Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Mortier de 58 mm type 2

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Type
  
Medium trench mortar

In service
  
1915 - 1940

Wars
  
World War I

Place of origin
  
France

Used by
  
France  Serbia  Poland

Designer
  
Dumisilles

Mortier de 58 mm type 2

The Mortier de 58 mm type 2, also known as the Crapouillot or "little toad" from its appearance, was the standard French medium trench mortar of World War I.

Contents

History

Introduced April 1915.

Combat use

3 types of bomb were available :

  • Light L.S. bomb - 18 kg, containing 5.35 kg explosive. 6 wings, hollow plugged tail.
  • Heavy D.L.S. bomb - 35 kg, containing 10.0 kg explosive. 6 wings, hollow plugged tail.
  • Medium A.L.S bomb - 20 kg, containing 6.4 kg explosive. 3 wings, unlike the other 2 it has a hollow tail which contained the propellant charge, placing thrust closer to center of gravity and increasing range and accuracy. Not yet in common use as at March 1918.

    • Examples of capabilities :-

  • To destroy a 3m x 3m blockhouse, 60-80 D.L.S. bombs or 100-150 L.S. bombs were required.
  • To cut a passage through barbed wire defences 40mtr wide x 30mtr deep, 120 D.L.S. bombs or 200 L.S. bombs were required.

    • Surviving examples

  • Many places around France, especially as war memorials.
  • At the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw.
  • Passion & Compassion 1914-1918. French Artillery - photographs of surviving examples

    • References

    Mortier de 58 mm type 2 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA