Was the trench mortar effective?
Was the trench mortar effective?
In a war where men lived and died by artillery, trench mortars were the most immediate and effective fire support the 8th Queen’s could call on. During attacks, mortar men advanced behind the infantry, deploying their mortars to knock out stubborn bunkers and hidden machine gun nests.
What was the biggest advantage of using trench mortars?
Its Advantages Over Artillery The chief advantage of the mortar was that it could be fired from the (relative) safety of the trench, avoiding exposure of the mortar crews to the enemy. Furthermore, it was notably lighter and more mobile than other, larger artillery pieces.
How did mortars affect ww1?
Mortars were among the very first gunpowder weapons, lobbing projectiles in arcs to fall down upon the enemy, as catapults and trebuchets did. This meant the gunners could hit targets who were out of sight and protected by terrain or defenses from the firepower of cannons and handguns.
What type of damage do trench mortars cause?
What type of damage do trench mortars cause? They can blow you right out of your clothes (in half).
When was the mortar first used in ww1?
1915
It was not until the Stokes mortar was devised by Sir Wilfred Stokes in 1915 during the First World War that the modern mortar transportable by one person was born.
What mortars were used in ww1?
The progenitor of most present-day mortars is the Stokes mortar, designed in January 1915 by British weapons designer F.W.C. (later Sir Wilfred) Stokes and used in World War I. The Stokes mortar was portable, weighing 49 kg (108 pounds). It could fire up to 22 rounds per minute at a range of 1,100 metres (3,600 feet).
How effective are mortars?
A crew can fire 15 per minute, enough to break up infantry assaults. The plunging, high-angle fire of the mortar is effective against targets in trenches or behind cover. The mortar has always been the footsoldier’s favorite piece of artillery. Mortars are not especially accurate weapons.
What do mortars do?
A mortar is an artillery weapon which fires explosive shells. They are fired at targets which are close, as mortars do not have long range. It has a short barrel which fires the mortar bomb at a low speed high into the air to reach its target. They have been used since medieval times.
Why were trenches used in World War I warfare?
During WWI, trenches were used to try to protect soldiers from poison gas, giving them more time to put on gas masks. Dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever, and trench foot were all common diseases in the trenches, especially during WWI. Gigantic rats were common in the trenches of WWI and WWII.
Were there mortars in WW1?
WW1 Mortars (1914-1918) While artillery reigned supreme overhead during WW1 and the machine gun managed suppression, the mortar proved ideal for dislodging the enemy from the trenches. There are a total of 5 WW1 Mortars (1914-1918) in the Military Factory. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order (1-to-Z).
What is trench mortar?
trench mortar (plural trench mortars) A small mortar designed to fire shells from one trench to an enemy trench.
How was artillery used in World War 1?
The artillery of World War I was used primarily to counter the trench warfare that set in shortly after the conflict commenced, and was an important factor in the war, influencing its tactics, and operations, and being incorporated into strategies that were used by the belligerents to break the stalemate at the front.
