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
TypeCrossbow
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service1915–1916
Used byFrance, United Kingdom
WarsWorld War I
Production history
Produced1915-1916
Specifications
Mass24 kg (53 lb)
Crew2

Effective firing range110–140 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
  1. ^ Glenn E. Torrey (2001). Henri Mathias Berthelot: soldier of France, defender of Romania. Center for Romanian Studies. p. 119. ISBN 978-9739432153.
  2. ^ "Experimental Section" (PDF). The Royal Engineers Journal. 39: 79. 1925.
  3. ^ 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