Cutaway model of a 15 cm Wgr. 41 Nb. (15 cm Wurfgranate 41 Nebel) rocket for the German WW2 Nebelwerfer 41. The rocket consists of a forward engine with a bulbous ballistic nosecap screwed into the forward end of the motor. The base end of the motor is threaded externaly to receive the venturi assembly, which has 26 angled venturi holes drilled in the outer circumference of the base of the venturi assembly. The lower part of the venturi assembly has a rim, over which the smoke composition container is placed, sealed by a weld seal around. A threaded hole is positioned in the center of the venturi assembly –locked with a plug screw- , which acts as the filler hole for the smoke composition.
Inside the motor a grid in the base prevens parts of propellant from blocking the venturi holes (broken off while burning). It also houses a ring formed black powder igniter charge, locked up by the grid. On top of the grid, a single multi-perforated (one big hole in the middle surrounded by eight small holes) diethylene glycol dinitrate powder stick is placed. On top of this powder stick, a bend steel cage is placed which locks up the so called “Z-ladung “ (Zund ladung / igniter charge) This Z-ladung exists of a thin sheet metal hat, housing an aluminium container which contains a black powder igniter charge. The lower cap of this aluminium container is made off by thin paper (sigaret paper thickness) to enshure fast ignition. The two igniter charges are connected by eight quickmatches , placed in eight recesses on the outer circumferece of the powder stick. These quickmatches exist of a transparant celluloid hollow tube which house a black powder pellet in top and base; they run along the entire length of the propellant stick. These quickmatches enshure that both igniter charges are set of at approximately the same moment and the entire surface of the propellant stick is instantanoiusly ignited..
The ring formed powder charge in the grid is ignited by the E.R.Z.39 (Elektrische Raketen Zunder 39, not in picture), which is inserted in one of the venturi holes, after loading in the weapon, and is than electricly connected and ignited.
The smoke container is made of pressed mild steel. A threaded bushing is welded into the base to allow the Bdz. DOV to be screwed in. On top of this bushing a thin steel bushing is welded, which act as the explosive charge container. A perforated steel ring is welded in halfway around the explosive container as a centering device. The smoke composition exists of a mixture of bimskies (pumice) and sulfer trioxide. The explosive charge used is the gr.Kh.Ldg. 1DOV kurz, which exists of 980 grams of pressed Fp02 (TNT) placed in a paper container. The complete charge weighs 1000 grams. In the base of the Explosive charge is a hole to receive the kz. Zdlg. C/98F (F for Federkapsel). (short boostercharge C/98 Spring top). This Booster charge contains a detonator No.38 , surrounded by Nitropenta (pink)
The fuze used is the Bd.Z. D.O.V. (Base fuze D.O.V.). This fuze has a firing pin (red), held away from the firing cap housing below it by a weak creep spring. Six centrifugal segments surrounded by an expanding brass ring leaf spring block the forward movement of the firing cap housing as the leaf spring forces the segments inward into a (diameter) recess in the firing cap housing. After launching the rocket, the centrifugal force caused by the spin throws the centrifugal segments outward (forcing the leaf spring open), thereby releasing the firing cap housing, enebeling it to ride the creep spring forward into the firing pin on impact.
Exept for the moving inner parts and the firing pin, the entire fuze is made of bakelite.
The main disadvantage of the nebelwerfer was it's large smoketrail upon launching, giving away it's position. The launcher however had the advantage that it was very light (510 kg) and could be towed by a light vehicle. It could so easily be repositioned.
Overall length of the rocket : 979 mm (38.55 inch)
Diameter : 158mm (6.22 inch).
Total weight 31,8 Kg (70 Lb).
Propellant weight: 6,35 kg (14 Lb).
Weight of explosive charge: 0,98 kg Fpo2 ( TNT).
Weight of smoke composition : -
Muzzle velocity: 342 M/s (1120 ft/sec).
Max range : 7066 mtrs (7723 yards).
Special rounds were issued for arctic and tropical use. Rounds were delivered to the front in individual rectangular wooden boxes or steel containers (cylinder shaped). The weapon entered service in 1942. There was also a smoke round available which had a slightly longer warhead, but used the same basefuze. Launchers were available in the next four types : the 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41, the 15 cm Do-gerat 38, the 15 cm Panhzerwerfer 42, the 30 cm raketenwerfer 56 (in this last case an insert barrel was placed in the larger barrel).
Nebelwerfers in action can be found here (you tube):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMcVIfebarM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtSTMYGEyaM
Regards, DJH
Inside the motor a grid in the base prevens parts of propellant from blocking the venturi holes (broken off while burning). It also houses a ring formed black powder igniter charge, locked up by the grid. On top of the grid, a single multi-perforated (one big hole in the middle surrounded by eight small holes) diethylene glycol dinitrate powder stick is placed. On top of this powder stick, a bend steel cage is placed which locks up the so called “Z-ladung “ (Zund ladung / igniter charge) This Z-ladung exists of a thin sheet metal hat, housing an aluminium container which contains a black powder igniter charge. The lower cap of this aluminium container is made off by thin paper (sigaret paper thickness) to enshure fast ignition. The two igniter charges are connected by eight quickmatches , placed in eight recesses on the outer circumferece of the powder stick. These quickmatches exist of a transparant celluloid hollow tube which house a black powder pellet in top and base; they run along the entire length of the propellant stick. These quickmatches enshure that both igniter charges are set of at approximately the same moment and the entire surface of the propellant stick is instantanoiusly ignited..
The ring formed powder charge in the grid is ignited by the E.R.Z.39 (Elektrische Raketen Zunder 39, not in picture), which is inserted in one of the venturi holes, after loading in the weapon, and is than electricly connected and ignited.
The smoke container is made of pressed mild steel. A threaded bushing is welded into the base to allow the Bdz. DOV to be screwed in. On top of this bushing a thin steel bushing is welded, which act as the explosive charge container. A perforated steel ring is welded in halfway around the explosive container as a centering device. The smoke composition exists of a mixture of bimskies (pumice) and sulfer trioxide. The explosive charge used is the gr.Kh.Ldg. 1DOV kurz, which exists of 980 grams of pressed Fp02 (TNT) placed in a paper container. The complete charge weighs 1000 grams. In the base of the Explosive charge is a hole to receive the kz. Zdlg. C/98F (F for Federkapsel). (short boostercharge C/98 Spring top). This Booster charge contains a detonator No.38 , surrounded by Nitropenta (pink)
The fuze used is the Bd.Z. D.O.V. (Base fuze D.O.V.). This fuze has a firing pin (red), held away from the firing cap housing below it by a weak creep spring. Six centrifugal segments surrounded by an expanding brass ring leaf spring block the forward movement of the firing cap housing as the leaf spring forces the segments inward into a (diameter) recess in the firing cap housing. After launching the rocket, the centrifugal force caused by the spin throws the centrifugal segments outward (forcing the leaf spring open), thereby releasing the firing cap housing, enebeling it to ride the creep spring forward into the firing pin on impact.
Exept for the moving inner parts and the firing pin, the entire fuze is made of bakelite.
The main disadvantage of the nebelwerfer was it's large smoketrail upon launching, giving away it's position. The launcher however had the advantage that it was very light (510 kg) and could be towed by a light vehicle. It could so easily be repositioned.
Overall length of the rocket : 979 mm (38.55 inch)
Diameter : 158mm (6.22 inch).
Total weight 31,8 Kg (70 Lb).
Propellant weight: 6,35 kg (14 Lb).
Weight of explosive charge: 0,98 kg Fpo2 ( TNT).
Weight of smoke composition : -
Muzzle velocity: 342 M/s (1120 ft/sec).
Max range : 7066 mtrs (7723 yards).
Special rounds were issued for arctic and tropical use. Rounds were delivered to the front in individual rectangular wooden boxes or steel containers (cylinder shaped). The weapon entered service in 1942. There was also a smoke round available which had a slightly longer warhead, but used the same basefuze. Launchers were available in the next four types : the 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41, the 15 cm Do-gerat 38, the 15 cm Panhzerwerfer 42, the 30 cm raketenwerfer 56 (in this last case an insert barrel was placed in the larger barrel).
Nebelwerfers in action can be found here (you tube):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMcVIfebarM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtSTMYGEyaM
Regards, DJH
