Germany

7.58cm lMW (leichter Minenwerfer) n.A.

Of all the members in the Minenwerfer family, the light 7.58cm version was the least spectacular but at the same time the most important. It used the same system as it's bigger brethren, with recoil cylinders and elevation carriage, like a small miniature howitzer. The lMW was used everywhere from 1915 on, and was the weapon that supported the German Infantry in all situations, especially during trench fighting, when traditional flat trajectory weapons often were at an disadvantage.  The modified lMW n.A., the subject of this model, had it's baptism of fire during the Battle of the Somme, and immediately proved it's worth as a versatile and useful close support weapon. This led to more and more Minenwerfers being issued to the troops, and it soon became apparent that the Engineers, who initially had been given the responsibility for them in combat, were unable to cope with this more and more numerous weapon, so in the winter of 1916-17, it was organization-wise allocated to the Infantry.  It was a successful weapon, and at the end of the hostilities, more than 10.000 lMW:s were in service. Still, it had one big and obvious drawback, namely the weight, making it a very cumbersome weapon in it's class. The future belonged to the British solution, the so called Stokes mortar.  My model is built from the simple White Metal kit that is made by IT Miniatures, former IT Figures. It has been detailed: the front of the base-plate has been rounded, attachment stubs for the wheels added, the cylinders detailed, and a new elevation wheel added as well.  Click on the thumbnails to see more views of this model, the smallest and simplest in my whole collection:   If you want to find out more on the real lMW n.A., click here!

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