1 Mar 2022 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

American soldiers set up mortars behind wall at base of Nemi Castle to fire upon German positions on the other side of the valley during the battle for Rome.


Location: Rome, Italy
Date taken: June 1944
Photographer: George Silk

Information

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[fjruple]

What is the large cylindrical objects lying on the ground- smoke pots?

[eb in oregon]

What is the large cylindrical objects lying on the ground- smoke pots?

The card board shipping tube for ammunition for larger caliber weapons. Artillery bigger than 155 I'd guesstimate. But those 60's look pretty close to that wall to me. Bouncing a mortar round off the top of that wall wouldn't be conducive to one's health.

[RAM1ALASKA]

I was curious about the large containers myself .
Is it possible the large canisters contained several of the smaller tubes with the actual rounds in them ?? Appears to be a few of the large containers next to one crew and a few large containers next to the other crew . Surely they didn't carry all the smaller tubes in there loose?
Hopefully some with more knowledge than I, can't answer the mystery!

If you look at the one large canister lower center it looks to be smaller tubes sticking out of the end.

[Daan Kemp]

On the left. The empty mortar bomb tubes are against the wall, seen between the mortarmen. The right hand mortarman has a bomb in his left hand, ready to reload, more bombs in tubes next to him on the ground. Bomb on the ground behind left hand mortarman probably dud propellent.
On the right. The mortarmen on the right are also ready with the next bomb.

All the large tubes should be large calibre artillery tubes, for the charges.

That mortar tube elevation looks like the bombs will be falling close. Arming distance for the bombs should be at least 40m so the wall isn't a problem. I believe they will know what to do.

[eb in oregon]

Is it possible the large canisters contained several of the smaller tubes with the actual rounds in them ?? Appears to be a few of the large containers next to one crew and a few large containers next to the other crew . Surely they didn't carry all the smaller tubes in there loose?

Mortar rounds come in a cardboard tube. Those tubes are packed in a wooden crate. So no, those big tubes have nothing to do with 60mm mortars.

[Mark in Rochester]

Quote Originally Posted by RAM1ALASKA View Post
Is it possible the large canisters contained several of the smaller tubes with the actual rounds in them ??

Bingo

Appears to be a few of the large containers next to one crew and a few large containers next to the other crew . Surely they didn't carry all the smaller tubes in there loose?




WWII M51 60mm 6 round mortar fiber container (center). Also shown are 6 M50 60mm fiber containers and 6 M49A2 60mm mortar rounds, also restored



WWII M44 fiber container for 155mm M2 Propellant "White Bag":

more here WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics - G503 Military Vehicle Message Forums

[RAM1ALASKA]

Hey MARK thanks for the info on the big tubes, and thanks again for all your great pictures!
Another thing I noticed was the two riflemen on the left.
They sure look a little close for just hanging out,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
My first option would have been sit a little further away,,,
I'm sure there was a lot going on at the time, and that may have not been possible .

[ssgross]

The mortar on the left isn't as close to the wall as it seems (picture is a 2d projection). Draw in perspective lines using the top and bottom of the wall to see that it is a bit further back than it appears. In fact, it's the same distance from the wall as the distance from wall to the middle can on the right of the photo.
But then the mortar on the far right is right against the wall, with what appears to be a soldier about to drop one in the tube? I'm going to say no. he's just holding it. They are on a road after all - a bridge or narrow stretch right against a precipice. Such roads are often narrow, so maybe they are just clearing out of the way for traffic to get buy, and will move their stuff back later.
I dunno. speculation makes the game fun. Happy to be proven wrong.

EDIT: AHA! It's a bridge, over a deep ravine with a road below. they are dropping mortars directly below the bridge?

[Mark in Rochester]

The mortar on the left isn't as close to the wall as it seems (picture is a 2d projection). Draw in perspective lines using the top and bottom of the wall to see that it is a bit further back than it appears. In fact, it's the same distance from the wall as the distance from wall to the middle can on the right of the photo.
But then the mortar on the far right is right against the wall, with what appears to be a soldier about to drop one in the tube? I'm going to say no. he's just holding it. They are on a road after all - a bridge or narrow stretch right against a precipice. Such roads are often narrow, so maybe they are just clearing out of the way for traffic to get buy, and will move their stuff back later.
I dunno. speculation makes the game fun. Happy to be proven wrong.

EDIT: AHA! It's a bridge, over a deep ravine with a road below.

are dropping mortars directly below the bridge?

think the smoke in background is their intended target :"to fire upon German positions on the other side of the valley"