Mortar Platoon

Paratroopers with a 2 PARA (2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment) Mortar Platoon team fire 81mm mortar rounds during an indirect fire support mission at FOB Zeebrugge near Kajaki, Afghanistan. The Mortar Platoon is part of the battalion's Support Company. The platoon consists of 4 sections of 2 x L16 81mm mortars and a Mortar Fire Control Party (MFC). Each of the battalion's rifle companies will typically have a Mortar Platoon MFC attached.

The L16 mortar fires a number of different 81mm shells including high explosive, smoke and flares.