New stuff for mortars.

Hearing Protection

Because a mortar makes so much noise during firing, mortar crews are required to use double hearing protection. To make it easier to meet the protection requirement, every mortar crewmember is now authorized an "earmuff' hearing protector headset, NSN 4240-01-538-7970, for $16.95. The headset can be used with standard earplugs and fits under the Kevlar helmet.

The AAL in all the mortars'-10 TMs will be changed to authorize the headset for every member of each mortar crew. Until the change is published, pencil in the headset and its NSN in your-10 TM's AAL.

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Better Cold Weather Grease

A new grease, NSN 9150-01-228-3389, that works better in extreme cold is now available for all mortars. The grease has an operating range of-55[degrees]F to 156[degrees]F. This NSN should be added to the expendable section of the -10 TM.

M120mm Nut

A serrated nut, NSN 5310-01-539-6127, is now being free-issued to all M 120mm mortar units for the cross-leveling assembly on both the M190 and M191 bipods. The nut eliminates slop, looseness, and jerking in the assembly. To get the nut, contact TACOM's Jill Grissom at DSN 793-1279. [phone] or email: [e-mail]

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For any mortar questions, contact TACOM,s Joe Schmidt at DSN 79323369; [phone] or email: [e-mail]