9 cm Minenwerfer M 17

Last updated
9 cm Minenwerfer M 17
9 cm Minenwerfer M 17.JPG
Type Light trench mortar
Place of origin Austria-Hungary
Service history
In service 1917–1918
Used by Austria-Hungary
Czechoslovakia
Wars World War I
Production history
Designer Hungarian Gun Factory
Manufacturer Hungarian Gun Factory
Produced 1917–1918
Specifications
Weight 114 kilograms (251 lb)
Barrel  length 81 cm (2 ft 8 in) L/9 [1]

Shell weight 6.2 kg (13 lb 11 oz)
Caliber 91.5 mm (3.60 in)
Elevation +45° to +70°
Traverse 120° [1]
Effective firing range 300 m (330 yd)
Maximum firing range 1.9 km (1.2 mi) [1]

The 9 cm Minenwerfer M 17 (Trench mortar) was a medium mortar used by Austria-Hungary in World War I. It was developed by the Hungarian Gun Factory to meet a competition held on 3 October 1917 to replace both of the earlier light mortars, the M 14/16 and the Lanz. Production was slow to ramp up and only ten weapons could be delivered in January 1918. The first large deliveries were made in March 1918, but the raw materials crisis and strained production facilities hindered the TMK's plan to produce 2730 mortars by October 1918.

Mortar (weapon) Artillery weapon that launches explosive projectiles at high angles

A mortar is usually a simple, lightweight, man portable, muzzle-loaded weapon, consisting of a smooth-bore metal tube fixed to a base plate with a lightweight bipod mount and a sight. They launch explosive shells in high-arcing ballistic trajectories. Mortars are typically used as indirect fire weapons for close fire support with a variety of ammunition.

Austria-Hungary Constitutional monarchic union from 1867 to October 1918

Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire or the Dual Monarchy, was a constitutional monarchy in Central and Eastern Europe from 1867 to 1918. It was formed by giving a new constitution to the Austrian Empire, which devolved powers on Austria (Cisleithania) and Hungary (Transleithania) and placed them on an equal footing. It broke apart into several states at the end of World War I.

It was a breech-loading smooth-bore weapon that used a shotgun-like break-action to open the breech. This was arranged so that the barrel returned to the proper elevation to speed up the rate of fire. The carriage was mounted on a small metal rectangular firing platform with four carrying handles that permitted some amount of traverse.

In Czech service the mortar was known as the 9 cm Lehky minomet vz. 17 and the German designation for captured Yugoslav mortars was 9cm Granatwerfer 309(j). Although still active in the Czech armory at the time of the German takeover there are no records of the Germans using it. [1]

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References

International Standard Book Number Unique numeric book identifier

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a numeric commercial book identifier which is intended to be unique. Publishers purchase ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency.

  1. 1 2 3 4 Chamberlain, Peter (1975). Mortars and rockets. Gander, Terry. New York: Arco Pub. Co. p. 3. ISBN   0668038179. OCLC   2067459.