7.58 cm Minenwerfer

Infobox Weapon
name= 7.58 cm Minenwerfer a.A.


caption= A 7.58 cm Minenwerfer at the Brussels Army Museum.
origin= Germany
type=Light mortar
is_ranged=yes
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_missile=
is_UK=
service=
used_by=flag|German Empire
wars= World War I
designer=Rheinmetall
design_date=1909-1914
manufacturer=Rheinmetall
unit_cost=
production_date=
number=
variants=n.A.
weight=147 kg (324 lbs)
length=
part_length=convert|23.5|cm|in L/3.1
width=
height=
diameter=
crew=5-6
cartridge= 4.6 kg (10.14 lbs)
caliber=75.8 mm (2.99 in)
action=
rate=6 rounds per minute
velocity= 90 m/s (259 fps)
range= 300 m (328 yds) minimum
max_range=1,300 m (1,421 yds)
feed=
sights=
breech=
recoil=hydro-spring
carriage=platform
elevation=+45 to + 78 degrees
traverse=7°
blade_type=
hilt_type=
sheath_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
transmission=
payload_capacity=
fuel_capacity=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
clearance=
vehicle_range=
speed=
guidance=The 7.58 cm Minenwerfer a.A. (alter Art or old model) (7.58 cm leMW) was a German First World War mortar. The Russo-Japanese War 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, and they were initially assigned to engineer units in their siege warfare role. By the Winter of 1916-17 they were transferred to the infantry where the leMW's light weight permitted them to accompany the infantry in the advance. In common with Rheinmetall's other Minenwerfer designs the leMW was a rifled muzzle-loader and had hydraulic cylinders on each side of the tube to absorb the recoil forces and spring recuperators to return the tube to 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 version, designated as the n.A. or neuer Art, was fielded that had a new circular firing platform that added a turntable which permitted a full 360 degree of traverse. It also had a longer convert|16|in|mm barrel and could be used for direct fire between 0° and 27° elevation if the new convert|90|kg|lb trail was fitted to absorb the recoil forces. In this mode it was pressed into service as an anti-tank gun.

References

* Jäger, Herbert. "German Artillery of World War One". Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire: Crowood Press, 2001 ISBN 1-86126-403-8

External links

* [http://www.landships.freeservers.com/7.85cm_leichtes_minenwerfer.htm 7.58 cm leMW on Landships]
* [http://www.landships.freeservers.com/adh_germart1_l-mortars.htm German light mortars on Landships]
* [http://www.passioncompassion1418.com/Canons/english_CanonsIndex_Nation.html List and pictures of WW1 surviving guns]
* [http://sill-www.army.mil/FAMAG/1918/JUL_SEP_1918/JUL_SEP_1918_PAGES_404_409.pdf "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.]