14 cm Minenwerfer M 15

Infobox Weapon
name=14 cm Minenwerfer M 15


caption=M 16 model at the Tiroler Kaiserjägermuseum, Innsbruck, Austria
origin=Austria-Hungary
type=medium trench mortar
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=1915-1918
used_by=flag|Austria-Hungary
wars=World War I
designer=Skoda
design_date=1914-5
manufacturer=Skoda
production_date=1915-8
number=
variants=M 16
weight=convert|220|kg|lb
length=
part_length=
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=convert|16|kg|lb
caliber=140 mm (5.5 in)
action=
rate=
velocity=
range=
max_range=convert|860|m|yd
feed=
sights=
breech=
recoil=
carriage=
elevation=
traverse=0°
blade_type=
hilt_type=
sheath_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
diameter=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
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speed=The 14 cm Minenwerfer M 15 was a medium mortar used by Austria-Hungary in World War I. It was developed by Skoda as an alternative to a German design from Rheinische Metallwarenfabrik/Ehrhardt for which ammunition couldn't be procured. It was a rigid-recoil, rifled, muzzle-loading mortar that had to be levered around to aim at new targets. It was lifted onto a two-wheel cart for transport.

The M 16 version added a central barrel ring and cutouts on the side of the carriage. Rotation within the barrel was improved, greatly increasing accuracy. It weighed an extra convert|20|kg|lb, but had a maximum range of convert|1080|m|yd. Its transport cart was also improved.

The first batch of 100 mortars was ordered in May 1915 and a second batch in spring 1916, but deliveries were slow that only 88 of the second batch could be sent to the front by May 1916. A third batch of 300 was ordered in November 1916, but production was exceedingly slow and only 30 had been delivered by spring 1917.

References

* Ortner, M. Christian. "The Austro-Hungarian Artillery From 1867 to 1918: Technology, Organization, and Tactics". Vienna, Verlag Militaria, 2007 ISBN 978-3-902526-13-7