The Arbalète sauterelle type A, or simply Sauterelle ([so.tʁɛl] French for grasshopper), was a bomb-throwing crossbow used by French and British forces on the Western Front during World War I. It was designed to throw a hand grenade in a high trajectory into enemy trenches. It was initially dismissed by the French Army but General Henri Berthelot thought it had practical value.[1]
| Sauterelle | |
|---|---|
 French soldiers with a Sauterelle, circe 1915 | |
| Type | Crossbow |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1915–1916 |
| Used by | France, United Kingdom |
| Wars | World War I |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1915-1916 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 24 kg (53 lb) |
| Crew | 2 |
| Effective firing range | 110–140 m (120–150 yd) |
It was lighter and more portable than the Leach Trench Catapult, but less powerful. It weighed 24 kg (53 lb) and could throw an F1 grenade or Mills bomb 110–140 m (120–150 yd).[2]
The Sauterelle replaced the Leach Catapult in British service until they were replaced in 1916 by the 2 inch Medium Trench Mortar and Stokes mortar.[3]
References
edit- ^ Glenn E. Torrey (2001). Henri Mathias Berthelot: soldier of France, defender of Romania. Center for Romanian Studies. p. 119. ISBN 978-9739432153.
- ^ "Experimental Section" (PDF). The Royal Engineers Journal. 39: 79. 1925.
- ^ Hugh Chisholm (1922). The Encyclopædia Britannica: The New Volumes, Period 1910 to 1921 Inclusive, Volume 1. Encyclopædia Britannica Company Limited. p. 470. Please note a wikilink to the article "Bombthrowers" in EB1922 is not available
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