{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-era-m69-dummy-training-practice-tp-round-for-the-m2-m19-60mm-mortar-systems-inert","title":"Original U.S. WWII Era M69 Dummy \/ Training Practice (TP) Round for the M2 \u0026 M19 60mm Mortar Systems - Inert","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. Totally inert and demilitarized according to BATF guidelines with a solid body and the propellant charge removed. This mortar round cannot be converted to an explosive device and is \u003cstrong\u003enot available for export.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a hard to find WWII Era M69 Training \/ Practice Cartridge, as used with the U.S. WWII issue M2 60mm \u0026amp; M19 Mortar Systems. This TP round also continued to be used during the Korean war, and into the Vietnam era. The M69 Training\/Practice Cartridge (TP) weighs approximately 4.43 lbs (2.01 kg) and is composed of a shell with a cast iron body, inert filler, and detachable fin assembly used to train recruits in firing the M2 \u0026amp; M19 mortars. The cast iron body is reusable and the fin assembly can be replaced if damaged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original blue paint is still widely visible and retained very nicely. These were often repainted while in service, due to the fact they took a beating while in use. This one appears to only have one layer of paint on it and still has the round type designation stencil in white still visible. The designator painted is: \u003cstrong\u003e60M-M69\u003c\/strong\u003e. The removable fin assembly also has markings visible. They are as follows: \u003cstrong\u003eWMZ-4-36-68-60MM M2\u003c\/strong\u003e. This example is in very good shape, with a great patina, intact fins and original stenciling which is a rarity in itself!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA great chance to pick up a very nice looking WWII era practice round!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM2 Mortar\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe M2 Mortar is a 60 millimeter smoothbore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used by U.S. forces in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War for light infantry support.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe U.S. M2 60 mm mortar was developed from the heavier 81 mm M1 Mortar to provide a lighter-weight alternative to company-level fire support. The M2 attempted to bridge the gap between the 81 mm mortar and the hand grenade. Normally employed by the weapons platoon of a U.S. infantry company, the M2 is of the usual mortar pattern of the day. It consists of a smoothbore metal tube on a rectangular base plate, supported by a simple bipod with the elevation and traverse mechanisms. The firing pin was fixed in the base cap of the tube, and the bomb was fired automatically when it dropped down the barrel. Though classed as a light mortar, the M2 had considerable range compared to the 50 mm and 60 mm mortars of most other nations, and its fixed-firing pin design allowed a high rate of fire by trained crews.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring the late 1920s, the US Army began examining mortars to act as a light infantry support weapon. The War Department eventually settled on a 60 mm design from Edgar Brandt, a French ordnance engineer, and purchased a license to build the weapon. The model was standardized as the Mortar, 60 mm M2. Testing took place in the late 1930s, and the first order for 1,500 M2 mortars was placed in January 1940.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe weapon was used throughout World War II by the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. It saw service again in the Korean War, and by French forces in their counterinsurgency campaigns in Indochina and Algeria. It was used under designation m\/952 by Portugal during the Portuguese Colonial War. During the Vietnam War, the M2 was again used by the U.S. Army and Marines, as well as by South Vietnamese forces. Ultimately, the M2 was replaced by the M224 in 1978.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM19 Mortar\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe M19 Mortar is a light, smoothbore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon for light infantry support developed and produced in the United States. It has been replaced in service by the more modern 60 mm M224 mortar, which has a much longer range and improved ammunition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original M19 just had a simple spade-like M1 baseplate, leaving the elevation and traverse free for the firer. This of course was found to be too inaccurate, and the infantry initially refused the M19. A new mount, the M5, was developed, which used a conventional baseplate and bipod with elevation and traverse adjustment. This gave the M19 better accuracy, but made it heavier than the M2 Mortar with less range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe M19 fired the same ammunition used in the M2 mortar, which it would replace. The 60 mm mortar is used by the infantry to lob high-explosive and white phosphorus smoke shells at well-protected hostile locations. The weapon can also fire illumination rounds to light up the battlefield at night. The primary difference between the M2 and M19 was that the M2 was drop-fire only while the M19 could be drop-fired or a round loaded and then fired by a lever-like trigger at the base of the tube.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eM19 development began in 1942 as the T18E6 to replace the M2 Mortar. It was a very simple and light weapon, but was too inaccurate without a mounting. The conventional M5 mount for the M2 mortar was fitted to it. It began to be fielded during the Korean War to replace the M2 and saw limited use in the Vietnam War. Many M19s were scrapped or exported to other countries.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39816491860037,"sku":"ONSV21WS236","price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV21WS236__01.jpg?v=1645027051","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-era-m69-dummy-training-practice-tp-round-for-the-m2-m19-60mm-mortar-systems-inert","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}