This is coolbert: Here are some interesting statistics.

According to Suvorov, during the Second World War, the Soviets manufactured about 300,000 mortars.

The Germans, by contrast, manufactured about 60,000 mortars during the same time.

And the rest of the combatants, combined, manufactured fewer mortars that the Germans did [<60,000].

This is a very startling statistic.

Now, these mortars the Soviets manufactured were cast iron, smooth bore, firing a cast iron bomb [mortar rounds are called bombs in all armies of the world with the possible exception of the U.S. Army]. Accuracy was not a concern to the old time Soviet Generals. Volume of fire was most important. Cast iron smoothbore mortars could be made quicker, more cheaply, and in much greater numbers [the same for mortar bombs]. Cast iron mortar bombs when exploding create more splinters than does a steel mortar bomb, both being of the same size. Small bore mortars were not favored by the Soviets either. They did make smaller bore mortars, but preferred sizes of 120 mm and greater. 120 mm was the standard size, 160 mm and 240 mm mortars also being produced [the two latter are towed]. That 240 mm mortar also had the potentiality for being nuclear capable.

[the Soviets classified all mortars with caliber of 120 mm and greater as artillery.]

coolbert.