Stokes mortar

weaponry

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The Stokes mortar, designed by Wilfred Stokes in 1915, was a pivotal development in artillery during World War I. This portable, muzzle-loading weapon fired explosive projectiles with a high, arcing trajectory, ideal for dropping bombs into enemy trenches.12

Key features of the Stokes mortar:
* Design: A smooth-bored tube resting on a baseplate and supported by a bipod, with a fixed firing pin at the breech.1
* Operation: Bombs were dropped down the barrel, automatically firing when striking the pin. Early bombs were cylindrical, later replaced by more stable, teardrop-shaped projectiles.1
* Impact: The Stokes mortar was adopted by all belligerents and became the progenitor of modern mortars, valued for its portability, mobility, and ability to engage targets protected from direct fire.12

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artillery
Mortars
The prototype of the modern mortar was a three-inch weapon developed by the Englishman Wilfred Stokes in 1915. This consisted of a smooth-bored tube, resting upon a baseplate and supported by a bipod, that had a fixed firing pin at its breech end. The bomb was a simple cylinder…
Read More
The prototype of the modern mortar was a three-inch weapon developed by the Englishman Wilfred Stokes in 1915. This consisted of a smooth-bored tube, resting upon a baseplate and supported by a bipod, that had a fixed firing pin at its breech end. The bomb was a simple cylinder…
Read More