Page 89 - History of War - Issue 05-14

Bricks and mortar

The mortar proved to be an especially effective weapon during
the war. This small, stumpy weapon is designed to fire at a steep
angle – often 45 degrees or more – so that the projectile falls
almost vertically on the enemy. As such, its ability to drop into
trenches, made it much-feared among the troops. The other
advantages are that it can be fired from the relative safety of
the trench, or a purpose built mortar pit, avoiding exposure to
gunfire. The mortar itself is aslo considerably lighter and has
better mobility than traditional artillery pieces.
Germany had a head start on the allies at the beginning of
the war, after they had witnessed its effects during the Russo-
Japanese war of 1904-1905. They began stockpiling mortars in
readiness for use against France’s fortresses, and had around
150 units by the start of the war.
Both Fr ance and Britain were caught una w ares b y Ger man y’ s
Both France and Britain were caught unawares by Germany’s
use of the mortar, causing France to dust off its own century- Schematic for a German mortar
pit. The roof is a sandwich
old Napoleonic-era devices. Britain, although slow to cacth of concrete, wood and sand
on to the idea, did eventually accept the weapon and improve designed to burst shells before
on to the idea, did eventually accept the weapon and improve
its design. The smooth-bore, 3-inch Stokes mortar is generally
its design. The smooth-bore, 3-inch Stok es mor tar is g ener ally they can penetrate, and absorb
g
tars in use during
arded as the best of the mor
ar I.
or
W
ld
W
regarded as the best of the mortars in use during World War I. the shock and fragments
re
seemed to shake the air and the ground, essentially of a barrel and pair of legs, and a
sandbags and bits of timber sailed up slowly, and bomb that slid into the mortar, tail first. It met to avoid it, was enough to destroy the nerve
fell in a calm deliberate way. In the silence that four vital criteria: simplicity, speed, lightness and of a suit of armour. You can imagine, therefore,
followed the explosions, an angry voice called out ease of setting up. It was introduced in 1916 how decidedly unpopular the trench mortar
in English, across No Man’s Land, ‘You bloody and within a year had proved its efficiency. Its batteries became”.
Welsh Murderers’”. basic design has informed that of mortars the It is perhaps surprising that the catapult, siege
At the end of 1915 the French 9.45inch heavy world over, ever since. weapon of the ancients, should have gained
‘flying pig’ design was also added to the British The trench mortars of both friend and foe were a new lease of life early in World War I. That it
inventory. Parallel work in the UK also led to the distinctly unloved by the front line infantryman, did was due at least in part to the early lack of
development of the remarkable Stokes mortar. not least because one of their most favoured more modern equipments such as mortars and
The Stokes was simple, consisting tactics was to displace rifle grenades. One built by the Cambridgeshire
before any retaliation Regiment in Ploegsteert Wood was a direct copy
A Minenwerfer being occurred. As C. J. Arthur of a Roman machine, inspired by the classical
disassembled for put it: “The trench mortar scholarship of a Cambridge professor. A few
transport over batteries used to come up others depended on elasticity, being not unlike
rough terrain and let off a few rounds, overgrown schoolboys’ catapults. Most threw
then go back. We were left some form of grenade, or an extemporised Jam
to patch up the trenches Tin. In addition to being relatively easy to produce
after the usual replies from these catapults had the not inconsiderable
the “minnie” brigade. Those advantage of being comparatively quiet.
Minenwerfers! I shall never Conversely they were not always easy to mount
forget their soul-destroying and conceal, had relatively short range, and were
qualities. To be hit by quickly outclassed by better weapons.
something you could not Some catapults were local improvisations
see was not too bad, but or inventions that nevr got much beyond the
to see something coming, experimental. Various devices using the leaf
sufficient to blow a crater springs of lorries and assortments of bicycle
of 15 feet diameter and parts saw widespread use. Amongst these were
not know which way to go the French Sauterelle, and the Leach catapult
and West Spring Gun in British service. The
Leach was a large fork and employed rubber
Loading a 110lb shell springs plus a sling to hold the projectile.
into the rifled muzzle Amazingly Leach catapults were issued on a
of a Minenwerfer was scale of 20 per division in 1915.
a tricky business The West Spring Gun, issued on the same
scale as the Leach, relied on an arm whose
vicious forward and upward flick was powered by

A medium
Minenwerfer in its
sandbagged mortar pit

HISTORY WAR 89
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