Kz 8 cm GrW 42

kurzer 8 cm Granatwerfer 42
Type Mortar
Place of origin Nazi Germany
Service history
Used by  Germany
Wars World War II
Production history
Designer Rheinmetall
Designed 1940–41
Produced 1941–45
Specifications
Weight 26.5 kg (58.4 lb)
Barrel length 74 cm (2 ft 5 in)[1]
Shell weight 3.5 kg (7 lb 11 oz)
Caliber 81.4 mm (3.20 in)
Elevation 40° to 90°
Traverse 14° to 34°[1]
Rate of fire 15–25 rpm
Maximum firing range 1.1 km (0.68 mi)[1]

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.

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

  • 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
  1. 1 2 3 Chamberlain, Peter (1975). Mortars and rockets. Gander, Terry. New York: Arco Pub. Co. ISBN 0668038179. OCLC 2067459.


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