Khaki Posted 4 December , 2015 Share Posted 4 December , 2015 I have read about these in most memoirs that I have, but I have never seen a photograph of what they (German type) actually looked like. From what I have read they seem to be 'drum' shaped. Does anyone have a clear photograph of one that they could post ? thanks khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 5 December , 2015 Share Posted 5 December , 2015 Khaki, Some 15 years ago we (the Diggers) found a "flying pig" in German position (Fortin 17) here in Boezinge. This is a photo. Scroll down to the 14th photo. Not a good one, but somewhere I think I have better ones. To be honest, though I wrote "German flying pig", I must say I am not 100 % sure it is German. But I did inquire, and the result (advice by an expert at the time) was : German. http://www.mausershooters.org/diggers/E/activiteiten/bommen/welkom.htm Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 5 December , 2015 Share Posted 5 December , 2015 Better photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 5 December , 2015 Share Posted 5 December , 2015 I'm pretty sure that's a British 9.45-inch 'Flying Pig' heavy trench mortar shell. The German projectile described by Khaki, whatever you call it, sounds like the improvised short-range projectiles resembling a drum or rounded canister with a conical top that were fired from Erdmörser ('earth mortars') or Albrecht and similar crude trench mortars. Basically, a rough-and-ready way of lobbing a small dustbin filled with explosives and scrap metal at the enemy from a short distance away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 5 December , 2015 Share Posted 5 December , 2015 Mick, OK. British it must be. (Or who knows ... French ?) And I don't remember who suggested it was German, 12 years ago. Maybe I also based my opinion on this drawing, resembling "our" pig. Though the tail fins in the drawing are longer. (Are they ?) (And ... I am glad the "beast" kept quiet when I cleaned it a little for the photo, and its nose fell off ! :-). But I do remember the face of that woman looking at the thing when we brought it to the surface, and when she murmured : My God, did my children sleep for years with that monster under their bed ?!?!) Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 5 December , 2015 Share Posted 5 December , 2015 Candidates for the "flying Pig" title could include rounds from thethe 24.5 Ladungs Morser or the 25Cm Heavy Minenwerfer. And here is the 25cm Minenwerfer round Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaki Posted 5 December , 2015 Author Share Posted 5 December , 2015 I'm pretty sure that's a British 9.45-inch 'Flying Pig' heavy trench mortar shell. The German projectile described by Khaki, whatever you call it, sounds like the improvised short-range projectiles resembling a drum or rounded canister with a conical top that were fired from Erdmörser ('earth mortars') or Albrecht and similar crude trench mortars. Basically, a rough-and-ready way of lobbing a small dustbin filled with explosives and scrap metal at the enemy from a short distance away. Excellent replies, images & photographs which I found fascinating, thank you all, the description above also seems to match what I have read, particularly the reference to a dustbin, slowly tumbling through the sky, to explode with devastating effect destroying trenches, dugouts and burying men and equipment and often killing by concussion. How were those improvised drums detonated? burning time fuse or by contact/impact? thanks khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogilwy Posted 7 December , 2015 Share Posted 7 December , 2015 The 9.45 In Mortar was refered to as the 'Flying Pig' also as a 'Quarter to Ten' ! When I was first taught this the instructer used the 'Flying Pig' nickname, so it was definately a British term some 36 years ago! Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calibre792x57.y Posted 11 December , 2015 Share Posted 11 December , 2015 The British, French and German versions of the 9.45 in mortar bomb are virtually identical and are known as the 'flying pig' or 'cochon volant'. The German version seems to have forward and rear driving bands on the casing. See this drawing from Major Hicks's 'German Weapons, Uniforms, Insignia, 1914 - 1918'. Most will know that there is a projector (probably British) for the 'pigs' in front of the Church at Longueval, on the Somme. - SW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodB Posted 13 December , 2015 Share Posted 13 December , 2015 Better photos British 9.45 inch bomb at IWM Duxford : British 9.45 inch bomb diagrams : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 13 December , 2015 Share Posted 13 December , 2015 Rod, Thanks. Unfortunately I did not measure the length of the swine, with and without the tail ... Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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