Wilfred Stokes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir Wilfred Stokes was the inventor of the Stokes Mortar, extensively used in the latter half of the First World War, being portable and managed by a smaller crew than field guns, as well as suited to trench warfare.

There primary function was to destroy oncoming tanks and give a circle of protection around British and allied trenches and camps.

One of the key features of Stokes mortar was th efiring system. A fixed pin in the bottom of the bore was the firing pin for the propelling charge which was built into the base of the mortar round. The mortar round was put into the top of the barrel. It would then slide down inside. the igniter striking the pin the charge would be detonated and the bomb shot out of the barrel.