Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms By Flag By Year By Tag

Mortaio da 81/14 Modello 35

1935 COLD WAR WORLD WAR 2

History of the Mortaio da 81/14 Modello 35

Two main mortar designs were used by the Italian Army during World War II - the 45mm Modello 35 and the 81mm Modello 35, both introduced in 1935. Effective in its repeating fire mode, but with an unconventional arrangement in which the tripod support structure is permanently attached to the launch tube.

This resulted in a heavy and complex system that defied all the advantages of warfare, both in tactical use and in mass production. Additionally, the gun relies on a separate base charge fed from a detachable magazine, while the 45mm fragmentation round has proven weak in practice. The 81mm gun, on the other hand, has a more traditional design and is an Italian-licensed replica of the famous French Brandt mortar, inspired by the British Stokes mortar. The Italian Model 35 received the official designation "Mortaio da 81/14 Modello 35" and became the large-caliber mortar used in the Italian army as a standard medium army mortar during World War II.

The "81/14" in the name marks the caliber (81mm) and approximate barrel length (14 x 81mm).

According to Brandt's design, the Model 35 uses three key components that make up the entire weapon system - the launch tube, the baseplate, and the bipod support structure. The barrel itself is smooth on the inside, the muzzle end is open, and the base contains a "firing pin". Overall, the weapon is a proven system that provides excellent indirect repeat fire performance at range.

The duo is standard in this design - one directly manages the mortar and the other manages the ammunition supply. The entire system weighs 135 pounds and requires multiple hands to transport or, if possible, pack animals.