Original Item: Only One Available: This is a fantastic Original French WWII Brandt 50mm L GR MLE 37 Display Light Mortar, offered in excellent complete non-functional display condition with original carry case. This item requires no type of license as it has been fully deactivated and rendered inert according to specifications outlined by the BATF, rendering it totally inert and incapable of ever being converted to an explosive device. It has had a bore width hole drilled in the tube, and the firing system rendered inoperable. As such it is NOT AVAILABLE FOR EXPORT.

The display mortar still sets up correctly, and retains most of the original arsenal black finish. The right side of the barrel has the correct designation for the mortar:

L.  Gr.  Mle  37
No. 13720

This is short for Lance Grenades modèle 37 (Grenade Launcher Model 37), the official issue name used by the French. It is still adjustable for windage with the screw gear on the top of the bipod, and the range adjustment is handled by a metal wire that locks into the back of the barrel. It still has the bubble level at the bottom of the barrel, and it folds up correctly with the base plate.

Included with the display mortar is a very nice deactivated round, which is dated 1938 and comes complete with the original aluminum bottom fins and brass and aluminum fuze. It can be disassembled into components to inspect the interior. There are original issue markings on all of the components. These are VERY hard to find, and this is the first time we have had one of the rounds. Most of these were used during the war or converted by the Germans to use as submunitions for cluster bombs.

A great French Pre-WWII made Mortar set, ready to add to your collection!

The Brandt mle 37 (Model of 1937) Light Mortar, also known as the Lance Grenades de 50 mm modèle 37 (50mm Grenade Launcher Model 37), was one of several mortar systems adopted by the French just prior to World War 2 (1939-1945). The 81mm mle 27 was introduced in 1927 and the 50mm mle 37 followed in 1937, though its issuance did not occur until 1939. The type was introduced to succeed the standard platoon-level French infantry rifle grenade by allowing for more potent, accurate in-direct firepower against entrenched enemy forces. The result was a light-enough and reliable weapon to make a statement during the Grand War - though the collapse of the French defense in the German invasion of 1940 made certain that the mortar would see more action in the hands of Vichy French forces as well as the Germans. In the latter case, the mortar took on the designation of Granatenwerfer 203(f) - the lowercase "f" signifying its French origins.

The mle 37 exhibited a caliber of 50mm and its launch tube measured 415mm in length. Setup weight was 3.65 kilograms. Onboard controls allowed for traversal of 8-degrees to either side though elevation was fixed at 45-degrees. Rate-of-fire possible was up to 25 rounds per minute while the standard shell was High-Explosive (HE) in nature. Range was out to 695 meters and velocity for the outgoing shell was listed at 70 meters per second. Beyond the traditional launch tube a baseplate was featured as was a folding bipod assembly.

Another light mortar to come into service became the mle 1935. This was a 60mm system which was also adopted by the U.S. military (as the M1). Nearly 5,000 of this series were made available for 1940.

Any available statistics for the Brandt mle 37 (Mortier Brandt de 50mm modèle 37) Infantry Light Mortar are showcased in the areas immediately below. Categories include basic specifications covering initial year of service, country-of-origin and manufacture(s) involved in bringing the weapon to market. Other qualities showcased are related to physical values such as the internal action, available calibers / chamberings, weight and lengths. Global operators are also presented in A-to-Z format as are any model variants available to the series.

Firing Action: Manually-Loaded, Striker Actuated
Available Caliber(s): 50mm
Ammunition Count / Feed: Single-Shot
Weight (Empty): 8.05 lb (3.65 kg)
Overall Length: 415 mm (16.34 in)
Barrel Length: 415 mm (16.34 in)
Sighting Assist: Integrated Optics Set

Operating Performance
Rate-of-Fire (RoF): 23 rounds-per-minute (rpm)
Typical Range: 2,260 feet (689 m; 753 yd)

Operators List
France (Vichy France); NSDAP Germany

Model Variants
- Mortier de 50mm Mle 1937 (Brandt) - Base Longform Designation.
- Granatwerfer 203(f) (GrW.203(f)) - German Army Designation of captured systems.