pzgr40
Well-Known Member
Cutaway model of a WW2 German 8cm W.Gr. 34 (Wgr. = WurfGranate / Mortar shell). It was fired from the 8cm Gr.W. 34 (Gr.W. = GranatWerfer / mortar). The weapon was designed by Rheinmetal and taken into service in 1937.
It was a light weapon -weighing 57 kgs- that could be broken down into three packs; the baseplate, the firing tube and the bipod with the sighting equipment. The barrel was 1143 mm long and weighed 19 kgs.
The bomb had a maximum range of 2.400 mtrs . Up to seven incremental charges could be placed around the stem of the tail to reach the maximum range. Varying the number of incremental charges as well as the angle of the barrel descided the range of the bomb.
The weight of the Wgr.34 was 3,5 kg and it had a Vo.of 172 mtrs/sec.
A shorter version for paratroopers also was available; the Kurze 8cm Gr.W. 34. The weapon had a weight of just 26 kg. The barrel length was reduced to 747mm. Also the Vo. was reduced to 110 mtrs/sec, as well as the range to 1100 mtrs.
It was also used in fixed positions in bunkers or used from a vehicle (SdkFz 250/7) and the “Reienwerfer”, a 20 barreled system on a French Somua MCG Chasis.
The German 8cm Mortar was a weapon with a deadly accuracy and a high firing rate (15 to 25 rpm). The mortar bombs were lethal up to 50 yards from the impact point.
Description of the Wgr.34:
The bomb exists of a cast iron body to threaded internally in base and top. In the base the tail is screwed. It contains the ground charge (shortest range).
In top of the body the steel booster housing is screwed in which the Gr.Zdlg.98 (Large booster 98) is placed. in top of the booster housing the W.GrZ 34 is screwed.
Bombs are found in green either red lead primer.
Description of the W.Gr.Z 38:
The Fuze body is steel made. In top an aluminium hammer pin is placed, to which the firing pin is connected. A guidance tube (red) is placed around the firing pin. The firing cap is screwed in the base of a tapered steel cylinder. On top of the cylinder six steel balls are placed, which prevents the hammer pin with the firing pin from reaching the firing cap. Around the guidance tube (red) of the firing pin a collar is placed (green) that locks the hole to the hollow nose of the hammer pin and prevents the balls from rolling upward into the nose of the hammer pin. A ring shaped brass foil ring with three fingers pointed inward is placed inside the cylinder, just above the firing cap. Upon firing, the collar (green) moves down -riding it’s spring-, untill it hooks behind the brass fingers and is prevented from moving upward again. As long as the bomb moves upward, the balls lie on the lower portion of the tapered side of the cylinder*. As soon as the bomb starts it’s descending part of the flight, the balls roll forward into the hollow nose of the hammer pin. The firing pin can now reach the firing cap upon impact; either the firing pin is hammered inward into the firing cap, either the cylinder with the firing cap moves forward –riding the spring- into the firing pin, exploding the firing cap. This ignites the detonator in the Gr.Zdlg.98 booster charge, which ignites the main charge of TNT.
The two pictures on the right are the 8cm Wgr.34 Ausf.III. Note that the body is a one piece cast body. There is no mundlochbuchse present, and the Gr.Zdldg. C98 is placed directly in the explosive charge. The mortar bomb body is cast iron. The fuze is the Wgr.Z.34C. The mortar bomb as well as the fuze are of a simplified and cheaper design and production method.
* This also forms an extra safety mechanism when firing from wooded area’s. The fuze will not be activated when hitting leafs or thin branches, preventing prematures over friendly troops.
Regards, DJH
It was a light weapon -weighing 57 kgs- that could be broken down into three packs; the baseplate, the firing tube and the bipod with the sighting equipment. The barrel was 1143 mm long and weighed 19 kgs.
The bomb had a maximum range of 2.400 mtrs . Up to seven incremental charges could be placed around the stem of the tail to reach the maximum range. Varying the number of incremental charges as well as the angle of the barrel descided the range of the bomb.
The weight of the Wgr.34 was 3,5 kg and it had a Vo.of 172 mtrs/sec.
A shorter version for paratroopers also was available; the Kurze 8cm Gr.W. 34. The weapon had a weight of just 26 kg. The barrel length was reduced to 747mm. Also the Vo. was reduced to 110 mtrs/sec, as well as the range to 1100 mtrs.
It was also used in fixed positions in bunkers or used from a vehicle (SdkFz 250/7) and the “Reienwerfer”, a 20 barreled system on a French Somua MCG Chasis.
The German 8cm Mortar was a weapon with a deadly accuracy and a high firing rate (15 to 25 rpm). The mortar bombs were lethal up to 50 yards from the impact point.
Description of the Wgr.34:
The bomb exists of a cast iron body to threaded internally in base and top. In the base the tail is screwed. It contains the ground charge (shortest range).
In top of the body the steel booster housing is screwed in which the Gr.Zdlg.98 (Large booster 98) is placed. in top of the booster housing the W.GrZ 34 is screwed.
Bombs are found in green either red lead primer.
Description of the W.Gr.Z 38:
The Fuze body is steel made. In top an aluminium hammer pin is placed, to which the firing pin is connected. A guidance tube (red) is placed around the firing pin. The firing cap is screwed in the base of a tapered steel cylinder. On top of the cylinder six steel balls are placed, which prevents the hammer pin with the firing pin from reaching the firing cap. Around the guidance tube (red) of the firing pin a collar is placed (green) that locks the hole to the hollow nose of the hammer pin and prevents the balls from rolling upward into the nose of the hammer pin. A ring shaped brass foil ring with three fingers pointed inward is placed inside the cylinder, just above the firing cap. Upon firing, the collar (green) moves down -riding it’s spring-, untill it hooks behind the brass fingers and is prevented from moving upward again. As long as the bomb moves upward, the balls lie on the lower portion of the tapered side of the cylinder*. As soon as the bomb starts it’s descending part of the flight, the balls roll forward into the hollow nose of the hammer pin. The firing pin can now reach the firing cap upon impact; either the firing pin is hammered inward into the firing cap, either the cylinder with the firing cap moves forward –riding the spring- into the firing pin, exploding the firing cap. This ignites the detonator in the Gr.Zdlg.98 booster charge, which ignites the main charge of TNT.
The two pictures on the right are the 8cm Wgr.34 Ausf.III. Note that the body is a one piece cast body. There is no mundlochbuchse present, and the Gr.Zdldg. C98 is placed directly in the explosive charge. The mortar bomb body is cast iron. The fuze is the Wgr.Z.34C. The mortar bomb as well as the fuze are of a simplified and cheaper design and production method.
* This also forms an extra safety mechanism when firing from wooded area’s. The fuze will not be activated when hitting leafs or thin branches, preventing prematures over friendly troops.
Regards, DJH
Attachments
Last edited: