Granatwerfer 42
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| Granatwerfer 42 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Mortar |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Wars | Second World War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1941 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 280 kg |
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| Caliber | 120 mm |
| Maximum range | 6050 m |
The Granatwerfer 42 (Literally, "grenade thrower") (Official designation: 12cm GrW 42) was a mortar used by Germany during World War II.
Developed in 1941, the 12 cm (about 4.7 in) GrW 42 was an attempt to give German infantry units a close support weapon with a heavier performance than the mortars used in general service at the time. The weapon was a copy of the mortar used by Soviet forces on the Eastern Front. The Soviet version that was copied, the PM 38 120 mm mortar, was used by German soldiers after capturing one of them. These Soviet versions were coined the 12 cm Granatwerfer 378 (r).
The GrW 42 was basically the usual three part construction made up of a circular base plate like the Soviet weapon, the tube itself and the supporting bipod. Because of the greater weight of the weapon (616 pounds) a two wheeled axle was utilised, enabling the mortar to be towed into action. The axle could then be quickly removed before firing.
The maximum range of the GrW 42, firing a 15.6 kg projectile, was approximately 6,050 m with an elevation of between 45 and 85 degrees. It has a maximum traverse of 16 degrees.
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| German-made firearms and light weapons of World War II |
|---|
| Side arms (Pistole) |
| Mauser C96 | Luger | Walther P38 | Walther PPK | Sauer 38H | Mauser HSc |
| Rifles & carbines (Gewehr & Karabiner) |
| Karabiner 98k | Gewehr 41 | Gewehr 43/Karabiner 43 | StG44/MP44 | FG42 | StG45(M) | Volkssturmgewehr 1-5 |
| Submachine guns ( Maschinenpistole ) |
| Bergmann MP18 | MP38/MP40 "Schmeisser" | MP3008 "Volks MP" |
| Machine guns & other larger weapons |
| MG08 | MG34 | MG42 | Faustpatrone | Panzerfaust | Panzerschreck
Flammenwerfer 35 | Panzerbüchse 39 | Granatwerfer 36 | Granatwerfer 42 |
| Notable foreign-made infantry weapons |
| P.640(b) | Vis.35 | Vz.24/G24(t) | MG26(t) | Panzerbüchse 35(p) |
| German-made cartridges used by the Wehrmacht |
| 7.92 x 57 mm | 7.63 x 25 mm Mauser | 7.92 mm Kurz | 7.65 mm Luger | 9 mm Luger |
