Brandt Mle 1935
Encyclopedia
The Brandt Mle 1935 60-mm mortar
was a company-level indirect-fire weapon of the French army
during the Second World War
. Designed by Edgar Brandt
, it was copied by other countries, such as the United States and China, as well as purchased and built by Romania. The mortar continued to be used by France after the war until at least the 1960s.
Mortar bombs fired by the weapon weighed either 1.33 kilograms or 2.2 kilograms. A French infantry regiment in 1940 was allocated 200 rounds for each of the nine authorized Mle 1935 mortars.
This weapon provided a pattern for other light mortars used during World War II. Among the best known is the U.S. 60-mm M2 mortar
. Captured examples were used by the Germans as the 6-cm Granatwerfer 225(f).
Romania
also purchased and license-built the Mle 1935 mortar prior to and during the Second World War.
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
was a company-level indirect-fire weapon of the French army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Designed by Edgar Brandt
Edgar Brandt
Edgar William Brandt was a French ironworker, prolific weapons designer and head of a company that designed 60mm, 81mm and 120mm mortars that were very widely copied throughout and subsequent to World War II...
, it was copied by other countries, such as the United States and China, as well as purchased and built by Romania. The mortar continued to be used by France after the war until at least the 1960s.
Description
The Brandt Mle 1935 was a simple and effective weapon, consisting of a smoothbore metal tube fixed to a base plate (to absorb recoil), with a lightweight bipod mount. The Mle 1935 had a normal crew of five men. When a mortar bomb was dropped into the tube, an impact sensitive primer in the base of the bomb would make contact with a firing pin at the base of the tube, and detonate, firing the bomb towards the target.Mortar bombs fired by the weapon weighed either 1.33 kilograms or 2.2 kilograms. A French infantry regiment in 1940 was allocated 200 rounds for each of the nine authorized Mle 1935 mortars.
This weapon provided a pattern for other light mortars used during World War II. Among the best known is the U.S. 60-mm M2 mortar
M2 Mortar
The M2 Mortar is a smoothbore, muzzle loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used by U.S. forces in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War for light infantry support.-Description:...
. Captured examples were used by the Germans as the 6-cm Granatwerfer 225(f).
Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
also purchased and license-built the Mle 1935 mortar prior to and during the Second World War.