ATP 3-21.90 Tactical Employment of Mortars is a multiservice publication that provides Army and United States Marine Corps (USMC) a doctrinal reference for the employment of mortar squads, sections, and platoons. It contains guidance on tactics and techniques that mortar elements use to execute their part of combat operations described in battalion-, squadron-, troop-, and company-level manuals. This publication contains guidance on how a mortar element’s fires and displacement are best planned and employed to sustain a commander’s intent for fire support.

The target audience for ATP 3-21.90/MCTP 3-01D includes mortar squad, section, and platoon leaders, company and battalion commanders, battalion staff officers, and all others responsible for controlling and coordinating fire support. This publication serves as the primary reference for both resident and nonresident mortar tactical employment instruction.

 

ATP 3-21.90/MCTP 3-01D applies to the Active Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserve of the United States, and USMC.

 

Introduction

 

Chapter 1 discusses the overview of mortar systems, fire direction center systems, and duty positions for a mortar platoon or section in the Armored, Infantry, and Stryker Brigade Combat Team. This chapter discusses the role of mortars with an introduction to the purpose.

Chapter 2 discusses an overview of fires organization and fire support plan and coordination with emphasis on the top-down bottom-up refinement.

Chapter 3 establishes techniques and procedures for mortar platoons or sections in support of platoon, company, and battalion operations.

Chapter 4 provides an overview of mortar platoon and section operations in support of company, troop, and battalion operations.

Chapter 5 provides baseline survivability techniques for mortar platoons and sections in all operating environments.

Chapter 6 covers the sustainment and logistics of mortar elements in support of operations.

Appendix A discusses mortar ammunition utilization and effects on targets to include high explosive, phosphorus smoke, and illumination cartridges.

 

This book is a “BIG” size (the size of a regular sheet of paper). This website also has the popular “mini” (half the size of a regular sheet of paper).

The binding is with coil, allowing easy flipping of pages without jamming.

The color covers are laminated for weather protection with black and white inside printing.