What are HE mortar rounds primarily used for?

HE (High Explosive) mortar rounds are primarily designed to inflict damage on personnel and light material targets. The explosive charge within these rounds creates a significant blast effect, making them effective for targeting enemy troops, enemy infrastructure, and other soft targets.

When fired, HE rounds are intended to maximize the impact of their explosion against groups of soldiers or to demolish light fortifications. Their versatility allows them to be used in various combat scenarios where there is a need to engage forces that are not heavily armored or fortified, thus capitalizing on the explosive yield to achieve tactical superiority on the battlefield.

In contrast, while other options mention purposes such as attacking armored vehicles, providing smokescreens, or illuminating dark areas, these functions are typically suited for specialized munitions like armor-piercing rounds, smoke rounds, and illumination rounds, respectively. This distinction highlights the specific role HE rounds play in indirect fire support.