Kz 8 cm GrW 42
The kurzer 8 cm Granatwerfer 42 (kz 8 cm GrW 42) was a mortar used by Germany during World War II. It was developed as a lightened version of the standard German 8 cm GrW 34 medium mortar with a shorter barrel for use by paratroopers, but replaced the ineffective 5 cm leGrW 36 as that weapon's shortcomings became apparent. The kz 8 cm GrW 42 fired a bomb over 3 and a half times heavier twice as far as the smaller mortar, but was less than twice as heavy. It broke down into the standard three loads for transport.
| kurzer 8 cm Granatwerfer 42 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Mortar |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Germany |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Rheinmetall |
| Designed | 1940–41 |
| Produced | 1941–45 |
| No. built | 1,591[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 26.5 kg (58.4 lb) |
| Barrel length | 74 cm (2 ft 5 in)[2] |
| Shell weight | 3.5 kg (7 lb 11 oz) |
| Caliber | 81.4 mm (3.20 in) |
| Elevation | 40° to 90° |
| Traverse | 14° to 34°[2] |
| Rate of fire | 15–25 rpm |
| Maximum firing range | 1.1 km (0.68 mi)[2] |
Some weapons were provided with a lanyard-operated loading/firing mechanism for remote-controlled use. It was generally known as the "Stummelwerfer" or "Stump-Thrower".
References
- (in German)
- Chamberlain, Peter (1975). Mortars and rockets. Gander, Terry. New York: Arco Pub. Co. ISBN 0668038179. OCLC 2067459.
- Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter. Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939-1945. New York: Doubleday, 1979 ISBN 0-385-15090-3
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