The weapon was developed for use by engineer troops after the Siege of Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War of 1905, designed to combat heavier mortars by flinging a lighter shell further in defense of a fortress.

Furthermore, the low velocity allowed for the use of explosives like ammonium nitrate-carbon that were less shock-resistant than TNT, which was in short supply.

This caused a large number of premature detonations that made crewing the Minenwerfer riskier than normal artillery pieces.

[4][3] In action the mMW was emplaced in a pit, after its wheels were removed, not less than 1.5 meters deep to protect it and its crew.

Despite its extremely short range, the mMW proved to be very effective at destroying bunkers and other field fortifications.