A mortar served as an indirect fire weapon, projecting explosive ordnance along a curved trajectory. Certain versions, for example those utilized by the Grand Army of the Republic throughout the Clone Wars, were sufficiently lightweight for a single clone trooper to carry. Other versions were better suited for mounting on vehicles, such as those found on some Imperial All Terrain Scout Transports.
Throughout the Clone Wars, the 501st Legion possessed numerous mortars. In the Battle of Umbara, the 501st employed these against the clone troopers of Waxer's platoon from the 212th Battalion, who Jedi General Pong Krell falsely identified as Umbarans disguised as clones.
During the time of the Galactic Civil War, the Empire's All Terrain Scout Transport featured a modular construction, permitting simple customization of weaponry and equipment to meet specific mission needs. Mortar launchers represented one such weapon system that could be affixed to the command pod of the AT-ST.
Artillery stormtroopers were a specialized type of stormtrooper who utilized mortars and other indirect fire weapons as a component of the Imperial Army during the Imperial Era. In the aftermath of the Galactic Civil War, one artillery stormtrooper, who still had access to mortar weaponry within an Imperial remnant, served Moff Gideon and his remnant operations. Operating a model 201 mortar system, this stormtrooper participated in a skirmish on Tython as part of Gideon's hunt for Grogu.