The weapon was dismantled for transport, requiring four carts for the barrel, base, carriage and ammunition. In action, a heavy timber platform was constructed embedded in the ground, on which the mortar base was immovably secured. The mortar carriage sat on the base and could traverse. The mortar barrel and breech were mounted on the carriage which provided elevation. They were used in the "siege warfare" on the Western Front to destroy enemy strongpoints, bunkers and similar "hard" targets which were invulnerable to lighter mortars and field guns. The US Army handbook described it : "... the use for which it is primarily adapted is in the bombardment of strongly protected targets—dwellings, covered shelters, command posts, entrances to galleries, etc—or in the destruction of sectors of trenches, salients and the like.". Their effectiveness decreased late in the war as German policy changed to a lightly held frontline, hence decreasing available targets, and they became redundant when the war of movement resumed in mid-1918.
French use
The mortar was first introduced in 1915 as the Mortier de 240 mm CT. It was a short barreled version which fired a 192 lb bomb for 1,125 yards, using a propellant charge of 1 lb 9 oz. Its first major use was in the Champagne offensive of September 25, 1915. This was followed later by the Mortier de 240 mm LT which was a long barreled version with improved firing arrangement and breech-loaded charge which fired a bomb, using a propellant charge of. This appears to be the bomb configuration adopted by USA. French estimates were 80 bombs needed to destroy a strong shelter with a roof of concrete or rails and concrete.
US use
David Lupton's Sons Co manufactured the weapon in the United States during World War I. They were used by nine Trench Mortar Battalions of the Coast Artillery Corps. The US version appears to have been a direct copy of the Mortier de 240 mm LT, i.e. with longer barrel and propellant charge loaded into the breech via a brass cartridge case, was also produced late in the war but it is doubtful whether any were actually used in combat. The December 1917 manual describes the weapon as "9.45 inch" but makes clear it is the French 240 mm they are describing that the US has adopted. The bomb is described as weighing, with an explosive charge of and range from 660 to. The March 1918 manual describes the Bomb, Model 1916, Type T, weight, explosive, length 1.02 m. Barrel and breech weighing, carriage, base, timber platform. Propellant charges of 800 grams Ballistite + 15 grams F-3 black powder for 750–1400 meters, and 1250 grams Ballistite + 15 grams F-3 for 1100–2200 meters. This figure agrees with the charge quoted for the mortar in French use for maximum range. "Separate loading ammunition" was used i.e. the mortar bomb was a separate unit from the propellant cartridge case, which was flanged, brass, 9.776 inches long x diameter. The bomb was loaded into the barrel muzzle. The cartridge containing propellant charge appropriate for the required range was loaded into the breech, similar to a howitzer. The mortar was fired by pulling a lanyard, which triggered a primer in the base of the cartridge case and ignited the propellant charge in the cartridge. The cartridge cases could be reused after cleaning and replacing the primer.
Italian Use
Italy used both the French CT and LT versions and produced their own long barrel version.
Austro-Hungarian 24 cm Minenwerfer M.16
Some 400 were copied and manufactured by Böhler during World War I based on examples captured from Italy, although the Austrians had problems recreating the original powder mixture and their shells suffered from large dispersions.
German 24 cm s.Flügelminenwerfer
The US A.E.F. in France reported in March 1918 : "... a new pattern minenwerfer which was brought out in 1916 and looks very much like the French 240... uses a heavy bomb fitted with four vanes like the French 240 mm bombs. This bomb weighs 100 kg and contains 42 kg of explosive... ranges obtained vary from 490 to 1310 yards". The specifications appear similar to the early French 240 mm CT quoted above. It is unknown whether this was related to the French or Austrian Böhler versions.
