another soldier was seriously injured. They were killed by the sudden explosion of a 60 mm mortar shell during an exercise in Kidal, northwest Mali. The deficiencies revealed in the report led to the resignation of then Dutch Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis and the commander of the Dutch armed forces, General Tom Middendorp.

The OVV report blamed “serious deficiencies” in the procurement of mortar ammunition for the soldiers’ deaths. The ammunition was procured under time pressure in 2006 with the help of the US Department of Defense. The Dutch Ministry of Defense failed to carry out comprehensive checks of its own and instead relied on information from the US armed forces. Ultimately, moisture was able to penetrate the mortar cartridges, so that, combined with the heat prevailing in Mali, they became unstable and sensitive to vibrations.

Acceptance of the commando mortar in the armed forces

Die Erstausbildung am Hirtenberger M6 C-640 Mk1 Kommandomörser wurde durch die Firma übernommen. Sechs Ausbilder der niederländischen Streitkräfte wurden an dem System geschult und haben darauf basierende und mit niederländischen Einsatzgrundsätzen sowie Sicherheitsbestimmungen korrespondierende Ausbildungskonzepte entwickelt.

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The users are convinced of the easy handling and the performance of the commando mortar. Sergant Major Martin Mulder (Korps Mariniers) - training officer for the 60mm mortar training in the Dutch School of Indirect Fire - is quoted as follows:"I am impressed. You can fire very accurately up to 1500 meters and the effect exceeds expectations. Truly an impressive weapon system. Especially when it matters most, very effective. A small group can use these 60mm mortars to hold down the enemy and discourage the use of heavy weapons. All in all we can be very satisfied with these mortars.”

Dutch marines fire with the new 60mm commando mortar. (Video: MOD Netherlands)

procurement volume

A total of 155 command mortars were purchased and a framework contract for the supply of ammunition with a term of five years was concluded. If necessary, the contract can be extended for another two years. The introduced and qualified insensitive ammunition types in the standard version are:

• Explosive cartridge with impact fuse (with and without delay),
• explosive cartridge with proximity fuse,
• Fog cartridge (red phosphorus),
• Rocket and
• An optical cartridge (IR).

Waldemar Geiger

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