| 9.15 cm leichter Minenwerfer System Lanz | |
| Origin: | German Empire |
| Type: | Light trench mortar |
| Is Artillery: | yes |
| Service: | 1914–1918 |
| Used By: | German Empire Austria-Hungary |
| Wars: | World War I |
| Designer: | Heinrich Lanz |
| Design Date: | 1914–1915 |
| Production Date: | 1915–1918 |
| Weight: | 114kg (251lb) |
| Part Length: | 595mm |
| Cartridge: | 3.8kg (08.4lb) |
| Caliber: | 91.5 mm |
| Max Range: | 450m (1,480feet) (M 14/16) |
The 9.15 cm leichtes Minenwerfer System Lanz (Trench mortar) was a light mortar used by Germany and Austria-Hungary in World War I, developed from the 9cm glatter leichter MinenWerfer Mauser by Firma Heinrich Lanz & Co. The tube was made thicker and stronger which allowed for more powerful powder to be used, the breech was beefed up, and the safety pin closing system replaced with a screw locking system. The platform was made stronger and had more room for accessories than the Mauser.[1] [2] [3]
It was a smooth-bore, breech-loading design that used smokeless propellant. It was chosen by the Austrians as an interim replacement for their 9 cm Minenwerfer M 14, pending development of a superior domestic design, which eventually turned out to be the 9 cm Minenwerfer M 17. The older Austrian design had a prominent firing signature, a less effective bomb and shorter range than the Lanz. Over 500 were ordered with deliveries beginning in April 1917.