Editing Self-propelled artillery (section)

==Mortars==
[[File:Makmat-160.jpg|right|thumb|IDF Makmat 160 mm [[mortar carrier]] (see [[postwar Sherman tanks]])]]
{{Main|Mortar carrier}}
Many vehicles have used ancillary [[Smoke grenade|smoke mortars]] for local defense, which project one or more smoke grenades in a pattern that allows them to lay down a smoke screen some distance in order to conceal the vehicle from enemy observers. Mortar carriers are vehicles which carry a [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] as a primary weapon. Numerous vehicles have been used to mount mortars, from [[Technical (vehicle)|improvised civilian trucks]] used by [[Insurgency|insurgents]], to modified [[infantry fighting vehicle]]s, such as variants of the [[M3 Half-track|M3 half track]] and [[M113 armored personnel carrier|M113 APC]], to vehicles specifically intended to carry a mortar, such as the [[2S31 Vena]]. The [[postwar Sherman tanks|Israeli Makmat]] is a mortar carrier based on the [[M4 Sherman]] tank chassis.

The [[Russian Ground Forces|Russian army]] uses a ''[[2S4 Tyulpan]]'' (Tulip) self-propelled 240&nbsp;mm heavy mortar. [[Patria Hägglunds]], a joint venture between Finnish [[Patria (company)|Patria]] and Swedish [[BAE Systems Hägglunds]], manufactures [[AMOS]] (Advanced Mortar System), which is a 120&nbsp;mm automatic twin-barrelled, [[breech loaded|breech-loaded]] mortar turret. There are also numerous AFVs and even main battle tanks that can be equipped with a mortar, either outside or inside the cabin. The Israeli [[Merkava]] main battle tank carried a 60&nbsp;mm mortar in the small troop compartment in the rear, which fired through an opening in the roof, allowing the crew to remain protected. This was useful for fighting nearby infantry, as a mortar is shorter-ranged and cheaper to shoot than the large main gun, as well as being better suited to wounding enemy infantry taking cover behind objects. However, since the mortar is only a secondary weapon in this case, the Merkava is not considered a mortar carrier.