Originally Posted by
Tartiflette Fan
What makes this a self-propelled mortar, instead of a self-propelled gun ? I believed that the defining characteristic of a mortar was loading down the barrel: the name being carried forward from the mediaeval barrel-loading mortiers.
I think the fundamental difference is that, despite being breach loaded, it still fires mortar rounds. So, with fins and carrying their own propellant. Makes for a much lighter barrel and also allows for switching between direct and indirect targeting.