The 7.58 cm Minenwerfer a.A. (''alter Art'' or "old model"), also 7.58 cm Leichter Minenwerfer (7.58 cm leMW, sometimes also LMW; "light mine launcher"), was a German

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

mortar Mortar may refer to: * Mortar (weapon), an indirect-fire infantry weapon * Mortar (masonry), a material used to fill the gaps between blocks and bind them together * Mortar and pestle, a tool pair used to crush or grind * Mortar, Bihar, a village i ...

History

German troops towing light minenwerfer 1918 IWM Q 023816

The

Russo-Japanese War The Russo-Japanese War (8 February 1904 – 5 September 1905) was fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and the Korean Empire. The major land battles of the war were fought on the ...

of 1905 had shown the value of mortars against modern fieldworks and fortifications and the Germans were in the process of fielding a whole series of mortars before the beginning of World War I. Their term for them was ''Minenwerfer'', literally mine-thrower; they were initially assigned to engineer units in their siege warfare role. By the Winter of 1916–17, they were transferred to infantry units where the leMW's light weight permitted them to accompany the foot-soldiers in the advance. 111-SC-1028 - Diagram - German 75 mm Minenwerfer shell - NARA - 55163381

111-SC-1028 - Diagram - German 75 mm Minenwerfer shell - NARA - 55163381

In common with Rheinmetall's other ''

Minenwerfer ''Minenwerfer'' ("mine launcher" or "mine thrower") is the German name for a class of short range mine shell launching mortars used extensively during the First World War by the Imperial German Army. The weapons were intended to be used by engin ...

'' designs, the leMW was a rifled

muzzle-loader A muzzleloader is any firearm in which the user loads the projectile and the propellant charge into the muzzle end of the gun (i.e., from the forward, open end of the gun's barrel). This is distinct from the modern designs of breech-loading fi ...

that had hydraulic cylinders on each side of the tube to absorb the recoil forces and spring recuperators to return the tube to the firing position. It had a rectangular firing platform with limited traverse and elevation. Wheels could be added to ease transportation or it could be carried by at least six men. In 1916, a new model, designated as the n.A. or ''neuer Art'' ("new version"), was fielded that included a circular firing platform, giving a turntable effect, which permitted a full 360 degree traverse. It also had a longer barrel and could be used for direct fire between 0° and 27° elevation if the new trail was fitted to absorb the recoil forces. A carriage change allowed the Minenwerfer to be pressed into service as an

anti-tank Anti-tank warfare refers to the military strategies, tactics, and weapon systems designed to counter and destroy enemy armored vehicles, particularly tanks. It originated during World War I following the first deployment of tanks in 1916, and ...

gun. Later a flat-track carriage was created that allowed the mortar to be used both as a high-angle and flat trajectory launcher, performing some of the same tasks as field artillery. After World War I ended, the 7.58 cm Minenwerfer continued to be used in the Interwar Period by Germany and was used by Belgium into the 1930s.

References

External links

German light mortars on Landships

"Notes on the New German Light Trench Mortar 7.6 cm". THE FIELD ARTILLERY JOURNAL. VOLUME VIII NUMBER 3 JULY SEPTEMBER 1918. THE UNITED STATES FIELD ARTILLERY ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, D. C.
{{DEFAULTSORT:7.58 cm Minenwerfer 1909 establishments in Germany World War I infantry mortars of Germany 76 mm artillery Rheinmetall

History

See also

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

References

External links