Mortar Basics
Your introduction to indirect fire.
Mortars are the most accessible indirect-fire weapon and the best way to learn artillery thinking. They lob shells onto targets you may not see — which makes spotting and shell supply central from the start.
What this page teaches
- What indirect fire is
- How mortars work in practice
- Why spotting matters from day one
- Shell supply discipline
What indirect fire is
Indirect fire means hitting a target by arcing shells onto it rather than shooting at something you can see. Mortars are the simplest example and a great teacher.
The mortar operator and the target are usually not in line of sight of each other.
How mortars work in practice
A mortar lobs shells toward a chosen point, and the operator adjusts based on where shells land. Mortars are mobile enough for a small team to set up, fire, and relocate.
They suit harassing positions, supporting infantry assaults, and softening defences.
Why spotting matters
Because the operator often cannot see the target, a spotter who observes the impacts and calls corrections transforms a mortar from a guess into a weapon.
Firing blind mostly wastes shells. Pair up before you set up.
Shell supply
Mortars consume shells quickly, and shells are real logistics. A mortar team needs an ammo supply or a teammate hauling shells, or the gun goes silent fast.
Plan shell supply before you plan targets.
When to use a mortar
Use mortars to support an assault, harass a defended position, or hit targets infantry cannot reach. Do not fire them speculatively into the map.
Every shell should have a reason and, ideally, a spotter behind it.
Related systems
Mortars lead naturally into Howitzers for heavier fire, and Spotting is essential reading for any artillery role.
Firing a mortar at a target nobody is spotting. Most of those shells miss, and shells are expensive logistics.
Never set up a mortar without a spotter and a shell supply. Indirect fire is a team activity, even at the mortar level.