24 cm Mörser M 98

Infobox Weapon
name=24 cm Mörser M 98


caption=The 24 cm Mörser M 98 with its crew
origin=Austria-Hungary
type=heavy siege howitzer
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=1914-1918
used_by=flag|Austria-Hungary
UK
wars=World War I
designer=Skoda
design_date=1896-1900
manufacturer=Skoda
production_date=
number=
variants=M 98/7
weight=convert|9300|kg|lb
length=
part_length=convert|2.18|m|ft| L/9
width=
height=
crew=6
cartridge=convert|133|kg|lb
caliber=240 mm (9.44 in)
action=
rate=
velocity=278 m/s (912 ft/s)
range=
max_range=convert|6500|m|yd
feed=
sights=
breech=interrupted screw
recoil=hydro-spring
carriage=box trail
elevation=44° to 65°
traverse=16°
blade_type=
hilt_type=
sheath_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
diameter=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
vehicle_range=
speed=The 24 cm Mörser M 98 was a heavy siege howitzer used by Austria-Hungary during World War I. It was designed to attack modern fortifications, but its short range and ineffective ammunition lead to the development of the more deservedly famous 30.5 cm Mörser M 11 and M 16.

History

While introduced in November 1900, it wasn't quite ready and went through a number of minor improvements. One major problem was weak recoil springs that would allow the barrel to slip out of its cradle while elevated. Leather and horsehair stoppers could be wedged in the cradle as a short-term fix. But the permanent fix had to wait until the M 98/7 version that extended the jacket surrounding the barrel to the muzzle and redesigned the cradle was produced after 1907.

It was notable as the first weapon with a modern recoil system to see service with the Austro-Hungarian artillery as well as the first design to require motor traction. It was broken down into four loads for this purpose. Its carriage was mounted on a static firing platform that was jacked up and down onto its prepared bedding. It could only be loaded at 0° elevation.

BL 9.45 inch Howitzer in United Kingdom service

The UK bought 4 guns (8 according to Hogg & Thurston [I.V.Hogg & L.F. Thurston, British Artillery Weapons & Ammunition 1914-1918. London: Ian Allan, 1972. page 174] ) in February 1900 and designated the gun Ordnance BL 9.45 inch Howitzer Mk I. They were sent to South Africa for use in the Second Boer War against the Pretoria forts but were not used in action. They were later sent to China during the Boxer Rebellion but were also not used in action there.

In UK use they fired a 280 lb common pointed shell up to 7,650 yards [Hogg & Thurston 1972] , using 5 lb 8¼ oz cordite MDT propellant [Treatise on Ammunition 10th Edition, 1915] .

They were not adopted by the British army, partly because the technology used differed from British ordnance custom. The siege carriage and transportation system of breaking the gun and carriage down into separate wagon loads was later copied for the UK's own equivalent BL 9.2 inch HowitzerDale Clarke, [http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S7883 British Artillery 1914-1919. Heavy Artillery. Osprey Publishing, Oxford UK, 2005] page 21.]

Notes

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

External Links

* [http://www.landships.freeservers.com/24cm_m1898_walkaround.htm M 98 on Landships]