The Mle 1937 Light Mortar saw greater use in Axis and Vichy French hands during the grand campaigns of World War 2 than it did with French forces proper.
The Brandt mle 37 (Model of 1937) Light Mortar was one of several mortar systems adopted by the French just prior to World War 2 (1939-1945). The 81mm mle 27 was introduced in 1927 and the 50mm mle 37 followed in 1937, though its issuance did not occur until 1939. The type was introduced to succeed the standard platoon-level French infantry rifle grenade by allowing for more potent, accurate in-direct firepower against entrenched enemy forces. The result was a light-enough and reliable weapon to make a statement during the Grand War - though the collapse of the French defense in the German invasion of 1940 made certain that the mortar would see more action in the hands of Vichy French forces as well as the Germans. In the latter case, the mortar took on the designation of Granatenwerfer 203(f) - the lowercase "f" signifying its French origins.
The mle 37 exhibited a caliber of 50mm and its launch tube measured 415mm in length. Setup weight was 3.65 kilograms. Onboard controls allowed for traversal of 8-degrees to either side though elevation was fixed at 45-degrees. Rate-of-fire possible was up to 25 rounds per minute while the standard shell was High-Explosive (HE) in nature. Range was out to 695 meters and velocity for the outgoing shell was listed at 70 meters per second. Beyond the traditional launch tube a baseplate was featured as was a folding bipod assembly.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Fire Support
Capable of suppressing enemy elements at range through direct or in-direct fire.
Overall Length
415 mm 16.34 in
Barrel Length
415 mm 16.34 in
Empty Wgt
8.05 lb 3.65 kg
Sights
Integrated Optics Set.
Action
Manually-Loaded, Striker Actuated
(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)
Caliber(s)*
50mm
Sample Visuals**
Rounds / Feed
Single-Shot
*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources. **Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.
Max Eff.Range
2,260 ft (689 m | 753 yd)
Rate-of-Fire
23 rds/min
Mortier de 50mm Mle 1937 (Brandt) - Base Longform Designation.
Granatwerfer 203(f) (GrW.203(f)) - German Army Designation of captured systems.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.
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France (Vichy France); Nazi Germany
