Mortier de 58 mm type 2

Mortier de 58 mm type 2
Mortier de 58 mm type 2
Type	Medium trench mortar
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1915-1940
Used by	France; Kingdom of Italy; Poland; Serbia; United States
Wars	World War I
Production history
Designer	commandant Duchêne
Manufacturer	Saint Etienne
Specifications
Mass	Barrel & Breech:; 75 kg (165 lb); Carriage: 226 kg (498 lb)
Crew	5
Shell	18 kg (40 lb) (LS); 20 kg (44 lb) (ALS); 35 kg (77 lb) (DLS)
Calibre	58.3 mm (2.3 in); (barrel only)
Elevation	+45° to +82.5°
Maximum firing range	1,250 m (1,370 yd) (LS); 1,450 m (1,590 yd) (ALS); 670 m (730 yd); (DLS)
Filling weight	5.35 kg (11 lb 13 oz) (LS); 6.4 kg (14 lb 2 oz) (ALS); 10 kg (22 lb 1 oz) (DLS)

The Mortier de 58 mm type 2, also known as the Crapouillot or "little toad" from its appearance, was the standard French medium trench mortar of World War I.

History

Introduced April 1915.

Combat use

3 types of bomb were available:[1]

Light L.S. bomb - 18 kg, containing 5.35 kg explosive. 6 wings, hollow plugged tail.
Heavy D.L.S. bomb - 35 kg, containing 10.0 kg explosive. 6 wings, hollow plugged tail.
Medium A.L.S bomb - 20 kg, containing 6.4 kg explosive. 3 wings, unlike the other 2 it has a hollow tail which contained the propellant charge, placing thrust closer to center of gravity and increasing range and accuracy. Not yet in common use as at March 1918.

Examples of capabilities:[2]

To destroy a 3m x 3m blockhouse, 60-80 D.L.S. bombs or 100-150 L.S. bombs were required.
To cut a passage through barbed wire defenses 40 m wide x 30 m deep, 120 D.L.S. bombs or 200 L.S. bombs were required.

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

2 inch Medium Mortar Early British equivalent
Newton 6 inch Mortar Later British equivalent

Surviving examples

Many places around France, especially as war memorials.
At the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw.
Passion & Compassion 1914-1918. French Artillery - photographs of surviving examples

Gallery

Carrying bombs in a trench.
With A.L.S. bomb loaded.
An Italian mortar captured by the Austrians.

Notes

Manual for Trench Artillery. Part V. The 58 No.2 Trench Mortar. US Army, March 1918. Page 9
General notes on the use of artillery. France. Ministère de la guerre. 1917. Page 42

References

Manual for Trench Artillery. Part V. The 58 No.2 Trench Mortar. US Army, March 1918. Translated from French manual. Made available online by Combined Arms Research Library
General notes on the use of artillery. France. Ministère de la guerre. 1917. Translated and republished by US Army War College, November 1917

External links

"SPECIFICATIONS FOR No. 58-2 EMPLACEMENTS type I and II". US Army War College, March 1918.

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[1] Manual for Trench Artillery. Part V. The 58 No.2 Trench Mortar. US Army, March 1918. Page 9

[2] General notes on the use of artillery. France. Ministère de la guerre. 1917. Page 42

French artillery of World War I
Anti-aircraft guns	Canon de 75 antiaérien mle 1913-1917
Coastal artillery	Canon de 100 mm Modèle 1891 Canon de 145 L modele 1916 Saint-Chamond Canon de 155 L modele 1916 Saint-Chamond Canon de 19 C modèle 1870/93 Canon de 19 C modèle 1875 Canon de 24 C modèle 1876 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889
Field artillery	Canon de 75 modèle 1897 Canon de 75 modèle 1912 Schneider Canon de 75 modèle 1914 Schneider De Bange 90 mm cannon Obusier de 120 mm C modèle 1890 Obusier de 120 mm mle 15TR
Infantry guns	Canon d'Infanterie de 37 modèle 1916 TRP
Medium and heavy artillery	Canon de 105 mle 1913 Schneider Canon de 155 court modèle 1904 Rimailho Canon de 120 mm modèle 1878 Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1881 Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1890 Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 St. Chamond Canon de 155 L modèle 1877/14 Schneider Canon de 155 L Modele 1917 Schneider Canon de 155 L modèle 1918 Schneider Canon de 155mm GPF De Bange 155 mm cannon Canon de 220 L mle 1917 Mortier de 220 modèle 1915/1916 Schneider
Mortars	Mortier de 58 mm type 2 Mortier de 75 modèle 1915 Schneider Mortier de 150 mm T Mle 1917 Fabry Mortier de 240 mm Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1885 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889
Mountain artillery	Canon de 65 M modele 1906 Canon de 76 M modele 1909 Schneider Canon Court de 105 M modele 1909 Schneider
Railway artillery	Canon de 140 sur affut-truc mle 1884 Canon de 164 modèle 1893/96 TAZ Canon de 19 C modèle 1875 Canon de 19 modèle 1870/93 TAZ Obusier de 200 "Pérou" sur affût-truck TAZ Schneider 24 cm Canon G modèle 1916 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Canon de 240 modèle 93/96 TAZ Canon de 274 modèle 93/96 Berceau Canon de 274 modèle 87/93 Glissement Canon de 305 modèle 93/96 TAZ Canon de 305 modèle 1893/96 à berceau Canon de 305 modèle 1893/96 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/81 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/84 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/93 à glissement Canon de 340 modèle 1893 à glissement Canon de 340 modèle 1912 à berceau Canon de 340 modèle 1912 à glissement Obusier de 370 modèle 1915 à berceau Canon de 370 modèle 75/79 Glissement Obusier de 400 Modèle 1915/1916 Obusier de 520 modèle 1916
Siege artillery	Obusier de 120 mm C modèle 1890 Canon de 120 mm modèle 1878 Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1881 Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1890 Mortier de 220 mm modèle 1880 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Canon de 240 TR Mle 1903 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1885 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889 Mortier de 280 modèle 1914 Schneider Mortier de 293 Danois sur affut-truck modèle 1914 Mortier de 370 modèle 1914 Filloux
Self propelled artillery	Canon de 194 mle GPF Canon de 220mm L Mle1917 Schneider (FAHM) Mortier 280 mm TR de Schneider sur affût-chenilles St Chamond
Tank guns	Puteaux 37 mm SA 18 Canon de 75 modèle 1897