Hungarian Heavy Mortar Platoon

includes four 120mm 43M mortars with crew, one Command Rifle team, one Observer Rifle team, two Small bases & four Large bases.

The 120mm M43 mortar was a Soviet designed mortar based on the earlier 120mm obr 1938 mortar. The 120mm obr 1938 was in fact the first 120mm mortar developed by any country for their armed forces. After the Germans invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, the 120mm obr 1938 proved to be far too demanding to manufacture on a Soviet war industry that was already struggling to keep up with demand.

The M43 retained the stamped circular base plate and two-wheel carriage of the 120mm obr 1938 but featured large shock-absorbing cylinders. During the fighting on the Don in 1942 the Hungarian were able to capture a number of 120mm Soviet mortars. The Hungarians were impressed with this weapon and similar mortars used by the Germans. They soon began to make their own, giving their infantry added heavy support in the front line.

Designed by Evan Allen
Painted by Wayne Turner