206thCEF Posted 6 July , 2009 Share Posted 6 July , 2009 Hello all. I know that in those days a lot of thinking went into ways to destroy the enemy's trench and, here's one method. Not very fast or efficient,in my opinion, but, it probably did the job.Presenting the Schneider 280mm Mortar. Cheers Joe http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...t_Rear_View.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm..._In_Action.jpeg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...er_Loading.jpeg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...er_Elevated.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 6 July , 2009 Share Posted 6 July , 2009 It's basically an 11" siege howitzer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
206thCEF Posted 6 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 6 July , 2009 Whatever the unit of measurement used, still a BIG gun, Gunner. Cheers Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Point is, Joe, that when referring to heavy-calibre weapons, the French term 'mortier' and its German counterpart 'Mörser' equate to 'siege howitzer' in the modern era and 'siege mortar' in earlier times. The 'mortier Schneider 280mm' was indeed a big gun, but there were many bigger guns on both sides. The nomenclature of these things is not an exact science, but siege howitzers generally have to be broken down into their principal components for transport. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 I like the guy in the centre of the last picture leaning across saying "Pass me that shell.." Regards TonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 I don't think its size so much as were you put it that counts. After all the 9.45 Trench mortar used by the French, British and Italians was a trench mortar. The French had some even bigger TMs (at least one using a trench railway to bring up its ammo). However these were all positioned forward amongst the trench system and, in general, used for direct infantry support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
206thCEF Posted 7 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Very instructive comments from all ,much appreciated. I have one more question and ask for forgiveness in advance......Why, make those (mortar, siege howitzer,whatever name you can call it...) so big, when you can only fire a shell every couple of minutes and so immobile.????? Just asking Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Very instructive comments from all ,much appreciated. I have one more question and ask for forgiveness in advance......Why, make those (mortar, siege howitzer,whatever name you can call it...) so big, when you can only fire a shell every couple of minutes and so immobile.????? Just asking Joe So they can fire a shell big enough to smash masonry, concrete etc. This applies to both siege and large trench mortars ( the later being used in a 'bunker buster' role) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthergw Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 As Centurion says, the size is driven by their target. No point in firing lots of bombs in a short time if they are not doing damage. Liege was taken by a ' secret weapon ', 420 mm mortars. The forts were built to withstand 210mm. The mortars were not exactly a secret but their relative mobility caught the Entente by surprise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
206thCEF Posted 7 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Thank you very much, centurion and truthergw, now I know a little more about this subject, and as I said before,very instructive informations. Regards Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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