Mortier de 58 mm type 2

History

Combat use

• 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.

• 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.

• Gallery