21 cm Mörser M. 16/18

Infobox Weapon
name=21 cm Mörser M. 18/19


caption=
origin=Austria-Hungary
type=heavy howitzer
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=1916-1945
used_by=flag|Austria-Hungary
CZE
flag|Nazi Germany
wars=World War I, World War II
designer=Skoda
design_date=1915-19
manufacturer=Skoda
production_date=
number=
variants=M. 16, M. 18
weight=convert|9460|kg|lb
length=
part_length=convert|3.36|m|in L/16
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=convert|135|kg|lb
caliber=convert|210|mm|in
action=
rate=
velocity=380 m/s
range=
max_range=convert|10100|m|yd
feed=
sights=
breech=horizontal sliding block
recoil=
carriage=firing platform
elevation=+40° to +71° 30'
traverse=360°
blade_type=
hilt_type=
sheath_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
diameter=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
vehicle_range=
speed=The 21 cm Mörser M. 16 was a heavy howitzer used by Austria-Hungary during World War I. Skoda began design in 1915 for a wheeled howitzer that could be towed in a single load by a tractor. The first prototype wasn't satisfactory as it was too heavy and traversing was difficult due to the very high limber bar pressure. A second howitzer was delivered in mid-1917 that broke down into two loads for transport. This, at least, cured the traversing problem of the first weapon, as reported by the test battery assigned to the 11th Army [Ortner, p. 530] . In the meantime, however, a third prototype had been ordered as the M. 18 with a carriage based on that of the 30.5 cm Mörser M. 16 that would allow for full traverse at the price of more time needed to emplace the firing platform. It broke down into three loads for transport. No M. 18s were delivered by the end of the war, although Skoda built some modified versions as the M. 18/19 for the newly-independent Republic of Czechoslovakia where they were known as the 21 cm mozdir vz. 18. After the Occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939 the Germans adopted them under the names of 21 cm Mörser 18/19(t) or kurze 21 cm Mörser(t) although it cannot be confirmed if the Germans used them for anything other than training.

References

* Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter. "Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939-1945". New York: Doubleday, 1979 ISBN 0-385-15090-3
* Ortner, M. Christian. "The Austro-Hungarian Artillery From 1867 to 1918: Technology, Organization, and Tactics". Vienna, Verlag Militaria, 2007 ISBN 978-3-902526-13-7

Notes