8cm schwere Granatwerfer 34 (GrW 34)

History

The 8 cm Granatwerfer 34 (GrW 34) - 1934 heavy grenade launcher - was a German army favorite throughout World War II. Despite its official classification, it is generally classified as a medium mortar, manufactured between 1934 and 1945. The system was very effective (especially in the hands of well-trained mortar teams) and was respected by the Allies for its excellent rate of fire and high range accuracy. The weapon proved so vital to the operations of the German army that it could be used anywhere its troops fought.

Their numbers and ubiquitous use on the battlefield have given them a place in World War II legends.

Rheinmetall-Borsig AG was commissioned to design and develop this mortar system. The lengthy construction phase lasted from 1922 to 1933, a period of German rearmament after World War I, despite the restrictive powers of the Treaty of Versailles.

The mortar system is nothing more than a modification of the influential French Brandt mle 27/31 81.4mm system from 1927, this time a German brand. Aircrews are trained in basic functions, but quickly develop - even more so through operational experience - their quick reaction times to maneuver, aim and fire - and make themselves one of the more formidable adversaries in war. one.

Throughout the conflict, German mortar units represented some of the finest masters in their profession. To meet demand, several manufacturing companies were recruited to help produce the GrW 34 during wartime, and more were used to produce the all-important projectile needed to make the GrW 34 a successful weapons system.

Although the GrW 34 has a dedicated chapter in WWII history, it was far from a unique and very special design, and most of its accolades go to its well-trained crew. Their design was very traditional at the time - their components consisted of nothing more than a standard base plate, a bipod (with scope and handwheel) attached to the launch tube and the launch tube itself.

The system can be broken down into these three main components to facilitate travel. The ignition tube itself has a smooth internal structure. There are two steel and alloy versions of the barrel, which feature an increase in the overall weight of the system by 136.6 lbs and 125.6 lbs, respectively.

The barrel length is 45 inches (1,143 mm). The base projectile weighs 7.71 pounds and is activated by a shock fuse. The range can easily be extended with additional powder charges. The bottom plate is rectangular and is installed at the bottom of the ignition tube.

There is a circular handle to bring the individual components from one place to another. The bipod has most of the key aiming features of the GrW 34. There is a cross handwheel for general aiming and a cross leveling handwheel, while the panoramic sight allows finer adjustment of the target area. Heights range from 45 to 90 degrees, while traverses are limited to 10 to 23 degrees.

The muzzle velocity was reported to be 571 feet per second and the range was 2,624 yards (2,400 meters).

The GrW 34 is licensed to fire conventional high-explosive (HE) and smoke grenades, but its true arsenal is more extensive. She can fire flares for night jobs, as well as any enemy ammunition that matches her caliber (albeit with reduced performance). There is an interesting bouncing projectile called the 8cm Throwing Grenade 39, which uses a tiny rocket motor to "bounce" itself off the floor of the target area, detonating in mid-air and dropping its dangerous fragmentation payload into the surrounding environment.

However, these products have proven to be too expensive to produce in large quantities, making them rather rare.

Basic pear-shaped projectiles (stabilized by several small fins at the rear of each grenade) drop directly into the waiting barrel from the muzzle end of the launch tube. They then hit the firing pin prepared at the bottom of the launch tube, igniting the propellant, and, with careful aiming, launched the projectile into its trajectory on a predetermined trajectory.

A well-trained three-person crew can fire 15 to 25 rounds per minute. One crew member manages the ammunition supply, while another crew fine-tunes the aiming settings. A third crew member acts as an assistant and can also manually stabilize the bipod when the system is activated for improved stability.

All three helped transport the three components of the GrW 34 system.

The base Granatwerfer 34 is produced in several published variants. These include the Granatwerfer 34/1, a modified Granatwerfer 34 for self-propelled vehicles such as the SdKfz 250/7 series half-tracks, and the 8 cm shorter Granatwerfer 42 (or "Stummelwerfer"), which is essentially a A lighter form with a base (half-range) model with a shortened barrel system is for crew use. The Stummelwerfer began operations in 1942, but rarely saw its intended airborne troops enter service.

Instead, the system replaced the complex and expensive 5cm LwGrW 36 series light mortars, retaining all the advantages of the GrW 34 but without the excellent range.

In addition to the German army, the other main operator of the Granatwerfer 34 system was the allied country Bulgaria.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes