Hallo,
I previously posted the following in another forum here:
I understand that the Ordnance 3 Inch ML Mortar of WW2 was adapted in 1944 so that it could then fire captured Italian 81mm mortar bombs. The internal diameter of the barrel was already the same (or near enough) to allow the bombs to fall down onto the firing pin but the arrangement of the firing pin in the British tube did not suit the percussion cap in the primary charge of the Brandt' type 81mm bomb. Does anyone have any further information as to why the Brandt' type bomb would not fire on contact with the original firing pin of the 3 Inch mortar?
I now have found the answer:
In the later part of World War II the British modified the 3-inch mortar to allow the Mk. V to fire captured Italian and German 81mm mortar ammunition (the modification required a change to the firing pin design as the anvil was part of the ignition cartridge in the original British design). Prior to this, the base cup of the British 3 inch mortar was fitted with a firing stud which did not contain a firing pin to act on the percussion cap in the bomb (unlike all other 81mm mortars). This firing stud was about 3 inches long and had a flat end which acted as a percussion plate instead. The percussion mechanism was fitted to the primary cartridge in the tail of the mortar bomb and incorporated a firing pin which, when the bomb was dropped onto the firing stud, then acted on the percussion cap of the primary cartridge. Due to this design difference, ammunition for other 81mm mortars would not fire when drop loaded into the British mortar. The opposite also applied as British mortar bombs would not fire in other mortars.
Draoich
I previously posted the following in another forum here:
I understand that the Ordnance 3 Inch ML Mortar of WW2 was adapted in 1944 so that it could then fire captured Italian 81mm mortar bombs. The internal diameter of the barrel was already the same (or near enough) to allow the bombs to fall down onto the firing pin but the arrangement of the firing pin in the British tube did not suit the percussion cap in the primary charge of the Brandt' type 81mm bomb. Does anyone have any further information as to why the Brandt' type bomb would not fire on contact with the original firing pin of the 3 Inch mortar?
I now have found the answer:
In the later part of World War II the British modified the 3-inch mortar to allow the Mk. V to fire captured Italian and German 81mm mortar ammunition (the modification required a change to the firing pin design as the anvil was part of the ignition cartridge in the original British design). Prior to this, the base cup of the British 3 inch mortar was fitted with a firing stud which did not contain a firing pin to act on the percussion cap in the bomb (unlike all other 81mm mortars). This firing stud was about 3 inches long and had a flat end which acted as a percussion plate instead. The percussion mechanism was fitted to the primary cartridge in the tail of the mortar bomb and incorporated a firing pin which, when the bomb was dropped onto the firing stud, then acted on the percussion cap of the primary cartridge. Due to this design difference, ammunition for other 81mm mortars would not fire when drop loaded into the British mortar. The opposite also applied as British mortar bombs would not fire in other mortars.
Draoich