17-cm mittlerer Minenwerfer Medium Trench Mortar (1913)
The 17cm mittlerer Minenwerfer was a medium class trench mortar utilized by the German Army in World War 1.
Mine projectors served the useful battlefield role of destroying fixed, fortified enemy emplacements, usually housing machine gun teams or artillery systems or both. In any case, these fortresses prevented further advancement by ground forces and required a solution. The weapon type could also be used to remove field obstacles (barricades, barbed wire fields, etc...) that threatened or contained allied troop movements, cavalry and vehicles as required. The design of the 17cm mMW was such that it could attack these targets at range utilizing a short rifled barrel which made for good accuracy. The 170mm (6.69") 110lb shell was specific to the 17cm mMW weapon in that it was designed with a thin outer casing which allowed for more internal filler and, thusly, more explosive capabilities within. The shells were loaded down the open muzzle-end of the launch tube in the normal muzzle-loading mortar fashion (still utilized today). A hydro-spring suspension system offered the necessary recoil function and the wheels of the transport carriage were typically removed before firing. The wheeled nature of the carriage did, however, allow a team of four to pull the weapon into position with some work. Overall weight was 1,065lbs which naturally required multiple crew (or pack animals) to move. A pit was dug to protect the weapon and gunnery team whenever possible and elevation served projectiles between +45 to +90 degrees with traversal limited to 25 degrees to either side. A trained crew could loose up to 20 rounds per minute out to a range of 1,700 yards - though more accuracy was attained at ranges under 325 yards. Sighting was through a panoramic sighting device integrated into the design.
After some practice, the original 17cm mMW gave way to a revised design sporting a longer barrel which, in turn, increased overall range. The original's barrel measured just over 2 feet while the revised variant added a further 5 inches to the length. The manufacturing change, therefore, created two distinct designations - the earlier short-barreled versions becoming the 17cm mMW a/A (for "alter Art") and the later longer-barreled versions becoming the 17cm mMW n/A (for "neuer Art"). The "alter" and "neuer" markings simply designated them as "old" and "new" respectively.
In action, the 17cm mMW series gave a good account of itself. They were utilized by engineering units charged with all manner of demolition of enemy fortifications, obstacles and emplacements. The massive 170mm shells could certainly deliver firepower against targets and utterly destroy concrete and steel structures with some ease. Such weapons were, however, cumbersome to maneuver in the heat of battle and in confined spaces so early-war designed eventually gave way to more streamlined, lighter forms by war's end. In addition to their base explosive projectile, such mine projectors could also make use of incendiary rounds as well as poison gas rounds to further the hellish nature of trench warfare. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
17-cm mittlerer Minenwerfer
Medium Trench Mortar
Country of Origin: Imperial Germany
Manufacturer: Rheinmetall - Imperial Germany
Initial Year of Service: 1913
Overall Length: 646mm (25.43in)
Barrel Length: 646.00mm (25.43in)
Weight (Empty): 1,064.83lbs (483.00kg)
Cartridge: 170mm
Action: Muzzle-Loading, Propellant Launched
Feed: Single-Shot; Reusable
Muzzle Velocity: 656ft/sec (200m/sec)
Rate-of-Fire: 20 rounds per minute
Range: 984ft (300m; 328yds)
Sights: Panoramic Optics
Variants:
17cm mittlerer Minenwerfer - Base Series Designation; production by Rheinmetall between 1913 and 1918; 2,361 examples produced.
17cm mMW - Abbreviated German Army Designation
17cm mittlerer Minenwerfer a/A - Initial production mark fitting 2 foot, 1 inch L/3.8 barrel.
17cm mittlerer Minenwerfer n/A - Revised production mark fitting 2 foot, 6 inch L/4.5 barrel; increased overall range.
Operators: Imperial Germany
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