The 8 cm Granatwerfer 34 (8 cm GrW. 34) was the standard German infantry mortar throughout World War II. It was noted for its accuracy and rapid rate of fire.Chamberlain and Gander 1975, p. 7

History

The weapon was of conventional design and broke down into three loads (smooth bore barrel, bipod, baseplate) for transport. Attached to the bipod were a traversing handwheel and a cross-leveling handwheel below the elevating mechanism. A panoramic sight was mounted on the traversing mechanism yoke for fine adjustments. A line on the tube could be used for rough laying.

The 8 cm GrW 34/1 was an adaptation for use in self-propelled mountings. A lightened version with a shorter barrel was put into production as the kurzer 8 cm Granatwerfer 42.

The mortar employed conventional 8 cm 3.5 kg shells (high explosive or smoke) with percussion fuzes. The range could be extended by fitting up to three additional powder charges between the shell tailfins.

A total of 74,336,000 rounds of ammunition were produced for the Granatwerfer 34 from September 1939 to March 1945.

Users

Ammunition Early rounds were calibre, the 1940 design rounds were slightly larger at

+Ammunition for the Granatwerfer 34.Database of the Dresdner Sprengschule GmbH Name Explosivemass Target effect Notes Wurfgranate 34 ("Mortar grenade 34") Blast and shrapnel effect Wurfgranate 34 Blauring ("Mortar grenade 34 blue ring") Blast, shrapnel and chemical effect Chemical agent: Adamsite Wurfgranate 34 Ex ("Mortar grenade 34 dummy") None None (training ammunition) Ammunition used for learning general handling Wurfgranate 34 Nb ("Mortar grenade 34 smoke") Smoke Sulfur trioxide in pumice stone Wurfgranate 34 Üb ("Mortar grenade 34 training") Minimal blast effect Training ammunition Wurfgranate 34 Weißring ("Mortar grenade 34 white ring") Blast, shrapnel and chemical effect Chemical agent: Phenacyl chloride Wurfgranate 38 ("Mortar grenade 38") Blast and shrapnel effect Wurfgranate 38 Deut ("Mortar grenade 38") Ejection charge Wurfgranate 38 umg ("Mortar grenade 38 rebuild") Blast and shrapnel effect Wurfgranate 39 ("Mortar grenade 39") Blast and shrapnel effect Wurfgranate 40 ("Mortar grenade 40") Blast and shrapnel effect Wurfgranate 40 Üb ("Mortar grenade 40 training") None None Training ammunition

See also List of infantry mortars

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era Brandt Mle 27/31 — French equivalent Ordnance ML 3 inch Mortar — British equivalent M1 mortar — US equivalent

Notes

References Citations

Main sources

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

External links

German: Mortars & Infantry Guns

WW II German Infantry Anti-Tank Weapons (Archived 2009-10-23)