| 3 inch Stokes mortar | |
|---|---|
 Sir Wilfred Stokes with example of his mortar and bombs. Typical 3-inch bombs used are 2nd and 6th from left | |
| Type | Light mortar |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| Used by | |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Sir Wilfred Stokes KBE |
| Designed | 1915 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 104 lbs (47.17 kg) total[3] |
| Crew | 2 |
| Shell | HE 10 lb 11 oz (4.84 kg)[4] |
| Calibre | 3.2 in (81 mm)[5] |
| Action | Trip |
| Elevation | 45°-75°[6] |
| Rate of fire | 25 rpm (maximum)[7] 6-8 rpm (sustained) |
| Effective firing range | 750 yards (686 m) |
| Maximum firing range | 800 yards (731 m)[8] |
| Filling | amatol |
| Filling weight | 2lb 4 oz (1 kg)[9] |
The Stokes mortar was a British trench mortar designed by Sir Wilfred Stokes KBE that was issued to the British and U.S. armies, as well as the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps, during the latter half of the First World War. The 3-inch trench mortar is a smooth-bore, muzzle-loading weapon for high angles of fire. Although it is called a 3-inch mortar, its bore is actually 3.2 inches or 81 mm.[5]
- ^ a b Mortero Stokes Brandt de 81mm- El mortero del Chaco (in Spanish)
- ^ a b Boselli Cantero, Cristina and Casabianca, Angel-Francois (2000). Una guerra desconocida: la campaña del Chaco Boreal, 1932–1935. Volumes 4 and 5. Lector, p. 176. ISBN 99925-51-91-7 (in Spanish)
- ^ "Appendix D. Details of Trench Mortars" in "Field Artillery Notes No. 7". Mortar=48 lb; Elevating Stand=28 lb; Base Plate=28 lb; Total Weight for Transport = 104 lbs
- ^ "Appendix E. Details of Ammunition" in "Field Artillery Notes No. 7". This figure is for the unstabilised cylindrical bomb used in World War I.
- ^ a b War Dept. Technical Manual TM9-2005, Volume 3, Ordnance Materiel - General, Page 17, December 1942
- ^ Range Table For 3-Inch Stokes Mortar 1917, B: "45° gave maximum range with any particular propellant amount e.g. 420 yards with 1 ring. 75° gave the most vertical descent for the shell and the shortest range with any particular propellant amount e.g. 197 yards with 1 ring."
- ^ "Appendix D. Details of Trench Mortars" in "Field Artillery Notes No. 7"
- ^ Range Table For 3-Inch Stokes Mortar 1917, A: "At 45° using 4 Rings of propellant. This figure is for the unstabilised cylindrical bomb used in World War I."
- ^ "Appendix E. Details of Ammunition" in "Field Artillery Notes No. 7"