I found some decent production info on US mortars, so I figured I'd post it up, just in case someone else was interested. Its from an official government source, "The Ordnance Department: Procurement and Supply." I have an original copy, here is a link to a pdf: http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/010/10-10/index.html. If anyone has more or better info, feel free to post it up.
Per the book:
Both the M2 60mm and the M1 81mm are derived from French Brandt mortars in the 1930s. Some initial production was done at Watervliet Arsenal, but this was switched over the private companies as the war geared up. Production by type:
60mm
The govt bought eight Brandt 60mm mortars, along with French production drawings, and adopted the design as the M1 60mm. After some redesigning, to meet the dimensional availability of materials available in the US, the new design was adopted as the M2 60mm. The first production contract for 1500 mortars was given to Read Machinery Company (Readco) in January 1940. This simply wasn't enough, and an order was soon placed with Kennedy-Van Saun (KVS) for additional mortars. There was an issue with production again in Sept 1942, when airforce orders for seamless tubing were given priority, leading to total stoppage of production, but this hump too was eventually crossed. More trouble was to be had again in 1944, when the war in Europe heated up quite a bit, placing Ordnance in a bind. Both KVS and Readco were told to boost production, and eventually the govt placed an order with Firestone Tire and Rubber in 1944 for 24,250 mortars. Production for the first 8 months on 1945 totaled 30,152 weapons. This was nearly equal to the total production from 1942-1944, meaning that total WW2 60mm production was in the neighborhood of 60,000 mortars.
81mm
Nothing is written about the need to modify the 81mm Brandt, and the M1 81mm is pretty much identical to the French design. Regardless, the first contract for 81mm mortars was given to the Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Company in 1940. 81mm production experienced fewer issues, and was fairly steady as the war went on. Production was probably around 40,000 mortars total. No mention is made of other contractors, although it is clear that at least one other existed, the A.B. Farquhar company. I've seen photos of a cup marked A.B.F., which correlates with this.
On June 30, 1940 the US army had a total of 1409 mortars in its inventory. This breaks down as follows:
60mm - 33
81mm - 150
3in (stokes?) - 1226
The powers that be realized that this was an issue, so production was geared up heavily. From July 1, 1940 to Dec 31, 1941 another 9,518 were produced. No breakdown is given, but I think we can safely assume that it was 60mm and 81mm mortars only.
A total of 10,160 mortars were produced in 1942, no breakdown given.
Total production of all mortars 1940-1945 was 105,054. Based on the above data, its probable that 60,000 of these were 60mm and 40,000 were 81mm.
51,756,000 rounds of 60mm ammo were made, along with 37,043,000 rounds for the 81mm.
Per the book:
Both the M2 60mm and the M1 81mm are derived from French Brandt mortars in the 1930s. Some initial production was done at Watervliet Arsenal, but this was switched over the private companies as the war geared up. Production by type:
60mm
The govt bought eight Brandt 60mm mortars, along with French production drawings, and adopted the design as the M1 60mm. After some redesigning, to meet the dimensional availability of materials available in the US, the new design was adopted as the M2 60mm. The first production contract for 1500 mortars was given to Read Machinery Company (Readco) in January 1940. This simply wasn't enough, and an order was soon placed with Kennedy-Van Saun (KVS) for additional mortars. There was an issue with production again in Sept 1942, when airforce orders for seamless tubing were given priority, leading to total stoppage of production, but this hump too was eventually crossed. More trouble was to be had again in 1944, when the war in Europe heated up quite a bit, placing Ordnance in a bind. Both KVS and Readco were told to boost production, and eventually the govt placed an order with Firestone Tire and Rubber in 1944 for 24,250 mortars. Production for the first 8 months on 1945 totaled 30,152 weapons. This was nearly equal to the total production from 1942-1944, meaning that total WW2 60mm production was in the neighborhood of 60,000 mortars.
81mm
Nothing is written about the need to modify the 81mm Brandt, and the M1 81mm is pretty much identical to the French design. Regardless, the first contract for 81mm mortars was given to the Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Company in 1940. 81mm production experienced fewer issues, and was fairly steady as the war went on. Production was probably around 40,000 mortars total. No mention is made of other contractors, although it is clear that at least one other existed, the A.B. Farquhar company. I've seen photos of a cup marked A.B.F., which correlates with this.
On June 30, 1940 the US army had a total of 1409 mortars in its inventory. This breaks down as follows:
60mm - 33
81mm - 150
3in (stokes?) - 1226
The powers that be realized that this was an issue, so production was geared up heavily. From July 1, 1940 to Dec 31, 1941 another 9,518 were produced. No breakdown is given, but I think we can safely assume that it was 60mm and 81mm mortars only.
A total of 10,160 mortars were produced in 1942, no breakdown given.
Total production of all mortars 1940-1945 was 105,054. Based on the above data, its probable that 60,000 of these were 60mm and 40,000 were 81mm.
51,756,000 rounds of 60mm ammo were made, along with 37,043,000 rounds for the 81mm.
