State Historical Society of Iowa

Soldiers Seek Shelter from Mortar Shells in Korea, April 11, 1951

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Photograph of two men crouched behind constructed structure in the foreground with plume of smoke from mortar seen in background.
Courtesy of Library of Congress, Signal Corps, U.S. Army, 11 April 1951

Description

Mortars were common ammunition used by both sides in the Korean War. The portable, muzzle-loading weapon was designed for high-angle fire, with a range of about 4,000 yards. These weapons could fire 40 rounds of ammunition in two minutes. In this photograph, a group of infantrymen sought cover from a mortar shell and debris it sent flying. 

Source-Dependent Questions

  • What threats were the men of the 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment facing in this photo?
  • How were these men equipped to face the threats?

Citation Information 

"Korean Conflict. Men of the 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, covering up behind rocks to shield themselves from exploding mortar shells, near the Hantan River in central Korea," Signal Corps, U.S. Army, 11 April 1951. Courtesy of Library of Congress