Description
81mm M853A1 Illuminating Mortar Round with M772 MTSQ Fuze and PA114 Fiber Tube – Inert Display
Item Overview
This 81mm M853A1 mortar round is a completely inert display example of the U.S. military’s visible-light illuminating cartridge. It is fitted with an inert M772 mechanical time and superquick nose fuze and comes with a PA114 fiber storage tube. Inside the round, non-energetic mock powder or filler is held in place by felt pads. It contains no live explosive, illuminant, propellant, primer, expulsion charge, or functioning fuze components. Its full-size form and correct major component types make it a strong display piece for a mortar, ammunition, or modern military history collection.
Identification and Features
The markings and component combination identify this display as an M853A1-series 81mm illuminating mortar cartridge. The M853A1 was type-classified Standard in December 1986 and was developed for the improved M252 81mm mortar system. This example represents the complete external form of the cartridge while using inert internal material for safe display.
- Model: M853A1
- Caliber: 81mm
- Original service type: Visible-light illuminating mortar cartridge
- Display status: Completely inert and non-energetic
- Nose fuze: Inert M772 mechanical time and superquick, or MTSQ, fuze
- Included container: PA114 fiber tube
- Internal display material: Mock powder or filler retained by felt pads
- Primary historical weapon system: M252 81mm mortar
- Original military drawing number: 9152621
- Original DOD ammunition code: 1315-C871
Inert Display Configuration
This item is arranged for collection and display rather than firing. The filler inside is non-energetic mock material, and felt pads keep it in position. The M772 fuze is inert, and the round has no live primer, propelling charge, expulsion charge, illuminant candle, or other energetic material. It must never be loaded into or fired from any mortar. The PA114 tube protects the round during storage and helps create a more complete military presentation.
Original Service Configuration
An original loaded M853A1 used an aluminum projectile body containing an illuminant canister and parachute assembly. Its service components included an M772 MTSQ fuze, an M219 propelling charge with four removable increments, an M752 ignition cartridge with an integral percussion primer, and an M29 fin assembly. After launch, the fuze’s preset time function expelled and ignited the illuminant canister. A parachute slowed the burning candle as it descended, producing at least 600,000 candlepower for a minimum of 60 seconds. Army data listed the original complete round at about 25.3 inches long and 8.8 pounds, with a maximum range of about 5,000 meters at burst. These are original loaded-service specifications and may not equal the measurements or weight of this inert display example.
M772 MTSQ Fuze
MTSQ means mechanical time and superquick. On a service M853A1, the mechanical time setting controlled when the flare assembly was released in the air, while the superquick feature provided an impact-function mode. The M772 gave mortar crews a way to place illumination above a selected area at the required time. The fuze fitted to this display round is inert and has no operating timing train, detonator, or explosive function.
M252 Mortar System History
The M252 is a smoothbore, muzzle-loaded, high-angle 81mm mortar developed from the British L16 family and adopted by the United States in the late 1980s. It replaced many older M29-series mortars and gave Army and Marine Corps units a dependable battalion-level indirect-fire weapon with improved range and mobility. A complete system uses a cannon, bipod mount, baseplate, and sight, and it can fire high-explosive, smoke, practice, and illuminating ammunition. The M853A1 was developed specifically for this improved mortar. Period Army data also permitted limited use in the M29 mortar through Charge 3, but prohibited use in the older M1 mortar. Those historical limits do not make this inert display item suitable for firing.
History of Use
Illuminating mortar ammunition lets ground units light a target area, route, observation point, or battlefield position during darkness. The parachute-supported candle descends slowly, giving troops time to observe movement, direct supporting fire, and coordinate nighttime operations. The M252 system entered service near the end of the Cold War and went on to support U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq, and later deployments and training exercises. The M853A1 belongs to that modern 81mm ammunition family, although this listing does not claim that this individual inert round was used in any specific operation.
PA114 Fiber Tube
The included PA114 is a protective fiber tube for storage and transport. Army ammunition data describes M853A1 cartridges as being packed individually in treated fiber containers before several containers were placed in an outer wooden box. A fiber tube helped shield the fuze, projectile body, fins, and markings from handling damage and weather exposure. This tube adds useful context to the display because it shows how a full-size mortar cartridge was protected within the military supply system.
Condition
Please check the pictures for the general condition of the item.
Ideal For
This M853A1 display round combines a recognizable modern mortar profile with a documented Cold War-era ammunition design and its matching protective tube.
- Inert ordnance and mortar collections
- Military museums and educational exhibits
- M252 mortar-system displays
- Cold War, Gulf War, and modern U.S. military collections
- Training-room, gun-room, and historical display settings
Approx length 27", Approx width 4", Approx height 4", Approx weight 13lbs.
Pictures are stock images of our inventory. Unless otherwise noted, you will not be receiving the exact item shown in the pictures. The pictures are representative of the item’s general condition. The item you receive might be slightly better, or worse, condition than was shown in the pictures.
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