17cm mittlerer Minenwerfer

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	Weapon: 17cm mittlerer Minenwerfer Type: Mortar Country of Origin: Germany Year Adopted: 1913 Overall Length (mm): 1500.0 Overall Length (in): 59.06 Weight (kg): 525.00 Weight (pounds): 1157.43

The 17 cm mittlerer Minenwerfer (medium mine launcher) was a German trench mortar developed by Rheinmetall and introduced during World War I. Designed to provide infantry units with a powerful yet portable means of delivering high-explosive shells against enemy fortifications and defensive positions, it fired a 170mm shell at relatively short ranges. The weapon featured a simple, robust construction with a smoothbore barrel mounted on a sturdy baseplate and adjustable bipod, allowing for flexible deployment in the trenches. Unlike traditional artillery, the Minenwerfer had a high-angle trajectory, making it particularly effective for lobbing shells into enemy trenches and bunkers.

Production of the 17 cm mittlerer Minenwerfer began in the early years of World War I, with thousands manufactured and deployed to the front lines. Its compact design made it more maneuverable than standard field artillery, while its powerful explosive payload gave it devastating effects on enemy positions. The Minenwerfer was widely used by German forces on the Western and Eastern Fronts, proving especially effective during the intense trench warfare of the war. However, its relatively slow rate of fire and short range compared to conventional artillery meant that it was often used in conjunction with larger guns.

The 17 cm mittlerer Minenwerfer gained notoriety as a fearsome weapon in the brutal trench warfare of World War I, where it played a significant role in both offensive and defensive operations. Its use continued throughout the war, but by the 1920s, many surviving examples were either scrapped or relegated to training roles due to the shift towards more modern artillery systems. Despite its obsolescence, the Minenwerfer's design influenced later mortar development, and today, surviving examples can be found in military museums, preserving its legacy as one of the key indirect fire weapons of World War I.