82mm mortar

The 82mm mortar is a smoothbore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon designed for indirect fire support against infantry and light fortifications. It is typically operated by a small crew and can be disassembled into several loads for easier transport.

Developed in the early 1930s by designer Nikolai Dorovlyov to provide infantry with highly mobile fire support, the Soviet 82mm mortar officially entered Red Army service in 1936. The 82mm caliber was specifically chosen so Soviet forces could fire captured German 81mm ammunition, while preventing the enemy from utilizing captured Soviet rounds. The weapon saw extensive and highly successful deployment during the Winter War and throughout World War II, proving crucial in both defensive operations and urban combat. Widely exported to Warsaw Pact allies and client states globally, variants of this design remain in active service today in numerous modern conflicts.