Mortaio d'assalto 45/5 Brixia, Modello 35

Mortaio d'Assalto 45/5 Brixia, Modello 35 History

Like all other modern armies participating in World War II, the Italian Army introduced a light infantry mortar to provide platoon-level indirect fire support to enemy positions. The "Brixia Type 35" is based on a 45mm light fragmentation projectile, weighing 16.4 ounces, which can reach target areas up to 580 yards under ideal conditions. Its design was a bit unconventional at the time, with a folding steel tripod mounted on the launch tube.

This structure provides the necessary recoil support when the gun is firing and provides integrated pitch and roll control for normal function. The launch tube itself sits between the front legs of the tripod, with the remaining legs facing back. A padded seat is attached to a frame attached to the rear legs, allowing the gunner to sit behind the weapon (or lie on his stomach) with a degree of comfort while operating the weapon (the padded frame doubles as the porter's back support pad when the device is moving). ). The end result was a somewhat efficient and overly ambitious mortar design, but one that resulted in high procurement costs and slow production due to its inherent complexity.

Since the system did not completely collapse like its contemporaries, the weapon proved to be heavy and cumbersome even on the march. The mortar entered service in October 1935 and was aptly named "Mortaio d'assalto 45/5 Brixia, Modello 35".

The identifier "45/5" refers to the caliber (45mm) and barrel length (5 x 45mm). Actually, the barrel is slightly longer at 262mm.

One of the main limitations of the Italian 45mm light mortars was the use of 1.8" shells, which were even smaller than what the British used in their light 2" infantry mortars. The projectile consists of steel shards that explode on impact, sprinkling the target area with lethal steel shards.

While effective at ground zero, the actual range of fragments is severely limited, due in part to the lightweight design and low charge. Each projectile was loaded from the breech of the launch tube rather than the muzzle, unlike other mortars of the time.

Additionally, the charge is applied as a separate part of the firing phase, fed by a 10-round magazine attached to the weapon. Triggering is initiated by the "trigger" style setting.

The entire firing consists of inserting the 10-round magazine into the slot on the top rear of the tube. The operator then armed the projectile manually, opened the breech by means of a forward-moving button lever, and inserted the projectile into the open slot.

When the lever is pushed down, the charge is activated, pushing the projectile out of the barrel. The operator only needs to arm and insert a new projectile into the breech and pull the trigger handle for continuous firing until the supply of charge and ammunition is exhausted.

As a complete system, the Type 35 provided the Italian Army's mortar teams with a strong repetitive fire presence on the battlefield. Well-trained and experienced aircrews can fire between 8 and 10 rounds per minute, with teams reportedly reaching 18 or 20 in the heat of battle.

This type of suppressive fire proved vital in infantry propulsion, and the Italian design did not disappoint in this regard. Height ranges from +10 to +90, which means the launch tube can be lowered and used as a makeshift field gun when pushed. However, its low-velocity shells undoubtedly limited its use to any type of truly armored vehicle. Traversal cap on either side is +20.

Since the Model 35 is designed with a "single charge" approach, the range is managed through an "open and closed" ventilation feature, and the ports are managed - closed ports allow access to the full 580 yards, while open ports allow targeting to 350 yards within the enabled range, the latter Effectively reducing the basic charge of the propellant.

As a complete system, the Model 35 weighs 34 pounds and can be carried between two people on the battlefield, albeit assisted by pack animals when possible. The standard operator is actually two people, an arrangement that allows one soldier to handle pitch, roll control and firing, while the other handles ammunition storage and reloading.

Ammo is limited only by available supplies, although it usually consists of a box of ten.

Despite the limitations of the Model 35's design, the weapon remained in the Italian army during the war regardless of the enemy it encountered. The Italian war industry did not schedule to fully design, develop and manufacture a better solution in the time allotted to the Type 35 - which is not to say that the weapon has no battlefield value. German shortages in North Africa also meant that the Type 35 was temporarily used under the designation "4.5 cm Granatwerfer 176(i)" - the "i" signifying its Italian origin. Since the weapon was heavily used in German hands, the operating instructions were even printed in German. It was also not uncommon for Italian partisan units to seize the former Army Type 35 for use against the Axis powers, especially after Italy's defeat in September 1943.

The Type 35 mortar is used in conjunction with the 81mm version of the Type 35 mortar, which is the Italian version of the Type 35 mortar. Very successful British "Stokes"/French "Brandt" design.

The Type 35 mortar was in service with the Italian army until 1950.

Mortaio d'assalto 45/5 Brixia, size 35

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