
Specifications
Year: 1940
Manufacturer(s): State Arsenals - Soviet Union
Roles: In-Direct Fire/Siege/Area Effect;
Manufacturer(s): State Arsenals - Soviet Union
Roles: In-Direct Fire/Siege/Area Effect;
Action: Manual Operation; Reusable
Caliber(s): 50mm
Sights: Included sighting device
Overall Length: 630 mm (24.80 in)
Barrel Length: 630 mm (24.80 in)
Weight (Unloaded): 20.50 lb (9.30 kg)
Caliber(s): 50mm
Sights: Included sighting device
Overall Length: 630 mm (24.80 in)
Barrel Length: 630 mm (24.80 in)
Weight (Unloaded): 20.50 lb (9.30 kg)
Muzzle Velocity: 310 feet-per-second (94 meters-per-second)
Rate-of-Fire: 15 rounds-per-minute
Effective Range: 2,624 ft (800 m; 875 yd)
Rate-of-Fire: 15 rounds-per-minute
Effective Range: 2,624 ft (800 m; 875 yd)
Operators: Finland; Nazi Germany; Soviet Union
In 1940 there proved yet another evolution in the 50mm light mortar line and this became the 50-RM 40 (M1940 or "Model 1940"). The weapon was consistent with previous offerings in being conventional in its form and function. There was a launch tube, baseplate and bipod comprising the entire system with included optics, as crude as they were. The bipod was manufactured of pressed steel. The basic accepted operation was retained - at least two crew, one to manage the launch tube and aiming and the other to feed projectiles into the muzzle. An awaiting firing pin ignited the propellant of each charge and sent it along its defined path.
As with the RM-38, the RM-40 proved no better in practice. The 50mm was still a limited projectile and the RM-40 held a limited range. It was, perhaps for the best, that the Soviet attention began turning to larger-caliber instruments with siege mentality in mind such as the massive 160mm mortar system of 1943. To that end, stocks of RM-40 and similar light mortars were used when available and in some number. As such, captured stocks then fell to the Germans who pressed them into action against their former owners under the army designation of 5cm Granatwerfer 205(r) - "r" to indicate their Russian origins.
As the RM-40 superseded the RM-39, it was itself surpassed by the all-new RM-41. Instead of it being based on the RM-38 and, therefore the British Stokes design, it was developed from study of captured German 50mm mortars.
Variants / Models
• RM-40 - Base Model Designation; improved form of the Model 1939.
• RM-41 - All-New design based on captured German 50mm specimens.