The M2 was the standard U.S. 60 mm light mortar of World War II and remained in use through later conflicts.
The M2 mortar was a U.S. 60 mm light infantry mortar derived from French Brandt concepts and produced for American service. Quartermaster Section and Military Factory summaries place it as a World War II-era light mortar that gave rifle companies portable high-angle fire without relying on heavier battalion weapons.
The M2 offered infantry units a compact mortar for short-range high-angle support.
The M2's tactical value came from portability and simplicity. A small crew could carry the tube, bipod, baseplate, sight, and ammunition forward with infantry formations. Its 60 mm bombs could reach defiladed enemy positions, provide quick suppression, and support assaults in terrain where flat-trajectory weapons were limited. The tradeoff was modest payload and range compared with 81 mm mortars.
Although replaced by later 60 mm mortars, the M2 remained visible in Korea, Vietnam, and allied inventories.
The M2 stayed in use well after World War II because it was rugged, available, and familiar. It appeared in Korean War and Vietnam War contexts even as the M19 and later M224 entered the light mortar lineage. Its longevity makes it a useful baseline for comparing later U.S. 60 mm mortar development.
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