Without any doubt 's worlds most complicated light mortar with a very complicated light shell. The 45/5 modello Brixia mortar was the standard light battalion weapon in WW2, one of the many inefficient and strange designed weapons the Italian soldier was sent to the front with. As can be seen the weapon could be folded up to a small 15,5 kg (34,18 Lb) pack with a cushion plate that could be carried as a backpack. On top of the weapon a 10 round magazine was placed, housing the propelling cartridges. By pushing the handlever forward the breech opened and the mortar rounds were hand fed into the breech one at a time, closing the breech by pulling the lever back automaticly loaded a propelling cartridge. A gas port was used for varying range. Against the disadvantage of the too light shell and it's poor fragmentation were two advantages; the weapon was very accurate and the rate of fire was very high. Some were used by the Germans who called the weapon: 4,5 cm granatenwerfer 176 (i).
Functioning of the shell: Before firing the ring on the left side of the shell is pulled out, releasing the protective cover and removing the transport safety (brass strip on ring). On firing, the setback causes the safety device (brass pin left) to move down into its slot. This safety device consists of a short brass pin which projects into one of the holes in the rotating disc and prevents the disc from rotating. Four light brass spring strips hold the pin in the forward position. The same mechanism (green ring) is placed around the firing cap (brass rod with blue channels), preventing the detonator from moving. On firing both are set back, freeing the firing cap and the rotation disc. During flight, air passes through the oblique holes on the edge of the disc. The firing pin, being prevented from rotating by the square shape of the portion moving into a square shaped channel, is thus moved down toward the firing cap. On impact, the detonator rides forward on the spring and hits the firing cap (red). The flame now travels down the holes (blue) into the detonator, exploding the shell. Note that in rest, the firing cap rests on a lead seal, allowing the shell to detonate on nose impact only. The shellbody is made of steel, the tail of is made of cast aluminium. The inner parts are contained in a aluminium container that is surrounded by a prefragmentated steel wire for extra fragmentation.
Data:
Calibre: 45mm (1,77 inch).
Barrel length: L/5,4 (260 mm, 10,2 inch).
Elevation: 10 to 90 degrees.
Traverse: 20 degrees.
Vo.: 83 m/s (272 ft/sec).
Maximum range: 356 mtrs (586 yards).
Shell weight: 0,465 kg (1,025 Lb).
Functioning of the shell: Before firing the ring on the left side of the shell is pulled out, releasing the protective cover and removing the transport safety (brass strip on ring). On firing, the setback causes the safety device (brass pin left) to move down into its slot. This safety device consists of a short brass pin which projects into one of the holes in the rotating disc and prevents the disc from rotating. Four light brass spring strips hold the pin in the forward position. The same mechanism (green ring) is placed around the firing cap (brass rod with blue channels), preventing the detonator from moving. On firing both are set back, freeing the firing cap and the rotation disc. During flight, air passes through the oblique holes on the edge of the disc. The firing pin, being prevented from rotating by the square shape of the portion moving into a square shaped channel, is thus moved down toward the firing cap. On impact, the detonator rides forward on the spring and hits the firing cap (red). The flame now travels down the holes (blue) into the detonator, exploding the shell. Note that in rest, the firing cap rests on a lead seal, allowing the shell to detonate on nose impact only. The shellbody is made of steel, the tail of is made of cast aluminium. The inner parts are contained in a aluminium container that is surrounded by a prefragmentated steel wire for extra fragmentation.
Data:
Calibre: 45mm (1,77 inch).
Barrel length: L/5,4 (260 mm, 10,2 inch).
Elevation: 10 to 90 degrees.
Traverse: 20 degrees.
Vo.: 83 m/s (272 ft/sec).
Maximum range: 356 mtrs (586 yards).
Shell weight: 0,465 kg (1,025 Lb).
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