US Airborne Bazooka & Light Mortar Teams (1944-45)

The American Bazooka was first used in North Africa and on Tarawa in November 1942. The final version was longer (1.55m) and improved the range from 200-250 yards to 300 yards. The M6 HEAT rocket could easily penetrate 76mm of armour at 30° or 110mm at 90°.

The standard light mortar was of relatively large calibre at 60mm. It fired a correspondingly larger and more effective shell over a greater range than the smaller mortars used by the Germans and the British. The paratroopers had a lighter version weighing in at 9kg and operated by a 2 man team.