Editing Mortar Team

{{Infobox infantry
|title            = [[File:Veterancy Mortar Team 0.png]]<br>M2 60mm Mortar Team
|image            = [[File:Allies mortar team.png|x300px]]
|caption          = 
|army             = [[United States|American]]
|role             = Infantry-mobile Light Artillery Team
|num_men          = 3
|unit_cost        = {{Manpower|280}}<br>{{PopCap|3}}
|upkeep           = {{Manpower|-2.4}} (per man)<br>{{Manpower|-7.2}} (full squad)
|prereq           = None
|production_struc = [[Weapons Support Center]]
|reinforce_cost   = {{Manpower|46}}<br>{{PopCap|1}}
|health           = {{Health|100}} (Gun)<br>{{Health|55}} (per crewman)
|infantry_type    = Infantry
|weapon           = 1x M2 60mm Mortar<br>1x M1 Carbine Rifle
|num_slots        = 0
|speed            = 3 m/s
|abilities        = 
[[File:Ability 81mm Mortar Bombardment.png|right]] '''60mm Mortar Bombardment'''
* Rapidly fires 4 mortar shells at a target 15-75 meters away.
* Costs nothing
* Cooldown: 30 seconds
<br>
[[File:Ability Rifle Smoke Grenade.png|right]] '''Smoke Barrage'''
* Rapidly fires 6 smoke shells at a target 15-75 meters away, concealing the entire area in smoke.
* Costs nothing
* Cooldown: 30 seconds
<br>
[[File:Ability Disable Free-Fire.png|right]] '''Disable Free-Fire'''
* Prevents the unit from acquiring targets automatically. It will only attack manually-selected targets.
* Costs nothing.
* Duration: permanent until deactivated.
* Cooldown: 3 seconds (activate/deactivate)
|num_abilities    = 3
}}
{{Cite|Range and distance confirmed, let´em have it!}}

The '''M2 60mm Mortar Team''' (or just '''Mortar Team''' for short) is a 3-man light artillery infantry squad, fielded by the [[United States|American]] Army in [[Company of Heroes]]. With its long range and explosive shells, the [[Mortar Team]] can provide support fire for offensive operations, easily destroying enemy infantry hiding behind cover or inside buildings, causing damage to vehicles, and reducing [[Defensive Structure]]s to rubble. This unit is not meant to engage the enemy in face-to-face combat, as it will surely lose such engagements.

== Overview ==

[[United States|American]] combat tactics often rely on engaging an enemy with [[Riflemen Squad]]s in order to keep him busy, sacrificing themselves in "pinning-down" maneuvers to keep the enemy rushing for cover, or hiding inside buildings. Meanwhile, other units move to take advantage from flanking positions or set up to bombard and destroy the enemy. This ties in well with light artillery in the form of the '''Mortar Team''', a cheap way to remove fixed enemy positions at long distance.

The [[Mortar Team]] is a 3-man infantry squad, created at the [[Weapons Support Center]] for the cost of {{Manpower|280}}, {{PopCap|3}}. This squad is armed with an '''M2 60mm Mortar''', which is operated by two of the men, and a third man carrying an '''M1 Carbine Semi-Automatic Rifle''' for covering fire.

The M2 60mm Mortar can lob shells at distances up to 75 meters away. This allows the team to provide fire from a considerable distance, 3-5x further than rifle range and about double that of the [[MG42 Heavy Machine Gun Team]], which means it does not need to expose itself to the enemy's return-fire. This is very important, because the '''Mortar Team''' (and the mortar itself) is very fragile, and incapable of defending itself in combat.

It takes 2.4 seconds to set up the mortar, and 2.8 seconds to dismantle it for moving. This means that it is difficult to engage a large number of targets coming from different directions. In addition, the '''Mortar Team''' fires very slowly, taking about 8–10 seconds between shells, and the shells have a high trajectory which means a long delay between firing and impact - requiring targets to remain stationary for quite a while to make this weapon useful.

The player can "commit" the unit to a barrage of 4 rapid shells all fired at one specific area. This cuts down the time enemy units have to realize that they're being accurately bombarded and escape the impact zone. The '''Mortar Team''' can also be told to fire a salvo of 6 smoke shells, which will cover an entire area with a thick cloud of smoke. This can be used in several different ways - usually to protect units from enemy attacks or allow them to advance without exposing themselves to enemy fire.

The '''Mortar Team''' can be ordered to hold its fire, in order to avoid hitting friendly units or exposing itself to enemy counter-artillery bombardment. Artillery is by far the greatest danger to a '''Mortar Team'''.

Damage received by this unit can go independently to any crewmen, but can also strike the mortar itself. If the mortar is destroyed, the entire team will die instantly. If either of the mortar's gunners is killed, the third member of the squad will replace him. However, if any two members of the squad are killed, the remaining man will die instantly regardless of how healthy he is. This may result in the weapon becoming abandoned, in which case may be captured by any friendly or enemy infantry squad containing at least 2 men (this can only occur if the mortar was set up at the time).

Finally, note that like all other [[United States|American]] infantry squads, the '''Mortar Team''' can capture [[Strategic Point]]s. They do so at the normal rate.

== Weapons ==

The '''Mortar Team''' is equipped with an '''M2 60mm Mortar''', a light artillery weapon with good range and firepower, but a slow firing rate. Two squad members are tasked with operating this weapon.

One additional squad-member is armed with an '''M1 .30 Cal Carbine Semi-Automatic Rifle''', intended for defending the unit against enemy troops. Unfortunately, this is very poor firepower, and will rarely (if ever) save the unit from being destroyed in direct combat.

=== M2 60mm Mortar ===

The '''M2 60mm Mortar''' is a light-artillery, high-trajectory shell launcher. It is a good weapon that can cause some serious damage to its targets, but is unfortunately very slow, and requires the target to remain motionless while being fired upon.

The '''M2 60mm Mortar''' can fire at targets up to 75 meters away. This allows the unit to remain further behind an attacking or defending force, thus protecting it from enemy return-fire. There's also a minimum range for mortar fire: 15 meters. Note that the closer the target, the better the accuracy of this weapon.

Each shell fired by this mortar inflicts a basic 20 points of damage - not a serious amount. However, this is doubled to 40 points of damage to infantry units - about 2/3 of an infantryman's health. On the upside, the explosion radius of the shells is 6 meters, and infantrymen within the first 3 meters will likely suffer significant damage. The weapon also has about a 50% chance of killing any infantryman caught in the 6-meter blast radius who is already wounded.

Damage to armored vehicles is dramatically lower, but with some small chance of destroying a vehicle's secondary weapon (if it has any) and/or damaging its engine.

Normally, when allowed to automatically fire at enemy units within range, this weapon fires only once every 8–10 seconds. The shells can also take some time to reach their target. This renders the mortar useless against fast-moving targets. For this reason, it is often best to drive the enemy into cover, or into a building, in order to increase the likelihood of hitting that target. Note that mortars have an increased chance of hitting buildings - and a massive damage bonus against [[Wehrmacht]] [[Bunker]]s!

It is possible to increase firing speed temporarily by activating the '''60mm Mortar Bombardment''' ability, which fires 4 shells at intervals of 4 seconds. However, since a ground target must be selected, this again requires the target units to remain motionless.

The mortar can only fire at targets directly in front of it. To fire at another target, it must reorient itself first. Any reorientation of 20° or less is almost instant, but larger turns require dismantling the mortar (2.8 seconds) and setting it up again in the desired direction (2.4 seconds).

=== M1 Carbine .30 Cal Semi-Automatic Rifle ===

The '''M1 Carbine''' is a semi-automatic magazine-fed rifle. It is a standard-issue weapon for American airborne and mechanized infantry.

When compared to other semi-automatic or bolt-action rifles, the M1 Carbine's only real advantage is speed: it has a higher firing rate, and can fire more bullets before having to reload. This makes it better for mid-range encounters (15 meters) than other rifles, but it loses in damage output and accuracy at long range.

One infantrymen in the '''Mortar Team''' carries this weapon, for purposes of defending the mortar from enemy flanking attacks. However, one rifle is hardly enough to truly pose any danger to enemy units.

Note that if the original crew of a '''Mortar Team''' are killed and the weapon re-captured by another infantry unit, the new team-members will not be equipped with '''M1 Carbines'''. They'll use the "standard" weapons dictated by their default unit properties. For example, if an [[Engineer Squad]] acquires an abandoned '''M2 60mm Mortar''', the man not operating the mortar will use an M3 SMG.

== Abilities ==

The '''Mortar Team''' can employ two abilities directly related to its attacks. The first ability, '''60mm Mortar Bombardment''', allows a quick 4-round salvo at a specified ground target. The second is a 6-round smoke salvo, which will cover a large area with concealing smoke.

Furthermore, this unit can be told to hold its fire, in which case it will not automatically engage enemy units detected within its firing range. This prevents the '''Mortar Team''' from disclosing its position prematurely, or firing on friendly troops.

=== [[File:Ability 81mm Mortar Bombardment.png]] 60mm Mortar Bombardment ===
* Costs nothing
* Activation: Select Ground (at least 15 meters away)
* Cooldown: 30 seconds

When this ability is activated, select a point on the ground at least 15 meters away from the '''Mortar Team''''s current position. The team will move to within 75 meters of the target point, and fire a rapid salvo of 4 shells at this target.

The benefit to using this ability is speed: the team will fire one shell every 4 seconds, instead of the normal 8–10 seconds. This will blast the target area rapidly, allowing little time for enemy units to escape once they realize they're being bombarded, and generally cuts down on this unit's normally long attack duration.

Another use of this ability is to be followed up with a sequence move command (with shift key). At mid and late game, the enemy may have effective counter-battery fire capabilities such as mortar and heavy artillery that can take out your stationary mortar team easily. To avoid this, use shift key to give a sequence move command after the bombardment command, so the mortar team will move to new position right away after finishing the salvo. Be careful not to set up in new firing position right away though, as the mortar squad can been seen through the fog of war for a short duration after their last shell hits the enemy.

Of course, since this ability is targeted at a ground point, you'll need to make sure that the target remains motionless to begin with. Remember that the high-trajectory shells will still take some time to reach their target, especially if it is further away. You don't want to fire at a point already abandoned by enemy units.

The cooldown period is 30 seconds, though the salvo usually takes about 20–25 seconds to complete, meaning that the ability will usually become available again shortly after the team finishes firing the salvo. This means you can repeatedly use this ability to attack the same target, or a different nearby target, with little delay.

=== [[File:Ability Rifle Smoke Grenade.png]] Smoke Barrage ===
* Costs nothing
* Activation: Select Ground (at least 15 meters away)
* Cooldown: 30 seconds

When this ability is activated, select a point on the ground at least 15 meters away from the '''Mortar Team''''s current position. The team will move to within 75 meters of the target point, and fire a rapid salvo of 6 smoke shells at this target.

The smoke shells don't deliver any damage, but instead will each create a large cloud of smoke, lasting 30 seconds. With 6 shells in the salvo, the resulting smoke cloud will be very large, often covering an area at least 25 meters in diameter. This smoke cloud will act to break line-of-sight between enemy units on either side of it. As a result, units on both sides will have a hard time hitting each other.

There are several tactical uses for a '''Smoke Barrage'''. For one, it can be used to end a battle prematurely, by suddenly concealing your units from enemy fire. Use this time to withdraw or relocate. Alternately, you can rain down smoke on an enemy position to effectively disable any accurate fire coming from that position, buying time for your units to surround it safely and then begin a powerful attack once the smoke clears. This can be particularly effective at preventing an [[88mm Flak 36 AT/AA]] gun from destroying any unit coming to kill it, especially if they intend to kill the crew and take over the gun. 

=== [[File:Ability Disable Free-Fire.png]] Disable Free-Fire ===
* Costs nothing
* Activation: Immediate
* Permanent until deactivated
* Cooldown: 3 seconds (activate/deactivate)

When this ability is activated, the '''Mortar Team''' will cease firing of its own volition at visible enemy targets. It will only fire upon receiving direct orders to do so (both normal "attack" orders and special-ability orders), and only at the designated target.

Use this ability to prevent the '''Mortar Team''' from revealing its position to the enemy. Remember that when your shells strike an enemy unit, the '''Mortar Team''' becomes visible for a short duration, even in the fog-of-war. This allows the enemy to come looking for it, or worse yet - counter-attack it with artillery fire.

You can also use this ability to prevent your mortar from automatically firing into a close-combat situation, where [[Riflemen Squad]]s or other infantry are mixing it up with enemy units at close range. In such situations, even an accurate a mortar shell landing right on top of an enemy squad can accidentally take out your own infantry, not to mention a shell that misses its designated target.

Don't forget to reactivate free-fire by clicking on the ability button again, when you wish the mortar to resume normal firing operations.

== Veterancy ==

As an [[United States|American]] unit, the '''Mortar Team''' can gain three levels of [[Veterancy]]. Each level brings its own specific benefits, increasing the unit's combat potential and/or survivability.

=== Accumulation ===

Like all other [[United States|American]] units, the '''Mortar Team''' obtains [[Veterancy]] points by killing enemy units. It receives 100% of the experience value of each unit it kills. Once it has accumulated a sufficient number of [[Veterancy]] points, it will automatically advance to the next level, gaining the related bonuses immediately.

[[United States|American]] units do not share Veterancy points with one another. To receive points, the unit must personally kill an enemy unit.

=== Bonuses ===

At each [[Veterancy]] level, the '''Mortar Team''' gains a specific set of bonuses as listed below. These bonuses are cumulative with each other.

{| border=0
| style="vertical-align: top; width: 60px; text-align: center;"|[[File:Veterancy Mortar Team 0.png]]
| style="vertical-align: top;"|'''No Veterancy:'''
*Unit is at normal combat efficiency.
|-
| style="vertical-align: top; width: 60px; text-align: center;"|[[File:Veterancy Mortar Team 1.png]]
| style="vertical-align: top;"|'''Level 1 Veterancy:'''
*+15% accuracy with all weapons.
*20% harder to hit by any enemy weapon.
|-
| style="vertical-align: top; width: 60px; text-align: center;"|[[File:Veterancy Mortar Team 2.png]]
| style="vertical-align: top;"|'''Level 2 Veterancy:'''
*+33% faster firing rate.
*+25% resistance to [[Suppression]].
*+15% Damage Reduction from all sources.
|-
| style="vertical-align: top; width: 60px; text-align: center;"|[[File:Veterancy Mortar Team 3.png]]
| style="vertical-align: top;"|'''Level 3 Veterancy:'''
*+20% accuracy with all weapons.
*+50% damage with all weapons.
|}

Note that these modifiers apply both to the mortar and to its crew. Therefore, this also affects the additional third crewmen, who is armed with an '''M1 Carbine''' (and thus receives the above bonuses for his own weapons).

If the '''M2 60mm Mortar''' is abandoned and recaptured by another infantry unit it will reset to Veterancy Level 0, losing any Veterancy bonuses it had previously acquired. It can then resume acquiring Veterancy as normal.

== Tactics ==
The '''Mortar Team''' is one of the simpler tools in the [[United States|American]] arsenal - having one basic and encompassing ability: bombarding targets from afar. Nonetheless, properly positioning a '''Mortar Team''' and correct use of its firepower can change the outcome of combat radically.

The one important rule to remember regarding '''Mortar Team''' use is this: keep your target immobile. This should be easy when the target is a building or [[Defensive Structure]], but keeping a mobile enemy unit in one place, to be accurately bombarded by the slow mortar shells, requires good coordination with other units.

A '''Mortar Team''' is almost entirely useless on its own. For one, a lone '''Mortar Team''' is exposed to enemies. It can be hunted down by enemy light vehicles, and can be bombarded by the enemy's own artillery. Furthermore, as explained above, other units need to keep the '''Mortar''''s targets stationary. The only time a '''Mortar Team''' would be able to work on its own is when bombarding enemy fortifications - especially [[Bunker]]s which are its favourite target. Still, if the '''Mortar''' is too exposed, enemy units may come looking for it.

=== Keeping the Enemy Stationary ===

The '''Mortar Team''' fits very well into [[United States|American]] combat tactics. In [[United States|American]] [[Riflemen Squad]]s generally initiate combat by simply walking up to the enemy and starting a firefight - often at long or medium range. They are expected to take cover and return fire at the enemy, surviving through sheer numbers and attrition rather than fancy maneuvers. When maneuvers do take place, they often still rely on one unit's ability to keep the enemy busy while others move to flanking positions. In any case, the idea is always to keep the enemy stationary and occupied.

This is obviously where the '''Mortar Team''' comes in, because a stationary target is like candy for the taking. With the enemy taking cover - whether behind {{Cover|Heavy}} or inside buildings, their lack of movement makes them a good target for a slow-firing area-effect weapon like the mortar. If you spot a unit that's attempting to utilize cover to their advantage, immediately begin a '''60mm Mortar Bombardment''' of their location. The shells will likely kill or hurt the target, and will usually also destroy cover in the process, exposing the remaining soldiers to whatever fire they are already under.

Pinning a unit down can be done with many different weapons besides the [[Riflemen Squad]]. [[Heavy Machine Gun Team]]s can pin an enemy infantry unit down fairly rapidly, as can [[Machine Gun Emplacement]]s. '''Maxson-Mount'''-upgraded [[M3 Halftrack]]s will also do the trick. Of course, such heavy weapons may kill the target before the shells even begin to land on top of it, but that's not a drawback of course.

=== Area Coverage ===

There's little need to recruit more than one or two '''Mortar Team'''s. Thanks to their range, each team can cover a relatively large amount of territory with their weapons.

On the defensive, a single '''Mortar Team''' can often provide light artillery support to several nearby sectors, attacking whichever sector the enemy is approaching through at the time. On the offensive, a '''Mortar Team''' can provide support fire to two advancing groups, whichever one manages to pin down its opposition first.

=== Preliminary Bombardment ===

It is often a good idea to soften up an enemy position before attempting to overrun it. '''Mortar Teams''' are very good for this task.

When performing Preliminary Bombardment, there are many targets you may wish to attack. Enemy [[Bunker]]s tend to be the prime target, as they are expensive and powerful, and easy to destroy thanks to a massive damage bonus the '''M2 60mm Mortar''' has against them. Other [[Active Defenses]], like the [[Panzer Elite]] [[88mm Flak 36 AT/AA (Panzer Elite)|Flak 36]] or [[Flakvierling 38 20mm AA|Flakvierling 38]], make good targets as well because their crews are often exposed (and thus can be killed easily, potentially allowing your own infantry to then capture the abandoned gun). Finally, always consider bombarding an [[Observation Post (Wehrmacht)|Observation Post]], to allow your infantry to capture the sector quicker once their attack is complete.

Another important target to consider are [[Mines|Minefields]]. The large area damage caused by the '''60mm Mortar Shells''' will ensure detonation of a minefield, clearing a road or a passageway to allow your units through. This will generally work against any type of mines except [[Teller Mines]], which are much sturdier. Other [[Passive Defenses]], like [[Barbed Wire]] and [[Tank Traps]], can also be breached with mortar fire, though this may take a little longer and thus may alert the enemy about your intended point of entry.

Finally, always consider subversion. You can try to convince the enemy that you intend to attack in a particular sector by bombarding its defenses - and then direct your attack forces to a completely different sector. The enemy, responding to the barrage, will leave his other flank exposed!

=== Use of Smoke ===

As explained earlier in this article, '''Smoke Barrages''' have many different uses you can try, both defensive and offensive.

Defensive use consists of blanketing your own forces with a smoke barrage to facilitate an orderly retreat. While covered in smoke, a unit is much harder to hit, and thus can retreat carefully instead of just turning tail and running. This can save a unit, or a whole group of units, from annihilation. Use this when your attack has come up against unexpectedly heavy opposition. You can also use this to facilitate very effective hit-and-run attacks: charging in to do as much damage as possible, before covering your troops in smoke and retreating with few or no losses!

Offensive use of smoke is intended to prevent the enemy from reacting to an invasion in a timely manner. Bombard the enemy position with smoke, and then advance your units quickly to surround the enemy entirely. You have 30 seconds to do this - plenty of time - before the smoke clears. Once it's gone, the enemy position is flanked and already under attack by your entire force. Again, this is thanks to smoke reducing hit probabilities for any unit shooting through it. By blanketing the enemy with smoke, you ensure that none of them can effectively target your approaching units until it's already too late.

=== Weaknesses ===

The '''Mortar Team''' is one of the most defenseless units in the game. It lacks any real weapons for attacking units in close combat, and therefore will be overrun by any unit that comes close. Note that the mortar has a minimum attack range of 15 meters, so any unit coming within that range can simply destroy the mortar team with no hassle. Keep the '''Mortar Team''' well back, and have other units ready nearby to respond to any flanking unexpected maneuvers by the enemy.

[[Sniper (Wehrmacht)|Sniper]] fire is another serious danger, as Snipers can often come close enough to kill the mortar gunners one by one. The mortar may not even have time to fire back at the sniper before its crew are killed.

Of course, the worst danger is always enemy artillery counter-battery fire. Enemy mortars and heavy artillery pieces will jump on the chance to hit your '''Mortar Team''' whenever possible. For this reason, when dealing with artillery-capable enemies, it's important to keep your '''Mortar Team''' mobile. Never leave it too long in one place, especially after making your own barrage - which exposes your unit's position to the enemy for a short while.

Finally, remember that if two of the mortar's crewmen are killed, the weapon itself will become "abandoned", and can be captured by enemy units. If an '''M2 60mm Mortar''' is abandoned, either re-capture it with your own infantry quickly, or attack it with some high-explosive weapon to destroy it entirely, denying it to the enemy.

== Quotes ==
{{Cite|Mortar, ready.}}
{{Cite|Mortar team movin.}}
{{Cite|Mortar Ready!}}
{{Cite|Break it down and double time!}}
{{Cite|Crew Deployed!}}
{{Cite|Smoke away!}}
When issued with attack-move order:

{{Cite|Mortar! Pack up and move to a better firing position!}}
When selecting squad under attack:

{{Cite|Mortar here!}}

when issuing order for squad, under attack:

{{Cite|Make it happen!}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths="200" position="center" columns="3" spacing="small" orientation="none" captiontextcolor="#ffffff" bordercolor="#323574" captionalign="center" captionsize="medium">
Mortar allied.jpg|A Mortar Team
Allies_mortar_team.png|A mortar team. (Above: Deployed; Below: Mobile).
MortarSmoke.png|Riflemen performing maneuvers under smoke cover.  Suppression effects and received damage are almost completely nullified.
SniperTrace.png|Mortar smoke can also neutralize snipers, which normally hit targets behind every type of cover.
Unit Mortar Team.jpg|A Mortar Team, set up
</gallery>

{{Navbox/United States Arsenal}}
[[Category:Infantry]]
[[Category:Weapon Teams]]
[[Category:American Units]]