Description
The Stokes mortar was used in active offensive where its mobility permitted it to be pushed far forward and brought into operation on short notice. Within its range, it was a particularly suitable weapon for projecting gas. It was also known as the Shell, 4-inch Chemical Mortar.
The 4-inch Stokes mortar was a smooth-bore muzzle loading weapon with a high angle of fire. The 4-inch Stokes mortar was reclassified as the 4-inch chemical mortar, MI. The complete 4-inch Stokes mortar projectile consisted of the shell body, burster, fuze, and propellant charge. The projectile body was a cylindrical tube, 4 inches in diameter and 15 inches long, fabricated from drawn steel tubing or rolled metal with an overlapped weld.
The body contained a forward disk and a base disk. The forward or nose disk was machined to 4.178 inches in diameter and designed to retain the forward end of the burster tube and fuze. The base disk was also machined to 4.178 inches and designed to support the aft end of the burster tube and accommodate the cartridge container. The cartridge container was a steel cylinder 2.875 inches in length, 1-inch in diameter, and perforated with 16 holes to provide outlets for the gases generated by the propellant. The forward end (or nose disk) and base disk served as guides when the round was expelled from the mortar barrel.
The burster consisted of a gaine tube detonator and a felt washer. The gaine tube was a brass tube 0.5 inch in diameter, and was recessed at the open end to take the detonator and felt washer.
The total length of the body assembly varied, depending on the type of filling that was required.
Functioning
No information about functioning.
Hazardous Components
No information about hazardous components.
See Also
Nothing else to see.
Source(s)
Old Chemical Weapons and Related Materiel Reference Guide (2018)
Old Chemical Weapons Reference Guide (1998)
