Cardom
# Cardom

The Cardom (English: Hatchet) is an Israeli 81 mm/120 mm Recoil Mortar System (RMS), manufactured by Soltam Systems. It is used by the US Army, the Israel Defence Forces, NATO countries, and others. The Cardom is an autonomous, computerized system for mounting on light and medium armored carriers. The system provides accurate and effective fire support.

## Overview

The system uses a new Computerized Integrated Navigation and Self Positioning and Aiming systems. Its modern Target Acquisition Devices together with a specially designed Recoiling Mortar System, attenuates the firing loads and enables mounting the systems on wheeled and tracked AFV's, or even soft-skinned vehicles such as trucks. The CARDOM Aiming mechanisms are linked to state-of-the-art command, control and communication systems, to achieve quick response automatic laying mode. The IDF delivered Cardom system takes target acquisition data, that provides range, bearing, position and other data from an observation point and transmits it directly to the Cardom system. Using electrical servo motors the mortar barrel is then set at the exact traverse and elevation angles ready for firing.

The 120 mm Cardom has a burst rate of 16 rpm, followed by a 4 rpm sustained rate of fire. The Cardom Recoil Mortar System has been qualified for fielding with the 3rd US Army Stryker brigade, and will be coupled to the US Army's M95 Mortar Fire Control System on the M1129 Mortar Carrier. So far over 320 mortar systems have been manufactured for the U.S. Army.

## Performance

* Range: 7,000-8,000 meters
* Calibre: 120/81mm smoothbore and rifled
* Max rate of fire : 16 rounds per minute
* Traverse (deg) : 360
* Shoot of first round: less than 30 sec
* Crew : 2-4 dependent on carrier
* Dual mode : mounted and dismounted

## Operators

### Azerbaijan

* Azerbaijani Land Forces

### Bahrain

* Royal Bahraini Army special forces (purchased to Spain, fitted on the URO VAMTAC)

### Cameroon

* Cameroon Army

### Denmark

* Royal Danish Army (also known as M/10 or Cardom 10)

### Israel

* Israeli Army

### Kazakhstan

* Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan

### Portugal

* Portuguese Army

### Philippines

* Philippine Army

### Spain

* Spanish Army

### Thailand

* Royal Thai Army

### Uganda

* Uganda Army

### United States

* United States Army

### Zambia

* Zambian Army
