www.passioncompassion1418.com
SURVIVING GUN FILE (# 160)
Version française
Austro-Hungaria

9cm MinenWerfer M14/16
Trench artillery
Contributor :
Jean-Luc Jalabert     
Bernard Plumier      http://www.passioncompassion1418.com
      
Lien vers post du blog
Location :
Belgium
Brussels
Musée Royal de l'Armée
Coordinates : Lat : 50.84210 / Long : 4.39430
General comments on this surviving gun :


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

General view on the weapon

Zoom on the shortened carriage of the 1916 version

View on the circular platform
Historic and technical information
Denomination :     9cm MW M14/16 Origin :       ( T.M.K.)             ( Industrie privée Austro-Hongroise )          

Historic context :

In 1916, the very first Austro-Hungarian trench mortar '9cm MW M14' received a modernization inherited from 2 years of war experience. This version '9cm MW M14/16' was having 3 noticeable improvements :

  • a less cumbersome carriage at the front, although still rudimentary made of riveted steel bars,
  • a circular base allowint the orientation of the barrel at a 360 degrees angle range for a quicker horizontal aiming
  • the possibility of shooting 'M16' bombs (explosive or gaz loaded) equipped with the German 'Popenberg' fuze (used with 'Lanz' and 'Mauser' mortars) much more reliable than the original projectile wick.
A different version for the carriage was also existing, not circular anymore and back to a rectangular shape, but this time foldable in order to facilitate the transportation.

Despite this so-called 'modernization', the 9cm MW M14/16 was just a minor evolution of its predecessor born in emergency and improvisation, with no real improvement in the rudimentary technology nor mean performances. It was replaced in 1917 by the German mortar 9cm Lanz and the 9cm MW M17.

Technical data :

  • Complete description : 9cm trench mortar M 1914/16
  • Design year : 1916
  • Calibre : 91.20 mm
  • Weight in firing position : 65 kg
  • Weight for transportation :
  • Tube length in calibres : 11.50
  • Grooves : 0 smooth bore
  • Projectile weight : 5.5 kg (explosif) - 5.2 kg (gaz)
  • Initial speed :
  • Fire rate :
  • Range : 365 m
  • Elevation range : +30 to +85 degrees
  • Direction range : 360 degrees range

Sources