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The 21cm Versuchs Morser L/15 was Rheinmetall's attempt to produce a 21mm with barrel recoil and a range of over 9,000m, but was rejected favour of its Krupp rival.
Rheinmetall's first 21cm mortar, the 21cm Versuchs Morser L/12 of 1908, had been an acceptable weapon, but by the time it was completed its range of only 7,000m was considered to be to low. Instead the German army wanted a weapon with a range of at least 9,000m.
Rheinmetall responded by increasing the barrel length by over 600mm. The new howitzer was otherwise quite similar, with its recoil mechanism above the barrel, and a standard box trail. The resulting weapon was impressively large, with the barrel looming at more than twice a man’s height when at maximum elevation.
Rheinmetall was given a contract to produce a prototype in 1908 and delivered it in 1909. In trials it was found to be inferior to the Krupp mortar, with a tendency to dig into soft ground when fired at high elevations. As a result the production contract went to Krupp's 21cm Morser L/12.
Name |
21-cm Experimental Mortar L/15 (Rheinmetall) |
Calibre |
211mm |
Barrel Length |
3,165mm (L/15) |
Weight for transport |
8,727kg |
Weight in action |
6,554kg |
Elevation |
0 to 65 degrees |
Traverse |
4 degrees |
Shell Weight |
120-140kg |
Muzzle Velocity |
340 m/sec |
Maximum Range |
9,400m-10,200m |
Rate of Fire |
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German Artillery 1914-1918, Wolfgang Fleischer.
Covers over 100 guns used by the German Army and shore detachments of the Navy during the First World War, a conflict largely dominated by artillery. Each one gets a brief description, a set of technical stats and a good picture. Shows the wide range of gun types and sizes used by the Germans during the First World War, and the way in which they evolved to deal with the unexpected challenges of trench warfare. [read full review]
