Unknown weapon on mount. Any ideas?

[Oleg FJ]

Hi, all !
My friends have this. Can anyone identify it please.
Best regards, Oleg.

[Oleg FJ]

[Oleg FJ]

[Johnnie]

It looks similar to the Italian Brixia 45mm mortar (actually a breech loaded grenade launcher) used in WW2. I havn't seen one for a long time so I could be wrong.
Others here may know more.
Was this a ground dig in Russia?

Johnnie

[Johnnie]

I found a picture in my files of the Italian weapon. It looks like yours is missing the barrel assembly and you just have the breach.

Johnnie

[Bill Grist]

Italian 45mm Brixia Mortar...Here is a round...BILL

[Bill Grist]

45mm Brixia round.........

[Oleg FJ]

Much appreciated! The item was found around Koenigsburg.

[Oleg FJ]

Is this mortar rare?

[Johnnie]

Your welcome. I havn't seen a lot of these around but the Italians issued quite a large number of them. The pic I posted was from an online auction of a private weapons collection, and the only decent pic of this weapon I have ever found. It really wasn't very effective (burst radius and range wise) but had a high rate of fire with a good two man crew, 15-18 rounds per minute if I recall right.
Bill might know more.

Johnnie