Mortier de 58 mm type 2

Mortier de 58 mm type 2
Type	Medium trench mortar
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1915 - 1940
Used by	France  Serbia  Poland
Wars	World War I
Production history
Designer	Dumisilles
Specifications
Weight	Barrel & Breech: 75 kg (170 lb) Carriage: 226 kg (500 lb)
Crew	5
Shell	18 kg (40 lb) (LS) 20 kg (44 lb) (ALS) 35 kg (77 lb) (DLS)
Calibre	58.3 mm (2.3 in) (barrel only)
Elevation	45° - 82.5°
Maximum range	1,250 m (1,370 yd) (LS) 1,450 m (1,590 yd) (ALS) 670 m (730 yd) (DLS)
Filling weight	5.35 kg (11 lb 13 oz) (LS) 6.4 kg (14 lb 2 oz) (ALS) 10 kg (22 lb 1 oz) (DLS)

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.

History

Introduced April 1915.

Combat use

Carrying bombs in a trench

With A.L.S. bomb loaded

3 types of bomb were available :^[1]

• 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 :-^[2]

• 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.

See also

• Mortar
• 2 inch Medium Mortar Early British equivalent
• Newton 6 inch Mortar Later British equivalent
• List of heavy mortars

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

Notes

1. ^ Manual for Trench Artillery. Part V. The 58 No. 2 Trench Mortar. US Army, March 1918. Page 9
2. ^ General notes on the use of artillery. France. Ministère de la guerre. 1917. Page 42

References

• Manual for Trench Artillery. Part V. The 58 No. 2 Trench Mortar. US Army, March 1918. Translated from French manual. Made available online by Combined Arms Research Library]
• General notes on the use of artillery. France. Ministère de la guerre. 1917. Translated and republished by US Army War College, November 1917

External links

• "SPECIFICATIONS FOR No. 58-2 EMPLACEMENTS type I and II". US Army War College, March 1918.