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SURVIVING GUN FILE (# 1108)
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Austro-Hungaria

20cm luft Minenwerfer M16 Bartelemus

Trench artillery

Contributor :
(Flickr) Janos Biberika     
Massimo (Flickr) Foti     
     
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Location :
Hungary
Budapest
Military Museum
Coordinates : Lat : 47.50440 / Long : 19.02780
General comments on this surviving gun :


Identical items in the same location : 1
Items covered by this file : 1

Impressive but cumbersome mortar

Rear view with the reservoir perpendicular to the barrel

Breech markings : '12cm M16 LMW - Nr28


Historic and technical information
Denomination :     20cm luft MW M16 Origin :       ( Austria)          

Historic context :

During the same period the famous 12cm M16 luft Minenwerfer was developped by the Austria Company engineer Gustav Spitz, another designer from the same company produced a heavier 20cm pneumatic mortar that was accepted as well by the Austrian Army in 1916.

The basics of this '20cm M16 luft MW' were similar to the ones of the 12cm M16 from the same company, with its long tube needed for a long range and the possibility to add an extension on the top, the constant 45 degrees vertical aiming angle, the breech loading, the cylindrico-ogival shape of the stocky shell, and the compressed air reservoir located behind the breech. The increased power although needed several adaptations :

  • the cyslindric compressed air chamber, with an increased capacity, was now placed perpendicular to the tube
  • the barrel was supported on its whole length by a steel structure allowing the tube to slide forward, separating it from the breech for the shell loading.
This weapon, sometimes called '20cm M16 luft Minenwerfer Bartelemus' received a less enthusiastic success on the front, mainly because of its weight and dimensions, but also its high consumption of compressed air (only 4 to 6 rounds per compressed air cylinder). It was gradually replaced by the conventional 26cm M17 mortar and the following heavy mortars.

Technical data :

  • Complete description : 20cm pneumatic trench mortar M 1916 Bartelemus
  • Design year : 1916
  • Calibre : 200.00 mm
  • Weight in firing position : 690 à 725 kg
  • Weight for transportation :
  • Tube length in calibres : 0.00 optional tube extension
  • Grooves : 0 smooth bore
  • Projectile weight : 22.6 et 34.4 kg
  • Initial speed :
  • Fire rate :
  • Range : 400 à 1250 m
  • Elevation range : constant at 45 degrees
  • Direction range :


Sources