index_British Stokes

	Mortars in Miniature ...A Scale Model Collection of the "Infantryman's Artillery"...

- 3-Inch Stokes
Trench Mortar, Mark I -

World War I

The Kit:

This is a 1/32nd scale kit from Scale Link and is cast in white metal. The detail present is well depicted, however there are a few 'nuts and bolts' that should be added to enhance the details up a bit. There was no sighting mechanism included with this kit.

The Extras:

The four Mortar Bombs are included in the kit and they are finely cast as well. The Lee-Enfield SMLE (Short Magazine Lee-Enfield) rifle is also a product of Scale Link and was purchased separately. It is also finely cast in white metal. Included in the package of eight SMLE rifles is a small Photo Etch fret containing rifle slings. These are somewhat difficult to use as I found them to be rather 'stiff' and tough to bend into a natural pose.

The Markings:

No decals are provided with this kit. All that were used came from a spare aircraft decal sheet, and they solely consist of the red and green stripes around the bombs as well as the white alignment stripe on the mortar tube. These were applied per the usual method of closely trimming the backing film, dipping in warm tap water and set in place. Once dry, the decals were lightly coated with decal setting solution (Solvaset) and set aside to dry thoroughly.

Base and Groundwork:

This base is pine and is cut to 3-1/2 inches in diameter. It is stained and sealed with multiple coats of Polyurethane. Sculptamold mixed with white glue and water (75% to 25%) was used to shape out the groundwork. The sandbags were pressed out of a self-hardening clay. Minor gaps were filled with a mixture of white glue, water and finely sifted dirt. A few patches of static grass were added as well as a spotty covering of the sifted dirt.

Painting, Weathering and Finishing:

Painted entirely with PollyS/PollyScale acrylic paints and flat coat as well as with Model Master acrylics. A mix of Winsor and Newton Oils thinned with a Loew-Cornell Odorless Brush Cleaner and Thinner was used for the washes. Weathering on this subject was accomplished in part by using Berol Prismacolor art pencils.

General Mortar Info:

Designed and developed in 1914 by Sir Wilfred Scott-Stokes (1860—1927), The Stokes Mortar was conceived to be a "portable gun" with the capability of lobbing explosives effectively into German trenches well beyond hand and rifle grenade range, and with more explosive power. It was deemed to be a "brilliant concept" by the British Army, however some determined conservatives deemed it as "an outrageous novelty".

The design of this weapon was quite simplistic and is considered to be the first "modern" mortar to be fielded. The basic principles of the Stokes Mortar can still be found in today's modern mortar designs.

The firing of this weapon was achieved by dropping the bomb down the tube. The shell was propelled out of the tube when the shotgun-like blank shell fitted to the base of the bomb detonated on contact with the fixed firing pin at the base of the tube. The exploding cartridge would then ignite the Cordite propellant rings attached to the bomb, sending the bomb out of the tube.

Elevation was determined by the usage of a Clinometer. For aiming, the white stripe was aligned on the target area or the weapon was simply aimed by eye.

The British Army officially adopted the mortar as the "3-inch Stokes Trench Mortar, Mark I" in 1915, and was put into limited production. It would not see Front-Line service until 1916, with the first recorded commitment to battle near Loos, France.

This weapon was also issued to the United States' Allied Expeditionary Force (AEF) and was known there as the "3-inch Trench Mortar, Mark I". It was also produced in the United States when it was determined that British production levels could not meet the requirements of the AEF. Portuguese troops serving on the Western Front were also issued the 3-inch Stokes Trench Mortar, Mark I.

By the final year of the war, 1918, each British Army Division had 24 Stokes mortars on inventory.


Actual Mortar Data:
Weight: (As broken down into 3-man carrying loads.)
Tube: 43 pounds
Baseplate: 28 pounds
Bipod: 37 pounds
Total Weight: 108 pounds
Tube Length: 51 inches	(U.S.) No. 1744 October 20, 1917	(U.S.) No. 1744 October 20, 1917 Revised

Ammunition:	Normally four projectiles per box.
High Explosive (HE), Mark I	Range:
Weights:	Minimum (safe): Approx. 100 yards
Shell complete: 8.92 pounds	Maximum: Approx. 740 yards (with 3 charge rings)
Powder Charge (total): 2.75 pounds
Total weight of loaded projectile: 11.67 pounds	Rate of Fire: Up to 22 rounds per minute
The Mark I High Explosive bomb most commonly used was filled with approximately 2-1/2 pounds of Nitrostarch explosive compound. Basic TNT was also approved for the explosive but was seldom employed. To this cast iron mortar bomb, the Mark VI "all ways" fuse was fitted and this fuse was designed to detonate regardless of the bomb's velocity and angle of impact. The Mark I bomb was not stabilized during flight, often tumbling end over end, hence the importance of the "all ways" fuse. The Mark I bomb is being depicted here. There were also smoke bombs, White Phosphorous and various types of gas and chemical agent projector bombs tested, but not generally issued. A "Mark III" practice bomb was also produced and issued for training purposes. This bomb contained approximately two pounds of sand with a black powder "booster" that produced a puff of white smoke upon impact. The characteristics of the Mark III practice bomb were similar to that of the Mark I High Explosive bomb.



1/35th scale Ford Model T (RPM Kit with Model Cellar figure)


Sources:
"World War 1 Trench Warfare (2)" by Dr. Stephen Bull and Adam Hook. Osprey Publishing, Elite Series No. 84
"British Tommy, 1914-1918" by Martin Pegler and Mike Chappell. Osprey Publishing, Warrior Series No. 16
"U.S. Infantry Weapons of the First World War" by Bruce N. Canfield
Bruce N. Canfield, The Three Inch Mortar	The Stokes Mortar
The First World War	Mr. David Albert - United States
Mr. Jerrill F. Janik - United States	Mr. Vesa Toivonen - Finland
Mr. Tom Bebbington - United Kingdom	Mr. Tom Ready - United Kingdom

Unless otherwise specified, all models built, painted, photographed and are owned by the author.
Mortars in Miniature, Created and Maintained by Kevin Robert Keefe, Copyright © 2001 - 2010.
All Rights Reserved.