During the second half of the 1800s, several military conflicts changed the balance of power in Europe and set off an arms race leading up to World War I.

[2] The majority of military planners before World War I were wedded to the concept of fighting an offensive war of rapid maneuver that before mechanization meant a focus on cavalry and light horse artillery firing shrapnel shells at formations of troops in the open.

This focus on quick firing light horse artillery meant that the use of mortars declined before World War I.

[2] The 15 cm M1881 was a breech-loaded rifled mortar with an early form of horizontal sliding block breech that used separate loading propellant charges and projectiles.

The upper part of both mounts was a wedge-shaped cradle constructed of riveted metal plates that held a trunnioned barrel.