Original Korean War Era U.S. 1955 81mm M43A1 Practice Mortar Round (Original)

SKU: 532

Original/Reproduction: Original

Availability: In-Stock

Manufacturer: N/A

Date Manufactured: 1955

Model: M43A1

Size / Dimensions: 

Total Length: approx. 15.9 inches (405 mm)

Body Diameter: 81 mm (3.19 inches)

Fin Assembly Length: approx. 6.0 inches (152 mm)

Tail Fin Diameter (span): approx. 3.75 inches (95 mm)

Weight: Approximately 6.87 pounds (3.12 kg). 

Materials / Construction: Cast iron body

Condition: 95%/Excellent

Price: $295.00

Seller Type: WW2C

Seller ID: JMW

Seller Code: PS-100

Return Policy: 3-day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.

Description

This is an original Korean War–era U.S. 81mm M43A1 Practice Mortar Round, dated 1955, designed for use with both the M1 and later M29 81mm mortar systems. These rounds were used extensively for stateside and overseas training throughout the early Cold War, providing mortar crews with safe yet realistic ballistic performance nearly identical to live high-explosive ammunition.

This US "1955" 81mm M43A1 Practice Mortar Round was an inert training version of the high-explosive M43A1 mortar bomb, designed to be used in place of a live round for practice. The "1955" likely indicates the year it was manufactured or the specific version of the practice round from that era, as found in a 1942 Technical Manual related to the M43A1 practice round.

Purpose: The round was used for training with the M1 and later M29 81mm mortars, which were standard issue for the U.S. military from before World War II until the M29 replaced the M1 in the 1950s.

Composition: Unlike a live HE round, the practice shell was filled with inert materials, such as plaster of Paris and stearic acid.

Impact Indication: It included a small black powder pellet and a fuze booster charge designed to create a puff of smoke or flash on impact, allowing observers to spot where the round landed for training purposes.

Weight: The practice round was weighted to match the live M43A1 HE shells, which weighed approximately 6.87 pounds (3.12 kg). 

Historical Context 

While the M43A1 design dates back to the WWII era, it remained in use through the Korean War and into the 1950s, when the M29 mortar system began to replace the older M1 mortar. A 1955 production date is consistent with this transition period.