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BRITISH ARMY 1942 MARK III MORTAR CLINOMETER –
VERY ATTRACTIVE SIGHTING INSTRUMENT IN LIKE NEW
CONDITION: If you have been following my
listings for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed
that I have a weakness for the finely crafted
instruments that were produced by, and through, the
Ordnance Departments of the United States and their
allies. Not only do they all share the important
historical context of their respective era and heavy
weapons, but they all show an extraordinary level of
design, manufacture and finish setting them apart in a
collectable category all their own.
This Royal Army 1942 Mark III Mortar Clinometer is no
exception. Machined from a single block of brass, this
like-new clinometer was part of the mortar crew’s
equipment and was used to properly lay the tube for the
desired range. This quality instrument features a
sliding brass encased glass bubble level that slides
along the track machined along the top of the arc and
can be set according to the increments in degrees
indicated on the base. The sighting bubble moves freely
in the track, but shows no sign of wear or undue
loosening. The base is well marked with the elevation
degrees, a target direction indicator, the instrument
nomenclature, and the maker’s name, “F. TOUGH” with the
date of 1942, “MADE IN AUSTRALIA”, the serial number and
the ordnance “broad arrow” acceptance stamp.
This clinometer was used with the Ordnance SBML, 2 inch
Mortar, more commonly known as simply the “2 inch
Mortar”, issued to the British Royal Army and the
Commonwealth Armies in the early days of World War Two
and it remained in service through the 1970’s.
Originally developed as a light weight infantry support
weapon, the 2 inch mortar was adapted through several
versions, to include the Mark III deployed as a smoke
discharger in tanks.
The final photograph below, showing one of these
Clinometers mounted on a 2 inch Mortar, was provided
courtesy of Mr. Kurt Hughes of England, a collector of
some note who specializes in US Cavalry material.
Kurt photographed the mortar and clinometer on display
at the Memorial Pegasus in Normandy, France - a memorial
park and museum dedicated to the famous assault on the
bridges over the River Orne and the Caen canal on June
6, 1944 by the 6th British Airborne Division.
This very nice sighting instrument would fit well into
any artillery, armor, or ordnance collection. $125
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