Someone asked me the other day how I really felt about the weapon systems today as compared to 50 years ago. What I liked especially was if we needed to set up on the other side of a body of water it was no problem because we carried everything we needed so getting bogged down in murky water didn't happen. It might have been easier if the weapon had been a little lighter but it all worked out.
So later I looked up the old 81 and sure enough there have been improvements.
https://jpeoaa.army.mil/Project-Offices/PM-CAS/Organizations/Precision-Fires-Mortars/Products/81MM-M252A1/#:~:text=The%20M252A1%20is%20a%20lightweight,legacy%20M252%20mortar%20weapon%20system.