Mortar Carrier-B M1129 Stryker1-7

M1129 MC-B: General
Date of first acceptance August 2005
Manufacturer GM GDLS Defense Group, L.L.C. Crew
5 men:
  • Commander hull right center
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Gunner in rear compartment
  • Assistant gunner in rear compartment
  • Ammunition bearer in rear compartment
M1129 MC-B: Dimensions
Combat weight 41,367lbs
18,764kg
Height 125"
318cm
Length 297"
754cm
Width 153"
389cm
Wheel clearance 21"
53cm
M1129 MC-B: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
7.62mm M240B MG Commander's cupola 2,000 rounds 360°
(manual)
Manual
120mm Mortar RMS6-L Passenger compartment 48 or 60 rounds 4400 mils
(manual)
1486 to 700 mils
(manual)
Night vision
AN/VAS-5 thermal for driver
M1129 MC-B: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
High hard steel structure
Maximum .5"
1.3cm
M1129 MC-B: Automotive
Engine Caterpillar 3126; 6-cylinder, 4-cycle inline turbocharged diesel
Horsepower 350@2,500rpm Fuel capacity 53gal
200L
Transmission Allison MD 3066P, 6 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Hydraulic, steering wheel
Brakes Dual-circuit hydraulic with air-power assist; anti-lock system on rear 3 axles
M1129 MC-B: Suspension
Type Road wheels Shock absorbers
Hydropneumatic 4/side On each wheel
M1129 MC-B: Performance
Max level road speed 60mph
96kph
Max trench 78"
200cm
Max grade 60% Max slideslope 30%
Max vertical obstacle 23"
58cm
Min turning diameter 52'
16m
Max fording depth 51"
130cm
Cruising range ~330mi, roads
~530km, roads

There were two versions of the Stryker Mortar Carrier. The first, called MC-A, was very similar to the M1126 ICV. It was armed with the remote weapon system and could carry two mortars, which differed depending on which echelon the vehicle served. Battalion mortar platoons carried the 120mm mortar M121 and the 81mm mortar M252. Company mortar platoons carried the 60mm mortar M224 instead of the 81mm ordnance. Vehicles in RSTA squadrons only carried the 120mm mortar. The MC-A was unable to fire the mortars mounted; the crews were forced to dismount and emplace the mortars for use. The MC-A weighed 39,990lbs (18,140kg) loaded.

The MC-B was first fielded in late 2005. This vehicle is armed with the Recoiling Mortar System 6-L (RMS6-L) in the rear compartment. Based on the Israeli Soltam Cardom system, the RMS6-L uses the 120mm mortar M298 in a recoiling mount that cuts the recoil impulses by about 75%. Nonetheless, the suspension on the MC-B is strengthened over the suspension on normal Strykers to deal with firing the mortar from the vehicle. Similarly to the MC-A, MC-Bs in RSTA squadrons are armed solely with the 120mm mortar, while vehicles in battalion mortar platoons also carry a dismountable 81mm mortar M252 and those in company mortar platoons carry a dismountable 60mm M224 mortar instead of the 81mm ordnance. RSTA vehicles stow 60 120mm rounds, battalion vehicles carry 48 rounds 120mm and 35 rounds 81mm, and company vehicles carry 48 rounds 120mm and 77 rounds 60mm. The MC-B lacks the remote weapon system; the commander's station is instead ringed by a skate mount for a machine gun. The MC-B is not fitted with smoke grenade launchers. The rear side armor of the MC-B is vertical, and the passenger compartment is topped by two outward-opening hatches that allow the 120mm mortar to be fired from the vehicle. The secondary mortar baseplate is stowed on the rear of the right side of the vehicle.

The hull bottom was modified into a double-V shape beginning in 2010 in order to help mitigate the blast effect of mines and improvised explosive devices. The double-V hull (DVH) improvements also featured enhancements to the suspension system, wider tires, a height management system, and blast-resistant seating for the infantry squad. Further upgrades--including a 450hp engine; 60,000lb (27,000kg) suspension; 910-amp alternator; and an in-vehicle network--produced the Stryker A1 variant.

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References

  1. Zwilling, Ralph. Stryker IAV in Detail, Part Two. Prague: František Kořán RAK, 2008.
  2. Rottman, Gordon L. Stryker Combat Vehicles. Long Island City, NY: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2006.
  3. ---. Stryker Family Upgrades. Prague: František Kořán, 2014.
  4. Grummitt, David. Stryker Interim Combat Vehicle: Stryker and LAV III in US and Canadian Service, 1999-2020. Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Military, 2020.
  5. General Dynamics Land Systems. "Stryker MC." 16 December 2015 <http://www.gdls.com/products/stryker-family/stryker-mc.php>.
  6. "M1129 Stryker Mortar Carrier." GlobalSecurity.org. 7 July 2011. 16 December 2015 <http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/iav-mc.htm>.
  7. "Stryker Armoured Combat Vehicle Family, United States of America." Army Technology. 17 August 2023 <https://www.army-technology.com/projects/stryker-armoured-combat-vehicle/>.

Last updated 17 Aug 2023.
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