View source for Brixia Model 35

{{Infobox weapon
|is_artillery=yes
|image= Mortaio Brixia Mod. 35.jpg
|image_size=300
|caption=
|name=Brixia Model 35 Mortar
|type=[[Infantry mortar]]
|origin=[[Kingdom of Italy]]
|service= 3 October 1935 – [[Wiktionary:circa|c]]. January 1950
|used_by=[[Kingdom of Italy]] <!-- [[WP:INFOBOXFLAG]] -->
|wars=[[Second Italo-Ethiopian War]]<br/>[[Spanish Civil War]]<br/>[[World War II]]
|design_date= 1935
|manufacturer=
|production_date= 1935-1943
|number=
|weight={{convert|15.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
|length=
|part_length={{convert|26|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} L/5.4
|width=
|height=
|crew=2<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/mortarsrockets0000cham/page/11|title=Mortars and rockets|last=Chamberlain|first=Peter|date=1975|publisher=Arco Pub. Co|page=[https://archive.org/details/mortarsrockets0000cham/page/11 11]|others=Gander, Terry|isbn=0668038179|location=New York|oclc=2067459}}</ref>
|cartridge={{convert|465|g|lb|abbr=on|sigfig=1}}
|caliber={{convert|45|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|action=
|rate=8-10 rpm<ref name=":0" />
|velocity={{convert|83|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}
|range=
|max_range={{convert|530|m|yd|abbr=on}}<ref name=":0" />
|feed=
|sights=
|breech=
|recoil=
|carriage=
|elevation=+10° to +90°
|traverse=20°<ref name=":0" />
}}

The '''Brixia Model 35''' was an small-sized, rapid-firing Italian light [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] of [[World War II]]. The Brixia Modello 35 provided light supporting fire to infantry companies. It was issued at battalion level, with each battalion containing nine mortars divided between each infantry company. It had a reasonable rate of fire, but lacked power due to its small round. It was widely used, and saw action on every major Italian front.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.quartermastersection.com/italian/infantry-weapons/742/Mod35Mortar | title=MORTAIO d'ASSALTO MODELLO 35 - Quartermaster Section }}</ref>

== Description ==
[[File:Stanowisko włoskiego lekkiego moździerza na froncie serbskim (2-570).jpg|thumb|left|Brixia light mortar in action.]]
The Brixia light mortar is a 45&nbsp;mm [[caliber|calibre]] light mortar mounted on a legged base and designed for operation by two crew.<ref name="Norris">{{cite book|title=Infantry Mortars of World War II|series=New Vanguard 54|publisher=Osprey Publishing|first=John|last= Norris|date=11 Dec 2002|isbn=9781841764146|pages=34–35}}</ref> The rear legs are fitted with a pad for the gunner to lay forward behind the mortar or sit upon when the situation allows.  A lever allowed for operating the breech and firing the weapon while the loader fed [[ammunition]].  Well-trained teams could reach up to 18 rounds per minute, although the operational rate of fire was less intense to avoid damage to the firing tube. The Brixia mortar differed from comparable World War II weapons in that it was trigger-fired with the help of separate ignition cartridges to be fed into a special magazine, making the weapon more similar to modern cannon mortars than conventional parabolic grenade launchers of the time.{{cn|date=January 2019}}

At the tactical level, an infantry battalion had two platoons of 9 Brixia mortars assigned.{{sfn|Athanassiou|2017|p=34}} Each Brixia mortar platoon was divided into three squads with three mortars each, distributed to the companies. {{Citation needed|date=May 2024}} The heavier [[Mortaio da 81/14 Modello 35|81mm mortar]] was assigned to the heavy weapons company of the regiment.

The Brixia was a complicated weapon but could lay down exact and intense fire curtains. This was offset by the shells, which fragmented poorly and, due to the limited calibre, had a very light and low-yield warhead.<ref name=":0"/> The weapon served on every front where Italian troops were involved (North Africa, Balkans, East Africa, Southern Russia, France) and was employed to defend the homeland against invading allied troops. During clashes between [[Italian Social Republic|RSI]] formations and Italian partisans on both sides, due to many Italian partisans having a former military background, it was one of the few support weapons that could be found in the hands of the local Resistance. {{Citation needed|date=May 2024}} Mortars used by the German units fighting alongside the Italians were given the designation '''4.5 cm GrW 176(i)'''.<ref name="Bishop2002">{{cite encyclopedia|editor-first=Chris|editor-last= Bishop|encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MuGsf0psjvcC&pg=PA196|year=2002|publisher=Sterling Publishing Company|isbn=978-1-58663-762-0|page=196|title=45/5 modello 35 'Brixia'}}</ref>

== Users ==
* {{flag|Nazi Germany}}
* {{flag|Kingdom of Greece}}: captured from the Italians{{sfn|Athanassiou|2017|p=19}}
* {{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}
* {{flag|Italian Social Republic}}
* {{flagicon image|Yugoslav Partisans flag (1942-1945).svg}} [[Yugoslav Partisans]]<ref name="Vukšić2003">{{cite book |series=Warrior 73 |title=Tito's partisans 1941–45 |last=Vukšić |first=Velimir |date=July 2003 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1-84176-675-1 |page=25}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Tromboncino M28 grenade launcher]], a combined carbine and rifle grenade launcher, used unsuccessfully prior to the Model 35
* [[List of infantry mortars]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

* {{cite book|first=Phoebus|last=Athanassiou|title=Armies of the Greek-Italian War 1940-41 |isbn=978-1-4728-1917-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U7w0DwAAQBAJ&q=brixia|volume=Men-at-Arms 514|year=2017|publisher=Bloomsbury }}

== External links ==
{{commonscat|Brixia Mod. 35|Brixia Model 35}}
* [http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/ttt07/italian-45mm-mortar.html U.S. Intelligence Report on Italian 45 mm Mortar]

{{WWIIItalianInfWeapons}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

[[Category:World War II mortars of Italy]]
[[Category:World War II infantry weapons of Italy]]
[[Category:Infantry mortars]]
[[Category:45 mm artillery]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1935]]