Another method of positioning the weapon is to place bags of dry sand or snow beneath the baseplate. The sandbags will provide the weapon with a solid, yet resilient, shock absorbing base. An additional problem with the mortars is that they cannot be handled without touching bare metal as can other infantry weapons with wooden or plastic handles and stock. The crew must keep their gloves or mittens on and avoid touching the metal surface with bare flesh. There are practically no lubrication or ice fog problems with the mortars.
Malfunctions are also quite infrequent.
The ammunition is affected by the cold in the same manner as the other types of ammunition. Firing tables may be utilized provided the proper range K's are established through experience. Applicable field manuals should be consulted for charge restrictions at low temperatures. The VT-fuze type ammunition is considered the most effective mortar ammunition in the northern latitudes in the winter. Contact-detonated ammunition will penetrate the snow before exploding and much of its effective ness is lost and dissipated in the snow.