M19 Mortar

The M19 mortar was a U.S. 60 mm smoothbore mortar developed as a lighter infantry-support weapon. It followed the successful M2 60 mm mortar but pursued a more portable arrangement, including handheld or lightweight mounting concepts. The design was produced by Watervliet Arsenal and became associated with Korean War and Vietnam-era infantry mortar service.

The M19's operational appeal was weight reduction, especially for infantry patrols and dispersed units. That advantage came with penalties. Compared with both the older M2 and later M224, the M19 had limited range and was not remembered as a major performance leap. Its place in the mortar lineage is therefore as a portability-focused step rather than a definitive replacement.

The M19 saw service in Cold War conflicts and with allied users, but the later M224 Lightweight Company Mortar System addressed many of the capability gaps. The M224 offered better range and a more mature family of ammunition and fire-control practices. For HiWars readers, the M19 is most useful as the transitional design between World War II-era 60 mm mortars and the modern U.S. company mortar family.