Two Captured VIMY Minenwerfers need your help

Somebody enlighten me: How did they work? Specifically, how was the mine launched?

I never really understood how mortars worked either. In the war movies they dropped the bomb butt-fist down the tube and it went off.

Why? Was there pin in the bottom that struck a propellant detonator or what?
 
THOROLD 75 MM MINENWERFER


Yes it is still there. It was scheduled to be demolished a couple of years ago, but some concerned citizens got together along with some of the town council, Legion, Historical Society and other people.

It is situated in Pelham, on Memorial drive, just west of the Ridgeville Cemetary. The old Pelham Town Hall where it is has also been restored. I was there last Saturday and took some pix.


 
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WOW -- 35 PM in less that a day. Wonderful

I have limited use of the computer, about 1 1/2 hours a day, so please be a bit patient if I do not immediately get back to you. I will get there eventually.

What I am going to do is PM each of you personally, and keep a Ledger here with the numbers 1 to 100 in it. As each Donation is received, a number will be assigned to the Donor, and when we reach 100 Donors, we will have our Goal of $2000. At that point, we will have an independent person draw two numbers, and the person whose name corresponds to the drawn number will be contacted and given the information on his $50 WOLVERINE SUPPLIES GIFT CERTIFICATE.

EMT is probably best, but snail mail and even a direct deposit to a Bank of Commerce Account will do.

My thanks to those who have sent me a PM, and I am now answering them as fast as I can. With 35 Donors so far, we are 1/3 of the way towards the goal.

.
 
MD said:
Somebody enlighten me: How did they work? Specifically, how was the mine launched?

I never really understood how mortars worked either. In the war movies they dropped the bomb butt-fist down the tube and it went off.

Why? Was there pin in the bottom that struck a propellant detonator or what?
Click to expand...

Minenwerfer is a bit of a misnomer, blame the Germans. :) It's a rather sophisticated mortar, compared to the stokes version, but same principal. Brits had a couple similar.

http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=650

Grizz
 
It has a rifled tube...so the shell engages the rifling I guess. So how is the shell dropped in to hit the firing pin at the bottom?

Or maybe they fall in freely but then expand to engage the rifling when it goes off, like a hollow base bullet in a Webley barrel.
 
This has received a great response from the CGN Members. We have over 57 donations from CGN Milsurp Members who are supporting it. Friday 4/2/2017

One of our Members pledged $100 and another $40 and now a $60 donation. Outstanding!

The unhesitating response from WOLVERINE SUPPLIES when I talked to John and he donated the Two $50 Gift Certificates is certainly something to note.
 
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cantom said:
It has a rifled tube...so the shell engages the rifling I guess. So how is the shell dropped in to hit the firing pin at the bottom?

Or maybe they fall in freely but then expand to engage the rifling when it goes off, like a hollow base bullet in a Webley barrel.
Click to expand...


Five "disks" of charges at bottom. Small shell weighed 97 kilograms, range about 700 yards, but one BIG hole when they landed. Muzzle loaded, with primer inserted in the base of the tube by hand.






One of my favorite pictures.

 
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hollowedpoint said:
Also donated as well still nothing though!
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The response have been a bit overwhelming. One day and we have over FORTY donors. I have only limited time on the computer, so it does take some time to get back to the Members.

Also, I am involved with the Canadian Military Heritage Museum in Brantford, Ontario, so have been spending time there setting up our Vimy exhibit.

Thanks for your Donation.
 
buffdog said:
Five "disks" of charges at bottom. Small shell weighed 97 kilograms, range about 700 yards, but one BIG hole when they landed. Muzzle loaded, with primer inserted in the base of the tube by hand.

One of my favorite pictures.

Click to expand...

Truly saddening to see children killing and dying for absolutely nothing. What's worse is that it happened again just two decades later.
 
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