[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department Technical Manual, TM-E 30-451: Handbook on German Military Forces published in March 1945. — Figures and illustrations are not reproduced, see source details. — As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. — Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.] CHAPTER VII. WEAPONS Section III. MORTARS 1. General The Germans began the war with two principal mortars: the 50-mm and 81-mm pieces as company and battalion weapons, respectively. They found, however, that these weapons did not match the mortar fire power of their enemies, particularly that of the Russians. Two principal measures were taken in an effort to correct this deficiency. A short 81-mm mortar was developed for use as a light weapon to supplement the 50-mm piece. A copy of the Russian 120-mm mortar, which far surpassed the performance of any German mortar, was adopted. 2. Light Mortars a. 50-MM MORTAR (5 cm Leichter Granatenwerfer 36). (1) General description. This is a muzzle-loaded, trigger-fired weapon used solely for high angle fire. Elevation is adjusted by an elevating arm attached to the baseplate and supporting the tube, with provision for both coarse and fine adjustment. Traverse of about 15 degrees in either direction is controlled by a traversing arc of conventional design. Two cross-leveling handscrews, one on each side of the baseplate, are used for initial laying and to steady the mortar during firing. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   50 mm (1.97 inches). Total weight   . . . . .   31 pounds. Maximum traverse   . . . . .   34°. Elevation   . . . . .   43° to 90°. Maximum range   . . . . .   570 yards. Weight of shell   . . . . .   2.2 pounds. Rate of fire   . . . . .   12 to 20 rounds per minute. (3) Ammunition. This weapon fires an HE shell weighing 2.2 pounds, including 4.5 ounces of TNT explosive filling. b. 50-MM AUTOMATIC MORTAR (5 cm Maschinengranatwerfer). (1) General description. This power-operated automatic mortar is almost twice as long as the standard 50-mm weapon. Six-round clips are manually loaded into a rack on the left side. As each round is fed onto the breech-block, the tube slides down over the shell and locks, releasing the firing pin. The feeding, locking, and firing mechanisms are electrically operated. The mortar has been found only in special concrete turrets in fixed defensive systems. These emplacements, below ground except for the roof of the turret, incorporate ammunition storage, power plant, ammunition hoist, and living quarters for the crew. (2) Ammunition. Standard 50-mm ammunition is fired and a range scale in the turret indicates a maximum range of 820 yards. 3. Medium Mortars a. 81-MM MORTAR (8 cm Schwerer Granatenwerfer 34). (1) General description. This weapon is the German equivalent of the U.S. 81-mm mortar M-1. It is a smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded weapon with a fixed firing pin. The elevating, traversing, and cross-leveling mechanisms are of conventional design. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   81.4 mm (3.19 inches). Total weight   . . . . .   124 pounds. Maximum traverse   . . . . .   14°. EIevation   . . . . .   40° to 90°. Maximum ranges firing HE shell Main propelling charge   . . . . .   591 yards. Additional charge 1   . . . . .   1,094 yards. Additional charge 2   . . . . .   1,597 yards. Additional charge 3   . . . . .   2,078 yards. Additional charge 4   . . . . .   2,625 yards. Weight of shell   . . . . .   7.7 pounds. Rate of fire   . . . . .   10 to 12 rounds per minute. (3) Ammunition. The HE shell contains 1.1 pounds of TNT, and the smoke shell contains 1 pound of sulphur trioxide. In addition to the standard smoke and HE ammunition, another shell known as the "bouncing bomb" was used with this mortar to provide air burst, but proved unsuccessful. This projectile weighed the same as the standard HE shell but contained only 0.8 pound of TNT. b. SHORT 81-MM MORTAR (8 cm Kurzer Granatenwerfer 42). (1) General description. This weapon represents an attempt to combine the hitting power of a medium mortar with the mobility and lightness of a smaller weapon, such as the 50-mm mortar. It is a reduced version of the standard 81-mm mortar with modified elevating and traversing gears. The cross-leveling mechanism is similar to that used in the U.S. 81-mm mortar M-1. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   81.4 mm (3.19 inches). Total weight   . . . . .   62 pounds. Maximum traverse   . . . . .   10°. Elevation   . . . . .   47° to 88°. Maximum range   . . . . .   1,200 yards. (3) Ammunition. This weapon fires the same ammunition as the standard 81-mm mortar, but only three increments may be used, giving a maximum range of 1,200 yards with HE. 4. Heavy Mortars a. 105-MM SMOKE MORTAR (10 cm Nebelwerfer 35). (1) General description. This is an enlarged version of the standard 81-mm mortar. Issued originally to eliemical warfare troops, it was intended primarily for firing smoke and chemical shells, although HE shells now are issued. In appearance the mortar is almost identical with the 81-mm mortar. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   105 mm (4.13 inches). Total weight   . . . . .   231 pounds. Maximum traverse   . . . . .   13°. Elevation   . . . . .   45° to 80°. Maximum range (with four increments)   . . . . .   3,300 yards. Weight of shell   . . . . .   16 pounds. (3) Ammunition. Both HE and smoke shells weigh 16 pounds. The HE shell contains 3.75 pounds of TNT. b. CHEMICAL MORTAR (10 cm Nebelwerfer 40). (1) General description. This is a smooth-bore, breech-loaded weapon transported on a carriage from which it can be fired. The mortar is of monobloc construction. The unusual breech mechanism is so designed that the movement of the operating handle causes the rear of the mortar to ride over the breechblock, which is secured to the frame. A buffer cylinder is located internally on each side of the frame, the buffer pistons being attached to the sides of the breechblock. The carriage is constructed of steel tubing and provided with elevating and traversing gears and a sighting arrangement. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   105 mm (4.13 inches). Total weight   . . . . .   1,708 pounds. Maximum traverse   . . . . .   14°. Elevation   . . . . .   45° to 85°. Maximum range (HE shell)   . . . . .   6,780 yards. Weight of HE shell   . . . . .   19.1 pounds. (3) Ammunition. This mortar fires both HE and smoke projectiles. The smoke shell weighs 0.5 pound more than the HE shell. c. 105-MM FIXED DEFENSE MORTAR (10 cm Leichte Haubitze Turm). (1) General description. This mortar is incorporated in underground defensive systems. The mortar itself is located in the upper compartment of a large cylindrical emplacement and is completely enclosed except for a small firing aperture covered by a steel shutter. The lower compartment is used for storing ammunition and housing the crew. Ammunition is carried up to the mortar on a conveyor belt and is manually loaded. The mortar is a smooth-bore, breech-loaded weapon, fitted with a semiautomatic breech mechanism, horizontal sliding breechblock, and hydropneumatic recoil system. The mortar tube is held in a cradle which may be raised and locked into firing position. The traversing mechanism is arranged so that turning the traversing handle rotates the entire fighting compartment. Fire normally is controlled electrically from an observation post, but also can be controlled by means of a periscope in the fighting compartment. (2) Characteristics. Details of the characteristics of this weapon are lacking. Limits of elevation are 45 degrees to 90 degrees. (3) Ammunition. Ammunition fired is the same as that used with the 105-mm smoke mortar (Nebelwerfer 40) but with different charge weights. d. 120-MM MORTAR (12 cm Granatenwerfer 42). (1) General description. This is a virtually exact German copy of a standard Russian weapon. The mortar itself is of conventional construction and consists of a tube, a circular baseplate, and a bipod. It has the advantage of being highly mobile, however, since it is equipped with a two-wheeled, quickly attached axle, and the bipod is carried clamped to the mortar ready for action. The weapon can be quickly towed or manhandled into a new firing position. The heavy shell and long range of this weapon provide a type of fire support comparable with that from the 105-mm field howitzer. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   120 mm (4.7 inches). Total weight   . . . . .   616 pounds. Maximum traverse   . . . . .   16°. Elevation   . . . . .   45° to 85°. Maximum range   . . . . .   6,600 yards. Weight of shell   . . . . .   35 pounds. (3) Ammunition. This mortar fires four types of HE projectiles. e. 200-MM LIGHT SPIGOT MORTAR (20 cm Leichter Ladungswerfer). (1) General description. This weapon consists of a bipod, baseplate, spigot, and spigot arm. The baseplate is of conventional German design and is provided with a socket to receive the base-cap knob at the lower end of the spigot. The bipod is similar to that used with the 81-mm and 105-mm mortars but has more powerful shock absorbers. The spigot is in the form of a drawn steel tube reduced at the lower end where it is threaded to receive the supporting arm. Two insulated electrical contact plates are located above the supporting arm and are connected internally to a contact tube running to the upper end of the spigot to contact the electric primer of the propelling charge. (2) Characteristics. Diameter of spigot   . . . . .   3.5 inches. Total weight   . . . . .   205 pounds. Total traverse   . . . . .   5°. Elevation   . . . . .   45° to 80°. Maximum range (three increments)   . . . . .   766 yards. Weight of shell   . . . . .   46 pounds. (3) Ammunition. This mortar fires HE or smoke projectiles. The HE shell contains 15 pounds of amatol explosive. Reports indicate ammunition known as the "harpoon projectile" is also used. This shell is said to project a cord and grapnel with which to clear mines or networks of charges. f. 380-MM HEAVY SPIGOT MORTAR (38 cm Schwerer Ladungswerfer). (1) General description. No details of this weapon are available, its existence having been established from identification of a 380-mm HE spigot shell. This mortar is probably an enlarged version of the 200-mm weapon. (2) Characteristics. Diameter of spigot   . . . . .   6.25 inches. Weight of shell   . . . . .   331 pounds. (3) Ammunition. Both HE and smoke ammunition are fired by this mortar. The HE shell bursting charge weighs 110 pounds.

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