Almark - Field Rocket Equipment of The German Army 1939-1945

1972, Almark Publishing Co. Ltd.
Text T. J . Gander
All rights reserved. No part of this publication ma y be reproduced. stored in

n relrieval system, or transmilled by any means, electronic, mechanical or
by photo copying without p rior permission from the publishers.
First published - October 1972
ISBN 855240849 (hard cover edition)
Introduction
TH E solid fuel rocket is no newcomer to modern warfare for its first recorded
use in battle dates back to AD 1232, but after the fall from grace of the
Congreve and Hale rockets towards the end of the nineteenth century little use
was made of it until the German Army re - introduced the rocket in an offen
sive role from 1940 onwards . Actually they could have had rockets in service
during World War I, for Krupps had purchased the solid fuel rocket patents of
the Swedish experim enter Lieutenant-Colonel von Unge in 1909. While the
rockets then produced w ere extensively tested , they did not go into production
as they were virtually hand - made and the slow - burning bl ack powder propel
lants then in use were prone to damag e during storage and transport. This
damage manifested itself in erratic burning and general unreliability. It was not
until the advent of the larg e grain double-based prop ellants after about 1935
that a storeable and reliable mass-produced rocket could be manufactured .
This book sets out to show how one nation, Germany, employed the
solid fuel rocket as part of its national field armoury. As such it confines
itself to weapons used on the battlefield and only encroaches onto the anti
aircraft role when the rockets so employed were also used as ground-to
ground w eapons. However, to 'compl ete the story' in some cases, mention
has been made of the airborne use of some of these weapons.
The research into this subject has been considerably aided by John Milsom
who supplied much of the material used in this book, and to whom my
thanks are due. Acknowledgements and thanks must also be made to
R. C. Gibson, John Wilkes, Colour Sergeant Fitch of the Airborne Forces
Museum at Aldershot, Peter Chamberlain, the staff of the Photographic Sec
tion of the Imperial War Museum, and finally my wife who typed the
original manuscript. Kenneth M . Jones produced the cover art .
ISBN 85524 085 7 (paper covered edition)
CONTENTS
Page
Section
Printed in Great Britain by

Byron Press Ltd., 59 Palmerston Road, Wealdstone, Middlesex
for the publishers, Almark Publishing Co . Ltd.,
270 Burlington Road , New Malden, Surrey KT3 4N L, England
2
1: Deployment and Organisation
14
2: Rock et Equipment
1: Deployment and
Organisation
ROCKETS were employed by the German forces in World War 2 in an attempt
to conserve the facilities available for the manufacture of war weapons.
A rocket and its proj ector can be made and fired with a large saving in
money, manufacturing facilities and training over the corresponding artillery
equipment. But it was realised from the start that the accuracy of the rocket
fell far below that of the conventional artillery shell. Where the rocket made up
for this was in its ability to cover large areas with explosive, smoke or gas in
a very short time, and rocket units were trained to maintain a very high rate
of fire over short periods.
The high fire rate was utilised in 'beefing-up' barrages and counter
barrages though the former was the more usual. Fixed projectors (such as the
Schweres Wurfgeriit 40 and 41) were also used to this end while the mobile
projectors were more often used for following up tank formation attacks, when
they usually supported the flanks . In the armoured attack the independent
Panzerwerferbatteri e or Wuhrfrahmen - armed half-tracks closely followed the
attack and laid down supporting barrages when required, although towed
projector units sometimes carried out this task. The ability of the Nebelwerfer
units to lay smoke cloud screens to hide movement and dispositions was
often utilised whenever large areas had to be covered in a short time. The
rocket units could do the same with gas but fortunately this was not called
for during the 1939-45 conflict .
TACTICAL USES OF ROCKET UNITS

/lBO VE: Start of a rocke t barrage . The fierce smoke trail was a characteristic
an d awesom e accompaniment to Nebelwerfer battery fire.
FRONT COVER: (Top) RP 54 team at the moment of loadin g. (B o ttom)
I'ilrarrooper with the ubiquitous Panzerfaust. This variant is the 30 m model.
BA CK COVER: Rocket troops re -Ioading a 15 cm N ebelwerfer 41.
The ability to cover large areas with HE (high explosive), smoke or gas
had to be paid for tactically. Each rocket when fired left a trail of flame and
smoke (giving rise to the name 'Nebelwerfer'-smoke thrower) and if this did
not show up the firing position, the large cloud of dust and debris stirred
up by the rocket's exhaust certainly would. This often resulted in counter
battery artillery and mortarfire being directed at the Nebelwerfer emplacements.
Later in the war the Russians sometimes used Katyusha rockets for this
purpose so that rocket versus rocket duels occurred. As a result of this
counter-battery work, the Nebeltruppe had to be experts in getting in and out
of action quickly.
Further down the tactical scale, rocket units were often detached to give
support to relatively small unit actions, so that a single battery sometimes gave
support to a company attack. There were also more specialised applications
such as when a 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 battery was added to the proposed
complement of a cavalry artillery abteilung attached to Army Group Centre
(Russian Front) during 1943. The remainder of the abteilung was to have
been made up of recoilless 10'5 cm LG 40 guns, so the 15 cm battery would
have added a great deal of fi repower to the abteilung strength.
ORGANISATION OF 'DIE NEBElTRUPPEN'

Up to 1940 the main weight of the German Chemical Warfare Units was
biased towards smoke production for tactical screens. The units involved were
few in number and utilised the 10 cm Nebelwerfer 35-an enlarged mortar
(for details see separate section) . In 1940 this was supplemented by the 10 cm
Nebelwerfer 40 but by the same year the first rocket equipments (the Schweres
Wurfgerat 40 with its 28/ 32 cm rockets) came into service after development
at Meppen and Kummersdorf.
However, during 1939 the first Nebeltruppe were amongst the German
forces invading Poland, but there was little for them to do. There were in fact
three Nebelabteilung present during that campaign. As the rocket equipments
became available a training unit (Lehrabteilung) was formed at the Nebel
truppenschule at Celie, south of Stettin but the first Werfer Regiment was
not formed until June 1940-just too late to take part in the campaign in
France, After that, however, th e numbers of Werferbrigaden (each made up of
two or three Werferregimenter) increased until there were twenty in the line
and numerous other units available for special purposes such as the
Panzerwerferbatterie and Rheinbote units. A second training unit and range
was at Munster- Nord.
ESTABLISHMENTS
Basically there were three different types of rocket unit, of which the basic
unit was the Abteilung (artill ery brigade) . These abteilung were joined in dif
fering combinations to form Werferregimenter. The three basic abteilung were
as follows.
(1) Rocket Projector Brigade (Motorized). (Werferabteilung [m ot ]).
Normally equipped with the 15 cm Neberwerfer 41 this formation consisted
of a brigade staff and staff battery with up to three batteries (werfer
batterien), The equipment for this unit is shown separately, but the staff
consisted of:
Brigade HQ
Reconnaissance/ observation platoon
Rangefinder section.
Maintenance unit
Ad ministrative staff
Signals staff
Anti-tank unit, armed with the 3 7 cm or later the 75 cm Pak.
BEL 0 W: A battery of 15 cm N ebelw erfer 41 s in action. N ote the absence of

p ersonnel who w o uld ha ve been under cover during th e firing period.
(2) Heavy Rocket Projector Brigade (motorized}-Schwere Werferabteilung

(mot) .
These units could be equipped with either the 21 cm Nebelwerfer 42,
the 28/ 32 cm Nebelwerfer or later the 30 cm Nebelwerfer 42 or 56. A brigade
was described as heavy if more than one battery was equipped with the
21 cm equipment or larger (the normal werferabteilung usually had only
one 21 cm battery, if that). Thus a Heavy Brigade could consist of three 21 cm
batteries or two 21 cm batteries and one 15 cm battery. However, the brigade
HQ was often enlarged by th e addition of an extra detachment to deal with
chemical decontamination, in addition to the normal HQ units.
(3) Mountain Rocket Projector Brigade-Gebirgswerferabteilung.
Relatively few in number these units were normally equipped with the 10 cm
Nebelwerfer 35 and 40 mortars, though rocket equipment could be added for
special campaigns, eg, the 1942 Caucasus campaign.
In addition to the above there were also independent armoured projector
companies (Panzerwerferbatterie) which employed the 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42
mounted on Maultier half-tracks, These were normally organised into two
platoons, each with four projectors.
There were no established units for the Schweres Wurfgeriit 40 and 41 .
Manpower was detailed off for their use whenever they were required.
It must be stressed at this point that the Werferregimenter and small er
units were not normally part of any Army divisional establishment but were
allotted to the various armies, corps and divisions by OKH (General Head
quarters of the Armies). Only the SS Panzer Divisions (SS 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 12)
had organic Werferabteilung (each of 18 projectors) .
To return to the Regimental level, regiments like their brigades were divided
into Werferregimenter and Schweres (heavy) Werferregimenter. The W erfer
regimenter was normally comprised of a Regimental HQ and HQ battery, two
15 cm abteilung, one 21 cm abteilung and a light projector column (usually
a 15 cm detachment) for special purposes. A Schweres Regimenter was one
in which more than one abteilung was equipped with the 21 cm Nebelwerfer
42 or larger. Normal establishment for one of these heavy units was two 21 cm
or 28/32 cm (later 30 cm) abteilung and one 15 cm abteilung.
The Werferabteilung (mot) (15 em)

As the basic unit of the Nebeltruppe, the W erferabteilung needs further
explanation . Its equipment strength table is shown separately but shows that
the brigade HQ had a 'paper' battery with the usual HQ staff and anti -tank
unit. There were usually three batteries, each with six projectors, and one
3 7 cm Pak or 75 cm Pak anti-tank gun.
On the road each abteilung column covered a length of 1800 metres and
took 20 minutes to pass one point. This was on a first class road when the
column speed was 30 km/hr. On the autobahn the speed could be raised
to 40 km/ hr and lowered to 20 km/ hr for second class roads or tracks.
In action a brigade covered a front of up to 1200 m, as each battery took
350 m, although 200 m was the more usual-this reduced the front to about
800-900 m. The inherent inaccuracy of the rocket projectile meant that volume
of fire had to replace accuracy and the watchword of the Nebeltruppe was
'Klotzen, Nicht Kleckern' (roughly-'thump, don't tap'). This was shown by
the ability to fire 108 rounds in 10 seconds, and 648 in 90 seconds. Such a
volume of fire would saturate most targets and led to early reports from the
Listed below are the known units which made up the larger Nebeltruppen
formations in 1945. No priority has been given to unit seniority. The list is
not complete .
Note: s-schweres (heavy)
Stab-Staff.
Stell-Stellung (static, garrison)
(mit 21 [pz] Bttr)-with 21 battery made up of 15cm
Panzerwerfer 42 on Maultier half-tracks.
WR- Werfer Regiment.
ABOVE: Maultiers with 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42 projectors being prepared for

action during the winter of 1944. Note rhe discarded 'packkiste' at the bottom
left of the picture.
Russians that the 15 c m Nebelwerfer 41 could fire 6 rockets in five seconds
actually the firing rate was six in ten seconds.
It must be stressed that the establishments described above and in the
tables are for ideal situations. Even at the start of a campaign the manpower,
equipment and transport figures could be reduced by up to a third as a result of
sickness, maintenance, unserviceability, etc. By 1945 manpower had become so
critical that Werferregimenter consisted of two abteilung only. Transport was
another problem area and it should be borne in mind that many of the projectors
described in this book were often towed into action by horses. However most
SS units managed to maintain a higher establishment of equipment and man
power due to the preference shown to Party formations.
In September 1944, certain of the Werferabteilung were re-designated
Volks-Werferabteilung . The term had purely political overtones in view of
the impending defence of the Reich, and made no differences to establishments
or role in the Nebeltruppen.
ROCKET UNIT DESIGNATIONS

Few records remain of the Nebeltruppen (later Werfertruppe) formations.
Listed below are the known regiments which made up the Werferbrigaden
in 1945:
Werferbrigade
2 Werfer Regi menter 3, 70
4 Werfer Regi menter 51, 52, s2
Werfer Lehr Regiment 1, 2
W erfer Regimen t s 1
Werfer Abteilung 1 (with WR 54)
Werler Regiment s 2
Werfer Regiment s 3
Werfer Abteilung 3 (with WR s3)
Stab Werfer Regiment z b V 4
Werfer Abteilung 4
Werfer Abteilung 6
Werfer Abteilung 8 (with WR s 2)
Stab W erfer Regiment s b V 8
Werfer Regiment 10
Gebirgs Werfer Abteilung 10
Werfer Abteilung 11
s Werfer Regimenter 13. 14, 15
Panzer Werfer Bam 21 (with WR 57)
Panzer Werfer Battr 22 (with 15 Panzer Grenadier Div)
s Werfer Regimenter 21, 22, 26
Werfer Abteilung 31
Werfer Regimenter 38. 50, 51, 52 53
Werfer Regiment 54 (mit 21 [pz] Battr)
W erfer Regiment 55, 56
s Werfer Reg iment 57 (mit 21 [pz] Battr)
Werfer Reg iment 70 (mit 21 [pz] Battr)
Werfer Regiment 71 (Tunisia '43)
Werfer Regimenter 77,79,81,83,84,86,87,88,89
Stell Werfer Regimenter 100, 101, 102, 103
Werfer Batlerien 105
113
114
151 (with WR 70)
203
208
211
224
287 (with WR 56)
408
458
The Smoke Units that took part in the Invasion of Poland in September
1939 were Nebelabteilung 1, 2 and 5.
7 Werfer Regimenter 83, 84 (Normandy July '44)
9 Werfer
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 Werfer
17 Werfer
18 Werfer
19
20
Regimenter 14, 54
Regimenter 86, 87
Regimenter 88, ?
Regimenter 21, 22
I..-....~==..........'--";o...;;;;,...------------------r----------------~------..-
Rocket Projector Regiment (motorized)

Werferregimenter (mot)
.X
(f)
:J
Ol
UNIT
Qi
<::
_:E
(f)
Ol C1l
LO
:J
.c u
(f)
Q;
Q)
(f)
C1l
Q)
(f)
.~
Q)o0
u .o e
0::0...
~>
7
20
109
3
2
109
109
20
9
9
374
37
.X-
"(.!J
::J~
Regimental HO ......... . ... . ....

Regimental HO Battery . .. ......
Projector Battalion
31
110
555
2
20
18
Projector Battalion ........ . ...

Projector Battalion ......... . .
Light Projector Column ...... .
555
555
70
20
20
4
4
18
18
Total ... . ................. ...
1,876
62
Q)
Q)
(f)
ou
-i:
Q)
a..
12
>
54
Total strength 1,876
ABOVE: (Top) 32 em Wurfkorper MFL 50. (Bottom) 30 em Wurfkorper Spreng.
AMMUNITION ESTABLISHMENTS
(NUMBER OF ROUNDS)
Rocket Projector Battalion (motorized)

Weferabteilung (mot)
(f)
(f)
C
:J
Ol
(f)
Q)
ii
Q)
ro
UNIT
u
(f)
(f)
Q;
U
:i:
0
(f)
u
Z
~
C1l
>
a:
0
(f)
Q)
~
0::
.<;;
C1l
(f)
:J
Ol
Q,
c
.c
u
C1l
....
.c
(f)
::J
2
6
l ' j i 'I' ll llti 1IIIIIoly .. " ........... . ..
3
3
27 105 113
27 105 113
12
12
3
6
6
45
10
10
2
14 101 440 464
44
47
20
1111 ,, 1
.. . . . . . .. . . ...
45
Q)
"
a..
...
A lli""",III""" 1;"I0""n .... . . ......
a..
0
2
6
12
I', "I, " I"' 1I"II"ry
Q)
LO
3
9
10
. . . . .. . .
.e-
Ol
..0
3 10 10
12 70 70
27 105 113
1' 1111.,4 .1111 nllllllry.
:J
Ol
8u
.X
2
3
3
.............
1I"II,Ii">I' 110 . .
11"II,IiII>'1 110 l3,lttery ..... . .. . . . .
<::
t)
:J
(f)
(f)
0::
(f)
Q)
.~
.<;;
Q)
>
0
0
(f)
Q)
u>
U
0
0
3
13
31
1
2
2
6
6
31
31
2
2
18 109
Total strength 555

10
Werferabteilung (mot) (15 em)

Carried into action:
1728 explosive (80%)
432 smoke (20%)
432 explosive
ie, for each battery:
108 smoke
Sehwere Werferabteilung (mot) (21 em)
900 HE-10 salvoes
180
For light column:
360
Sehwere Werferabteilung (mot) (30 em)
600 HE-3 salvoes

120
For light column:

240
Sehwere Werferabteilung (mot) (28/32 em)

45028 cm HE
150 32 cm Incendiary
Gebirgsnebelwerferabteilung (10 em Nebelwerfer 35)
1899 HE
1269 Smoke
453 HE
For each battery:

303 Smoke
540 HE
For light column:

360 Smoke
11
.-------
:;
'"'
.' ,~.~~;c? ;.. ,:~~;,-'.:. ;.\~~~:~~%~
ABOVE: (Top to Bottom) 21 em Wurfgrenate 42 Spreng; 7.3 cm Propaganda

granare 41; 28 cm Wurfkorper Spreng (unfused) in its 'packkiste '.
ABOVE: A squad of German paratroops moves caurio usly along a road under
fire. The leading man carries a RP 43 and has a slung rifle. His No 2. behind.
carries a ro und fer rhe RP 43 in his lefr hand, and a rifle in his right. This is
at Normandy, June 1944.
UNIFORMS OF ROCKET TROOPS

The original users were the Nebeltruppe or Smoke Troops, who were dressed
in th e infantry- style uniform used by most of the technical formations of th e
German Army during World War 2: the arm of service colour was a dark
red (burgundy red) and appeared on the shoulder straps and the collar patch
(as t he base colour). The forage -c ap for other ranks had dark red piping on
the 'cuff. Camouflage smocks were occasionally worn .
Th e most prominent users of the Panzerfaust were the Fallschirmjager
or Paratroop Regiments. The cover shows an Unteroffizier (Serg ea nt) in the
slyle of dress affected by paratroopers in the Mediterranean theatre of war. The
Inll n ca mouflage smock and a canvas bandolier were peculiar to these troops
lilt : former is shown 'as issued' but this soon became bleached to a lighter
:: 11 :1(1 0. The grey-blue helmet of paratroop pattern could be covered by a loose
:;' "11 I colo ured cover. Th e single 'wing' on the upper arm denotes rank, and is
rectangular patch. Other members of the platoon using the
,,;.,,;olly lin
1""' ''t: rI ; lIl ~t c,mi ed spare rounds, often tucked into their waistbelts like the
:;111; 1, qrllll ; ld c~ th ey also carried- a somewhat more dang erous practise owing
II I 111 " lillllm sizo of th e Panzerfaust round.
The Panzerfaust was issued to normal infantry units in 1944 in lieu of

anti-tank artill ery, and also tothe Hitler Youth and the newly-created Volksturm
(Home Guard) . The latter consisted of old men, and those unable to fight in the
Wehrmacht for medical reasons. The Panzerfaust was often issued in place of
proper personal arms to these formations in last-ditch attempts to stem th e
tide of Allied armour. There w as only a token attempt at uniform in that items
of Army, Navy and Air Force uniform (principally caps and greatcoats) were
issued. An authorized armband for the Volksturm bore the words ' Deutscher
Volksturm-Wehrmacht': improvised armbands of white with black letters also
appeared with and without the word 'Wehrmacht' . No rank appears to have
been shown- th e 'officers' of these detachments were often Party leaders in
the first instance, until the close proximity of Allied troops caused them to
hand over their command to the Wehrmacht.
12
13
,I
2: Rocket
Equipment
The 15 cm Rocket
TH E 15 cm rocket was the most widely encountered and used of all the
German rocket projectiles. It came into widespread service during late 1941
and remained operational till the end of hostilities and even after 1945 remained
in service with the French forces.
The 15 cm rocket came with three basic fillings-HE, smoke and chemical.
The chemical variant was not used operationally, but was stockpiled ready for
use (18,600 were captured at H Muna 5t Georgen in 1945).
The spin stabilized rocket was of an advanced design and differed from
all other types in use at that time by having the rocket motor at the front
of the shell and the HE or smoke payload in the base. This rather odd arrange
ment was brought about to make use of the rocket motor as shrapnel when the
shell exploded . In other rocket types the motor tended to separate in one piece
on detonation and thus had little destructive effect. Placing the motor in front
of the explosive however ensured the fragmentation of the motor housing and
increased the weapo'n's anti-personnel hazard .
The motor vented through 26 angled venturi situated evenly in a ring
some two-thirds of the length down the body (see below) . Inside the
forward part of th e body were seven sticks of compresed black Diethylene
Glycol Dinitrate which made up the propelling unit. This was ignited by a
cellulose tube filled with black powder which ran the full length of the
motor. When primed by an electrical initiator placed in anyone of the 26
exhaust holes the igniter caused the propellant to burn at both ends at once
and so ensure fast and even burning which increased the motor's efficiency.
The motor weight totalled 14 Ibs and the rocket's velocity was 1,120 feet / sec.
Maximum range was 7,723 yards for HE and 7546 for smoke.
BELOW: 75 em HE Rocket with 'Tp': Tropical use stencils.
ABOVE: Inserting an ERZ 39 initiator into a ro cket in a 75 em Panzerwerfer 42.

(IWM-STT5705).
The payload was in a fibre container in the rocket's steel base. The usual
HE charge was 5~ Ib of TNT which could cause considerable blast damage.
A fuse was screwed into the base and could be either a conventional centri
fugally armed contact fuse or a time delay fuse for use on fortifications. The
charge was held separate from the motor by an iron spacer to prevent prema
ture detonation.
The rocket was usually painted dark green or grey with identifying stencils
in white or black. Length was 366 inches and weight 70 Ib for HE and 79 Ib
for smoke .
The rockets were delivered to the troops in wooden boxes each containing
one round and an initiator in a waxed cardboard tube clipped under the lid.
These initiators were known as the Elektrischer Randdusenzunder 39 or
ERZ 39.
LAUNCHERS
The 15 em Nebelwerfer 41
The 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 is still perhaps the best known of the rocket
launchers used by the Germans and was encountered on all fronts from 1942
onwards. Originally thought to be a form of mortar it earned the names of
'Moaning Minnie' or 'Screaming Mimi ' from the Allies who learned to fear
its high rate of fire and destructive powers throughout the war.
Basically the Nebelwerfer 41 (or 'Nebelwerfer d' as it was sometimes referred
to in Allied reports) was a well designed six-barrelled weapon which was
light, mobile and relatively cheap. The six 51 inch long barrels were spaced
equally round a central axis and mounted on a two wheel carriage with a
split trail and a front stabiliser plate (see photographs). The barrels could be
elevated from 5_45 and traversed 27 . Weight when ready for action was
14
15
only 1191 Ibs so only a light towing vehicle was required- usually a 3-ton
truck . The carriage was adapted from that used on th e 37 cm Pak 35/3 6 L/45.
The barrels were 16 cm in diameter with three raised guide rails about t inch
high reducing the calibre to 15 cm. Laying was effected by use of the elevation
and traverse wh eels on th e left of th e piece where a dial sight was attached
under a hinged metal box cover. Loading was carried out by two numbers
of the four-man crew each working from one side and loading the bottom
barrels first and working upwards. The rockets were held in place by spring
clips with the bases projecting (see photographs). A further spring catch was
then moved over to contact the electrical initiator in one of th e venturi. After
loading the crew retired to prepared slit trenches some 10- 15 yards away and
the rockets were fired. The rockets were fired in a set sequence (see diagram)
by electrical impulses from a hand generator and the impulses were trans
mitted to the projector along a seven-core cable to a plug and socket on the
Nebelwerfer 41 firin g diagram. Th e si x
barrels we re fired in th e follow in g
sequ ence: 1-4-6-3-5-2.
00
aGO0
BELOW: A loaded 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 captured at Bannevi/le, near Troam, on

July 20, 1944. The box on the left-hand side contains th e sigh ts. (IWM -B7783) .
ABOVE: Loading the top two rounds into a 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 . (IWM-STT5137J.

right- hand side of the mounting. From th ere the pulses were fed to the initiators
by fixed cables on the projector. Th e rockets were fired at 2-sec ond intervals
and this interval had to be judged by th e firer using the rotary hand
generator-one turn fired one rocket. All six rockets could then be fired and
reloaded in 90 second s. When fired the rockets made a distinct droning sound
and left a trail of smoke which gave rise to one of the Nebelwerfer 41 's tactical
limitations as these smoke trails were highly visible and attracted counter
battery artillery and mortar fire.
The 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 remained the sta ndard equipment of th e
Werferabteilung throughout the war .
Chemical Warfare
To complete the 15 cm details a brief mention of the projectiles intended for
chemical warfare must be mad e. The rock ets used for this purpose were 401
inches long (same length as the smoke filled Nebelgranate) . Markings on the
nose were either a series of green rings--each gree n ring acting as a code for
17
the filling-or a green cross. There were three main fillings, two variations of
mustard gas and one unidentified odourless gas, as well as phosgene which
was first used at Verdun in 1917. Doubtless there were many other agents
available.
BEL OW: Laying a 75 em Nebel werfer 47. The sight being used is probably an
Aushilfsrichtmittel38 (No 38 Auxiliary sight) . BOTTOM: Prepanng a 75 em
N ebelwerfer 47 for firing.
ABO VE: This shot of a 75 em Nebelwerfer may h ave been 'po sed' as th ere is no
cable leading to the junction box on the right-hand side of the projector. Nore
ho w ever the rocker's rransp0r/ tube under th e soldier's boot. (IWM-NA2628).
These weapons were not used operationally partly due to the great dislike
of gas by Hitler (who was himself gassed during World War I) and many of
the senior Army commanders, but more particularly to fear of retaliation by the
Allies. It was well known to the Germans that the Russians were equipped
with aircraft capable of spraying prussic acid over large areas, which would
require a great deal of protection and de-contamination activities by the
recipients. As a result many chemical filled shells and rockets were refilled
with high explosive during the latter stages of the war, but were not always
re-colour coded.
Chief Chemical Warfare adviser to the Army High Command (OKW) during
1945 was General Hermann Ochsner, General die Nebeltruppen.
15 em Do-gerat 38
The Do-geriit designation was sometimes wrongly applied by the Allies to the
Nebelwerfer 41 but in fact it applied to a projector developed for use by the
Fallschirmjiiger (the German parachute arm). It fired a single 15 cm rocket and
was designed to be dropped by parachute.
The main projector frame (Schiessrinne) waS a metal framework some 7 to
8 feet long and 6 inches square. It was supported at the forward end by a
bipod with limited elevation and traversing gear. The rear end rested on the
ground. This frame was very lightly constructed and weighed only 421b. Attach
ed to it was a dial sight, which was normally packed in a special container,
and the electrical firing mechanism and cable. The whole equipment was
designed to break down into containers for parachute dropping and then quick
nnd easy assembly for use. The rocket was then introduced from the forward
end of the frame and fired, as with the Nebelwerfer 41, from a position under
cover some 10-15 yards distant. As there was only one round to be fired a simple
two - core cable could be used with probably a light battery for an electrical
sOllrce.
19
Universal Carrier series. The original drive shaft had been shortened to drive
the forward track sprockets . Each track had its own brake controlled by two
levers on the driver's right which could be used to assist steering.
The welded armour body was TI inches thick and proof only against
small arms fire. Each vehicle carried one 7 92 mm MG 34 or MG 42 mounted
on a pintle above the cab, and the crew of three usually carried three
9 mm SUb-machine guns with 2,000 rounds of 9 mm ammunition and 2,000
rounds of 7 92 mm . As well as the ten rockets loaded in the projector another
ten were carried internally. Further rounds were carried in accompanying
Munitionspanzer Maultiers. Even with the above mentioned load the tracked
Maultier had a good cross-country performance with the 36 litre six-cylinder
engine giving a speed of 25 mph over flat ground . Some 300 were ordered.
However the Maultier was seen only as a makeshift design until the Panzer
werfer 42 could be mounted on the chassis of the Schwerer Wehrmachts
schlepper (or SWS). This came into service in late 1944. The 15 cm
Panzerwerfer was unchanged but the SWS could now carry 26 rockets
internally in addition to the t en in the projector. Overall layout was similar
to th at of the earlier Maultier, but the all-round performance was improved
and the overall height was lower (6 feet 8 inches as against 8 feet 6 inches).
The armoured version of the SWS was intended to replace the Sd Kfz 250 and
251 half-track series but the end of the war prevented this happening . It
followed the general half-track layout but had numerous improvements in
design, especially in the track.
Some SWS units were encountered from late 1944 onwards. One captured
example was found to carry, in addition to the full complement of rockets, two
8,8 cm Panzerschreck launchers, Panzerfauste, hand grenades, smoke grenades
and magnetic charges as well as the roof-mounted MG 42 and the crew's
side arms.
Allied intelligence reports mention the Pan ze rwerfer 42 being mounted on the
ABOVE: The 15 em Nebelwerfer 41 on display at the Imperial War Museum.

The Do-geriit does not appear to have been widely used and illustrations of
it are rare.
15 em Panzerwerfer 42
One of the major limitations in action of the Nebelwerfer 41 was the smoke
trail left by the rocket in flight . As already mentioned this attracted counter
bilttery activity and thus reduced the length of time a rocket battery could
slily in action before it had to withdraw. To overcome this limitation the
1':lIm,rw crfer 42 was developed to make the 15 cm projector more mobile. It
ill v() lvoci mounting ten 15 cm barrels on the roof of a lightly armoured
IVI:llilli'lr (Milk) truck manufactured by Opel. The ten barrels were arranged in
0
0
1"'11/ lilY" ,:. "r fivll ilnd the mounting had a 270 traverse and 80 elevation.
1,,,,01111 11 1:,,:1 III Ito c:mi"d out outside the vehicle so in use the vehicle fired
II 11 11 ill II (11",11,,,, illi lid o II I(: cab ) and then moved off into cover to reload.
II" , J\!l, lIlli l,'1 "III' H.'" 11 ',"e l W:1S, to give its full designation, the Sd Kfz 4/1
1'1," 1 I I! II I I VI' '' '~/:l!l lV1 , I h" ::I:IIHI:lrd commercial chassis of this vehicle had
1, ,111 11 Id ll ll,, 01 Ily '''1' 11 11 il1l1 11,\" HI: II' ilxl e wnd wheels with a Horstmann-type
1111, I' " ~II I' lI o1 jl y 11 1,,1 1111"1''''' ' '\111\ ,,"I dissimilar to that used on the British
J ()
BELOW: An Allied motor cyclist examines a captured Nebelwerfer 41 in May

1943. Note the electrical cables for flfing and the internal guide rails inside the
barre/. (IWM-NA2583).
ABOVE: Maintenance on a 75 cm Panzerwerfer 42. No te the 'G' on the hull

side which is probably a battery letter.
Sd Kfz 11 / 5 Leic hter Zugkraftwagen in 1943. No pictorial evidence of this

variant appears to survive.
After the war the French mounted captured Panze rwerfer 42 projectors on
Somua carr iers but this vehicle is beyond th e scope of this book.
In additon to the 15 cm projectors mention ed above, the 21 cm Nebel
werfer 42 cou ld also be fitted with lin er rail s to fire th e 15 cm rocket . The
30 cm Raketenwerfer 56 co uld also be so adapted.
At the end of the war experiments were being carried out by Skoda and
Krupp to investigate fin stabilisation of the 15 C!l1 rocket, and also the fitting
of hollow charge exp losive heads wa s projected. One much revised 15 cm
design was being developed at Rugenw ald e as a concrete piercing weapon.
Weighing 130 kg and about 280 cm long it cou ld be fired from a closed
breech tube or from rails. Several test firings were made but the end of the war
precluded fu rther trials.
In March 1945 it was proposed that a 12 cm rocket shou ld be designed to
replace the 15 cm rocket as an economy me as ure. Existing 15 c m projectors
would be fitted with liner rails but as with so ma ny other developments
the war ended before the project really started.
I WI! views of Maultiers carry

I IJ' cm Panzerwerfer 42
I I/lil1.'1.'1 ors. Note the leading
vI.'I 11'';/1.' III Ihe lower picture
/1.'/." IllI.' conine cooling vents
IIl11
'I If 'II .
22
23
The 21 cm Rocket
The 21 cm Wurfgrenate 42 Spreng was developed and utilised alongside the

15 cm rocket. However in appearance it resembled a conventional artillery
round as it was carefully streamlined by the addition of a false hollow nose
(ogive) which did away with the usual blunt nose of most German rockets.
Layout of the rocket was conventional ie, the motor was at the rear and the
warhead in front, both encased in a mild steel body. The motor was made up
of seven propellant sticks, each 2167 inches long, each stick 2-46 inches in
diameter. A grid trap separated the propellant from the nozzle assembly and
between the two was a tinfoil sealing disc to keep out moisture. Round th e
edge of the nozzle assembly were 22 venturi angled at 16 from the rocket
axis to impart the stabilising spin in flight. In the centre of the one-piece nozzle
plate was a hole ready to take the ERZ 39 (Elektrische Randdusenzunder 39)
initiator. When fired electrically the ERZ 39 would ignite a quickmatch relay
through the centre of the motor to the black powder igniter at the front of the
body. A small spacer ring held the igniter separate from the motor to ensure
even burning . Weight of the motor was 8775 Ib and the nozzle assembly
5 ' 12 lb. The propellant alone weighed 4025 lb.
The 90 Ib warhead shell contained 22-4 Ib of TNT and was threaded onto
the motor body. A point detonating fuse with an optional delay of 0 10
seconds was screwed into a booster cup in the nose. Connection to the fuse
was made from the false ogive by a wooden rod .
Overall length of the rocket was 4921 inches and the total weight was
241 3 Ibs. Only HE rockets appear to have been used in this calibre. Supplied
to the front line in shaped mild steel 'cage' crates, they were painted black or
dark grey with white stencilled markings.
LAUNCHERS
Originally intended to be an enlarged version of the six-barrelled 15 cm
Nebelwerfer 41 . The 21 cm Nebelwerfer 42 ended up as a five-barrelled
projector. However in all other respects it clearly resembled the 15 cm
projector and even utilised the same 37 cm Pak derived carriage.
The decision to use the five-barrel layout was made because of the better
balance and stability of the mounting when using the heavier 21 cm
ammunition.
The 4 feet 3?, inch long barrels were spaced round a central axis and held
in position by stamped steel plates-one near the breech and another
half-way to the muzzle. Elevation and traverse controls were simple and actu
ated by pressed steel wheels on the left of the carriage. Elevation was from
_5 to 45 and traverse 12 either side. As on the 15 cm equipment there
was a split trail and a stabilising plate on the front of the axle. The wheels
w ere stamped steel discs with 600/20 pneumatic tyres. Weight of the
equipment was 12 cwt (605 kg). Maximum range of the projector was 8530
OPPOSITE PAGE: A sequence showing the loading and firing of a 21 cm

Ncbelwerfer 42. (TOP) Loading-note the transport cages. (MIDDLE) Operating
the hand generator. (BOTTOM) Firing, there appears to be three projectors in
use. (/WM-STT7339).
24
yards (7850 metres) according to range tabl es but some rockets managed to
reach 1 0,000 yards on trials in North Africa.
Loading was effected from the rear. Wh en loaded the rocket rear was flush
with the end of the barrel and held in position by spring-loaded catches.
Firing was normally carri ed out electrically from a position under cover some
1 0 yards from the projector. connection to the electrical network on the barrels
being mad e by a six-core cable via a junction bo x on the right-hand side of
the mounting. The 0'3A initiating current came from a small hand generator.
For firing order see diagram.
During 1944-45 the firms of Krupp and Skoda were both experimenting
with fin stabilising of 21 cm rockets. The Germ an surrender in May 1945 ended
these experiments. Other experiments w ere also carried out with hollow-charge
warheads for the 21 cm rocket.
---) '~/---)
- . -- .
21 cm Nebelwerfer 42 firing diagram.

The five barrels were fired in the following sequence:
1 -5-3-4-2.
(
\
".-
I.
",,--
/ \ / -\
l 4 )i 3
\"---./
"'-~./
BELOW' Troops retire to cover after loading the rockets into a

21 em Nebelwerfer42. (lWM-MH34 7) .
.!
AIRCRAFT LAUNCHERS
Although strictly outside the scope of this book, mention should be made of
the fitting of 21 cm rocket launchers to fighter aircraft in an attempt to break up
the massiv e formations of 8th USAAF bombers (mainly B-17 Flying Fortresses)
which made almost daily daylight raids over the Reich from 1942 onwards.
The defensive fir e of these form ations made interception by normal fighter
armament difficult and costly, so many possible solutions were tried out and the
21 cm projector came well out of experiments.
The equipment was called the Wurfger at 21, and fired a normal 21 cm
Wurfgrenate 42 Spreng from a single 21 cm barrel hung under the wing of
a BF 109G6/ R4 fighter. To the crews the projector was known as the
'Ofenrohr' (or Dodel) (not to be confused with the 88 cm Panzerschrek) and
two were carried by each fighter, one under each wing. First issued to squad
rons during mid-August 1943 they were fired from some 800 yards behir:d the
formation and prov ed very effective. However, th e projectors slowed down the
fighter aircraft considerably and affected th e airflow over the elevators, so that
wh en long-range escort fighters such as the P-47 Thunderbolt an d P-51
Mustang came into use by the USAAF the 'Ofenrohr' was withdrawn from
use. They were used mainly by JG 1 and JG 26, both Sc hlageter units,
and the period of ma xim um success was August and September 1943.
The Fw 190A-4/ R6 was also fitted with the WG 21, as was the twin
engined Bf 11 OF-2 which could carry four tubes . A ground attack adaptation
of th e WG 21 w as tried out by Hs 129B units on the Eastern Front for use
against tanks, but was not a success. Ju 88 ground attack units also tried
the WG 21, ?gain without success.
The 28/32 cm Rockets

The first of the Ger'm an field rockets to enter service, th e 28/32 cm rccket
equipments appeared in late 1940. Compared with later rock ets they were of
poor ballistic shape but compensated for the ir relatively short range by th ei r
large payloads.
Both rockets had basically the same co nstruction and motor, and used the
same projectors but the major difference5 are best described first:
The 28 em Wurfkdrpe r Spreng
This weighed 181 Ibs and contained 110 Ibs of TNT or am atol. It could be
identifi ed by a 1 j- inch wid ') pink band round the head of the projecti le.
Length was 3 feet 11 inches.
The 32 em Wurfkdrper M FL 50
Thi s weighed 174 Ibs and co ntained 11 gallons of a mobil e brown incendiary
liquid made from a mi xture of petrol and diesel oil. The identifying band was
green and yellow. Length was 4 feet 2~ inches. Filling was carried out through
a plug behind the swell of the head .
The general appearance of the rocket can be seen from the photographs. In
both t y pes the motor was at th e rear with the la rge bulbous head containing
the proportionately large charge. Propulsion came from a 14 Ib 9 oz charge of
propellant known as dieth ylene glycol dinitrate . This substance was in a single
stick with one central hole and eight grooves spaced round the outside to
assist burning . In this hole and the grooves cellular sticks were placed to
start the burning after ignition from front and rear by two separate ignitors.
Ignition was commenced by an electrical initiator in the base . The exhaust
27
gases vented through 26 1 cm jets inclined 14 0 right to impart spin to the rocket
in flight . Diameter of the motor was 14 cm. For tropical use the exhaust end of
the motor was sealed with aluminium foil or a mild steel plate. 'European'
rounds were left unprotected.
The fuse on the 28 cm was of the point-detonating or graze action type.
A safety pin was fitted which had to be removed before firing. After firing, two
centrifugal bolts armed the fuse. Fusing for the 32 cm rocket was similar.
Both types were contained in a wood or metal crate known as a
'packkiste'. They were designed to be fired from this crate and the crate also
served as storage and cnrrying containers. Maximum range for the 28 cm was
2337 yards and 2217 yards for the 32 cm. Minimum range was 1019 yards.
LAUNCHERS
Simplest of all of the 28 / 32 cm projectors was the carrying crate. Each crate had
small hinged legs on its base and these could be used for small elevation correc
tions after the front of the crate had been positioned on an earth mound or low
wall. Laying was completed by simply pointing the round at its target. The
safety pin was then removed and the rocket fired electrically by a hand genera
tor after the user had taken cover some 10-15 yards away. Single rou nds used
in this way were of great assistance in demolishing strong-points and bunkers
in the path of attacking infantry units but accuracy was not of a high order and
only large targets could be usefully engaged . However the large explosive or
incendiary charge was devastating in its effect.
The Schweres Wurfgerat 40 and 41

The Schweres Wurfgeriit 40 and 41 w ere two tYP3S of the same static launching
frame to hold four 28 or 32 cm rockets in their crates ready for firing. The
only differences between the two types wns that the Schweres Wurfgeriit
BEL OW: Schweres Wurfgeriit emplaced and loaded ready for the assault on
Sebas tap ol, 1942.
ABOVE: (Top) Schweres Wurfgerat 40. (B ottom) Schweres Wurfgeri':t 41.

40 was made of wood and weighed 115 Ib while the 41 model was metal
and weighed 243 lb. Both were simple frames with the front legs adjustable
for elevation. Four crates were laid on top and after connecting up the initi
ators in the rocket base centres the equipment was ready for action. As always,
firing was carried out from a position under cover but the Schweres Wurfgeriit
was often used in remotely controlled batteri es to cover approaches to a de
fended position or emplaced to lay down a rocket barrage during an attack .
All four rockets could not be fired at once, but at 2-second intervals.
29
This delay was introduced automatically by means of a device known as th e

GILikzundkette 40 mV. It was in fact made up of lengths of a delay composition
in plug assemblies to each rocket. An electrical pulse from a standard hand
generator fired one rocket and the delay composition then acted as a slowmatch
to fire off the other rockets after 2, 4 and then 6 seconds. The cableform ends
were identifiable by metal tags and labelled 4,0,2,6 (seconds) from left to right as
this was the correct firing order, ie, 3-1-2-4. The required firing current was
OA amperes.
Laying the Wurfgeriit frames was effected by setting up the frame facing the
target and then setting the elevation angle by using a hand clinometer on the
motor body (as shown in the pl1otograph). The front of the frame was then
raised or lowered until the appropriate angle was obtained and the adjustable
frame front legs were locked in position. If the rockets were already on the
frame up to four men were needed to carry out this task. A range and elevation
table is shown separately.
The Schweres Wurfgerat 41 could also be used to fire 30 cm rockets from
their transport crates.
The WG 28
As the war in Russia progressed, it bacame appa rent that the Russian tank
forces were becoming more powerful as time ran out for the opposing Panzer
BEL O W A Czech officer using a hand clinometer to determine th e correct
elevation of a Sch w eres Wurfgerat 41; up to f our men were n eeded to hold the
frame in place b efore clamp ing. (IWM-81 5 103).
Extract from range tables for 28/32 cm Rocket

Projectors 40 and 41
(Schwere Wurfgerat 40 und 41)
28cm HE Rocket
Range
m
Elevation
mils
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
1925
68
92
116
140
165
192
219
248
278
311
344
379
417
460
509
569
659
698
50% zone
breadth
length
m
m
Correction
for drift
mils
+ 5
+ 7
+ 8
+10
+ 11
+ 13
+ 15
+ 17
+ 19
+21
+23
+26
+ 28
+ 31
+ 35
+ 39
+ 45
+48
160
160
150
150
150
150
150
140
130
120
110
90
80
80
80
20
20
20
30
30
40
40
40
50
50
60
70
80
90
90
,,,_ , ,. 0
32cm Incendiary Rocket

400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
2100
2200
30
78
98
118
140
162
185
208
233
259
286
314
344
375
409
447
490
540
602
800
+ 7
8
+ 10
+ 12
+13
+ 15
+17
+ 19
+ 21
+ 23
+ 26
+28
+30
+ 33
+36
+40
+ 44
+49
+ 60
31
170
170
170
170
180
180
180
180
170
160
150
140
120
110
100
100
100
20
20
20
30
30
30
40
40
50
50
60
60
70
80
80
90
110
units. To try and stem the armoured flood, many airborne weapons were
experimented with, and amongst them was a tube-launched adaptation of the
28 cm rocket. known as the Werfer Gerat 28 (or WG 28) . This launcher was
mounted under the wings of both the Hs 129B and an undesignated Ju 88,
unofficially known as the Ju 88N or Ju 88Nbwe. In both cases the WG 28
was not a success, probably due to its drag-inducing large frontal area and the
generally poor accuracy of the 28 cm rocket. As a result of the experiments
both types of aircraft were adapted to carry the 75 cm Kwk 39 anti-tank gun.
Another type of aircraft that attempted to use the WG 28 operationally was
the Focke-Wulf F 190F-8. These aircraft were flown by SchlachtflieJer' units
on the Eastern Front but the results were not encouraging and the units went
on to try other tank-busting methods. In service with these units the WG 28
was referred to as the Werfer-Granate 28/ 32 .
BELOW: Laying a 28/32 cm Nebel werfer 41 . The mushroom shaped objects

on top are used to hold the rockets in p lace when the top flap is hinged forw ards
and do w n for transportation. Note the cable from the firing position to the
connection box and the l eads to th e rocket initiator. (I WM -STT5560) .
AB OVE: A 28 /32 cm N ebelwerfer 41. N ote the junction box on the nearside
The 28/32 em Nebelwerfer 41

To give the 28/ 32 cm rockets more mobility than that afforded by the
Schweres Wurfgerat 40 and 41 the Nebelwerfer 41 was developed. This con
sisted of a two-wheeled trailer towed into action by a Sd Kfz 1 O/1-ton half
tracked vehicle. On this trailer was mounted six open steel frames in two
superimposed rows of three. Each of the six frames was contoured to hold one
32 cm rocket and lin er rails were provided for use with 28 cm rockets. Elevation
and traverse mechanism was provided for use by the layer who stood by or sat
on the left-hand mudguard and used a small dial sight fixed to the launcher
framework. These sights were covered by a hinged metal flap when not in use .
In action the launcher was held rigidly in position by two jacks in front of the
launcher rails and a small trail spade. The trail was not split-a feature which
differentiates the Nebelwerfer 41 from the similar 30 cm Raketenwerfer 56.
Traverse for the Nebelwerfer 41 was 30 and elevation from 0 to 45 . Weight
was 2,460 lb . Ranges were the same as that for the Schweres Wurfgerat 40
and 41.
Firing was effected electrically. The connection box was on the right-hand
side of the projector. For an initiator the Steckzunder 40 was used. This was
a simple plug screwed into the centre of the rocket base . Two 13 inch long
insulated leads leading from it were then connected to the fixed electrical
circuitry on th e launcher. The Steckzunder 40 was carried separately from other
ammunition in sealed cardboard cartons, each holding 16 initiators ready for
use. Rockets were fired in the order shown in the diagram.
The 28/ 32 cm Nebelwerfer 41 was one of the projectors used by the
Heavy Rocket Projector Battalions (motorised) (Schwere Werferabteilung
(mot) of the SS and Army divisions. They saw extensive service in Russia.
28 / 32 cm Nebelwerler 41 firing diagram. The

six crad les were fired in the foll o w ing sequence :
2-5-1-3-4-6.
33
000
000
ABOVE: A Russian soldier holds a meter rule against a 28/32 cm Nebel

w erfer 41. In the foreground are two 28cm rockets - one unfused and one in
its 'packkiste. In front of the launcher are the 28 cm liner rads. not needed for
the two visible 32 cm rockets loaded in the launcher. In the background can
be seen a 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41. (IWM-21024J.
The Schweres Wurfrahmen 40

One of the lessons learned from the early campaigns of 1939-40 was the need
for heavy support fire for the forward elements of the Panzer divisions. At that
time much of the Wehrmacht artillery was still conventional in form and towed
by horse or truck. This was too slow and lacked cross-country ability so
alternative means had to be found. One solution, and the most widely used,
was the Sturmgeschiitze series of mobile guns on a wide variety of tracked
chassis. The half-tracks were also involved in this new concept but they were
mainly too light to effectively mount the heavy weapons needed. To rectify
BELOW: A poor qualilV battlefield shot of an Sd Kfz 251/1 in action. This

vehicle was sometimes called 'SlUka zum fuss' -'Infantrv Stuka'.
IUOVE: An Sd Kfz 251 /1 firing its last rocket during the fighting in Stalingrad. Note the empIV crates.
...
- :..-.-
ABO VE: A captured Sd Kfz 251 with the S WR 40 frames clearly visible. The
swivelling pla tes and clamps are sho wn at varying angles. (I WM -NA 10436) .
this the Schweres Wurfrahmen 40 was designed by the J.Gast KG. of Berlin
Lichtenberg during 1940 for mounting on the Sd Kfz 251 or 251 / 1. The end
result meant that the relatively light half-track could pack a punch harder than
many of its heavier, co stlier and more complex counterparts (though not as
accurately) .
In it's final form the Schweres Wurfrahmen 40 (or SWR 40) enabl ed th e
Sd Kfz 251-or more commonly the 251 / 1-to carry si x 28 / 32 cm rockets
in their crates on a frame designed to carry three projectil es on each side of
the vehicle. The rockets were attached to a plate on this frame still in their
carryi ng crate and they were fired from the crate. Each pivoting plate could be
elevated between 5 and 45 and a scale was provided for laying along with a
fixing clamp.
The rockets were not loaded on to the Wurfrahmen until required-otherwise
the width of the vehicle could become awkward. In transit, the six rockets were
stowed inside the vehi c le. Normally the load consisted of five 28 cm rockets
and one 32 cm incendiary. In action the vehicle was directed nose first
towards the target (no other traverse control was provided), brakes were
applied, the crates ('packkiste') loaded, th e plate elevated to the required angle
and then clamped into position . The crew th en retired to cover some 10 yards
distant for firing. Extra rounds could be carried in follow - up half-tracks or
lorries. Once the rockets had been expended or even not required further the
Sd Kfz 251 / 1 could still carry out its numerous tasks while retaining the
SWR 40. The normal armament of 2MG 34 s was retained and in some cases
the forward MG 34 was replaced by a 2 cm KwK 30 or KwK 38 .
Schw eres Wurfr ahmen 40 firing

diagram. The si x crad les w ere fired in
Ihe foll owing sequ ence : 1-2-3- 4-5 -6.
36
There were two sub-types of the SWR 40-the A and B, but these app ear
to have differed only in the electrical firing circuits on the frames, and even
then only in the connections to the initiator. The Type A used for an initiator
the Steckzunder 40, as used in the 28/32 cm Nebelwerfer 41. However the
Type B used the similar Druckknopfzunder 42 which differed mainly in having
press stud terminal s on the ends of th e leads. Like th e earlier initiator, it was
issued in sealed cardboard cartons containing 16 items.
The six rockets could be fired in ten seconds. The acco mpanying diagram
shows the firing order.
Sd Kfz 251 half-tracks carrying the SWR 40 were widely used in Russia ,
especially during the sieges of Stalingrad and Leningrad. They were also
encountered in Tunisia, Sicily, Italy and NW Europe.
One other vehicle that carried the SWR 40 was th e French built Infantrie
Schlepper UE(f) . This was one of the small infantry carriers captured during
the 1940 campaign and held in reserve by th e Wehrmac ht until late 1943 when
the growing threat of Allied inv asion in North France led to the improvisation
of many types of mobile weapons on French cha ssis. Small numbers of the UE
carriers were adapted to carry four launchers, two on each side. With a crew
of two or three internal rocket stowage must have been minimal. Aiming and
firing methods were th e same as that described for the full SWR 40 . It is not
known how many vehicles w ere converted . Weight of th e vehicle with the racks
fitted was 1 75 tons.
The 30cm Rocket

Of all the large field rockets, the 30 cm roc ket was the largest and the latest
to see service. It ben efited from earlier experienc e in that it employed an
enlarged 15 cm motor and its launchers were similar to, and in two cases
the same as, those employed by the 28/ 32 cm rocket.
In appearance it was much more streamlined than the clum sy-looking 28/ 32
cm family, but apart from that they were similar in concept, ie, the rocket
motor was at the rear and the proportionately large warhead w as at the front .
There the resemblance ended for the 30 cm Wurfkiirper 42 Spreng (or
Wurfkiirper Spreng 4491) weighed 277 Ib of which 100 Ib was the amatol
bursting charge. The propellant weight was just over 33 Ib which meant a
higher payload to motor w eight rati o than other German field rocket types and
this resulted in a ma ximum range o f 6000 metres (6562 yards) though the
BELOW: A Wurfrahm en 40 armed Sd Kfz 2 51/1 rea dy for action. No te the

comman der's stereo scopic binoculars.
normal fighting range was from 400 - 5500 metres (437-6015 yards) . Overall
length was a fraction over 4 feet.
The 30 cm rocket appears to have used high explosive fillings only. They
were painted black with white stencilled letters round the nose to denote filling
and batch number.
As already mentioned the motor was an enlarged version of the successful
15 cm motor. The motor was 22-! inches long and 8-! inches wide and contained
in a steel tube 0-43 inches thick. Seven sticks of Hydro-cellulosepulver made
up the propellent which vented through the base venturi block consisting of
18 holes angled 1242' to rotate the projectile. This venturi-block had a central
hole into which the initiator was permanently fixed . In the event of a misfire
however, the initiator could be unscrewed and replaced by a new item . When
fired electrically the initiator ignited a small gunpowder pellet which in turn
ignited a celluloid tube which ran centrally along the motor to the maintainer.
The maintainer started the main motor charge as normal, but the maintainer
was held from the charge sticks by a wire mesh grid, introduced to prevent
damage or premature firing of the motor if the rocket was accidentally dropped
or knocked.
LAUNCHERS
Like the 28 / 32 cm rocket the 30 cm rocket was issued to the front line in
a wooden carrying crate or 'packkiste'. This could also be used as a launching
rack but was not often so employed.
Also like the 28/32 cm series the Schweres Wurfgerat 41 was used in a
BELOW: 30 cm rocke ts in flight. N ote the relative absence of smoke.

(IWM-S TT5572J,
A BOVE: Cam ouflaging a 30 cm Nebelwerfer 42 prior to its use in a barrage. Th e

end result can be seen in the left backgroun d.
purely static or defensive role, as a launching ramp for the 30 cm projectile .
For details of the Schweres Wurfgerat 41 see the section on the 28 / 32 cm
rockets.
Following similarity to the 28 / 32 cm, the 30 cm Nebelwerfer 42 was an

enlarged version of the 28 / 32 cm Nebelwerfer 42. The only real difference was
in the w elded steel projectors which were re-contoured and longer to take the
30 cm ammunition . In addition the two front stabiliser jacks were not always
fitted . Laying, firing and firing sequence was the same as the 28 / 32 cm
Nebelwerfer 41 .
The 30 em Raketenwerfer 56
On this projector the launching rails remained th e same as on the 30 cm Nebel

werfer 42 but the carriage was adapted from the 5 cm Pak 38 anti-tank gun
carriage. This was of the split-trail type. The two trails were tubular and split
to 56 inches between the trails. On each trail was a brake lever connected by
a cable to the wheel. The 162 inches diameter wheels had solid rubber tyres
and were made up of pressed steel discs. The axle was mounted on yokes
. hinged to the carriage and mounted on transverse leaf spring suspension. When
the trail was spread this leaf spring was compressed and this stabilised the
carriage.
Apart from the normal towing eye at the end of the trail arms, a second eye
was provided on the carriage under the projector frame so that other projectors
could be added to form a chain (see photograph on page 41). In the photo
graph the towing vehicle is a 'Maultier' Munitionspanzer but many other
methods of towing could be used including horses.
As on other rocket projectors the sights were on the left along with the
39
elevating (from 0 _65 ) and traverse (40 ) controls. However, apart from the
normal dial sight an open fixed sight calibrated from 100-1000 metres (110
1093 yards) was also provided .
As mentioned in the section on the 15 cm rocket the 30 cm Raketenwerfer
56 could be adapted to fire the 15 cm projectile. Liner rails could be inserted
into th e 30 cm projectors and when not in use, these rails were stacked and
secured onto the launcher frames (se e photographs) .
BEL OW: A 30 em N ebelw erfer 42. No te the open box at th e left- hand side
w hich covers the sights w hen n ot in use.
ABO VE: Three abandoned 30 em Raketen w erfer 5 6s in front of munition

spanzers al Oelle in Ap ril 1945. On top of the proj ectors are stacked th e 15 em
liner rails. (I WM - BU3430) .
The 30 cm Raketenwerfer 56 entered service during 1944 and remained in
use on all fronts until the end of hostilities.
The 8 cm Rocket
The sharp division of status and establishment between the regular Wehrma cht
and units of the Waffen 55 even went down to equipment and weapon level.
Thus it is not surprising to discover that although the 55 units also used the
standard field rocket equipments, they developed and used a different type of
rocket for issue to their formations alone. This rocket was the 8 cm Raketen
sprenggranate, developed from a projectile originally intended for aircraft use,
and which differed from most of the larger field rockets in being fin stabilised
instead of spin-stabilised . It has been suggested that this form of rocket was
adopted after experience under bombardment from the Russian 'Katyusha'
projectors and the resemblance between the 8 cm rocket and its Russian
counterparts was close .
Actually, the diameter of the rocket was 78 mm, and the overall length was
27 7 inches (703 mm) . Weight was 15 Ib 3 oz . At th e rear, four fins raised
the diameter to 7875 inches (200 mm) . The propellant used was six cordite
sticks which were electrically primed and ignited by two gunpowder discs.
Exhaust gases vented through a single 20 mm base venturi. Motor weight was
10 Ib (4 ' 54 kg). The warhead was formed of three perforated pellets of pressed
flake TNT weighing 11b 5t oz (610 gms) . Arming of the warhead was effected
partially by the burning propellant which melted a soh metal disc and allowed
the detonator to approach a centrifugally-released striker, ready for the nose
impact fuse to set off the warhead. Maximum range of the 8 cm rocket was
5796 yards (5300 m) with a velocity of 950 f/sec. A smoke carrying version
was also used .
The main launchers for this rocket were the mUltiple projector known as the
8 cm R-Veilfachwerfer which could fire up to 45 rockets in one salvo, and the
single Mantlerohr. Both launchers were of the rail variety and resembled current
Russian equipment. In both types the rocket lay on rails supported by four
metal studs, two on each side of the rocket body.
40
41
ABOVE: An 8 cm Raketensp renggranate. N ote the leads run ning from the base
to the firing circuit.
The performance of the 8 cm fin-stabilised rocket in action as opposed to
the more complex 'spinners' added further fuel to the arguments between the
SS and the Army, and in early 1944 a meeting was held in Berlin to decide
the matter. Their decision was that the 8 cm rocket was superior to the 15 cm
series but Hitler himself overruled any change-over in production rates and
ordered large scale field trials of the two equipments which were never com
pleted . In retrospect it seems likely that the decision in favour of the 8 cm was
largely a political one in view of the gradual and insidious policy of the SS
in taking over every part of the war effort of the Third Reich-a policy which
culminated in SS control of the V-weapon campaign and even eventually the
Wehrmacht itself.
The 10 em Nebelwerfer
35 and 40
10 em N ebelwerfer 35
10 cm Wurfgranate 35 Spreng
HE
10 cm Wurfgranate 35 Nebel
Smoke
10 cm Wurfgranate 35 Nebel S
Incendiary 10 cm Wurfgranate 35 Brenn
10 em Nebelwerfer 40
10 cm Wurfgranate 40 Spreng
HE
10 cm Wurfgranate 40 Nebel
Smoke
10 cm Wurfgranate 40 Nebel S
10 cm Wurfgranate 40 wKh Nebel
Weights varied-for a rough guide the 35 Nebel weighed 16 Ib while the
40 Nebel weighed 219 lb.
Chemical-filled rounds (other than smoke) were available but not used.
20 mm Luftfaust
By late 1944 Allied air supremacy was so overwhelming that drastic anti-air
craft measures were being contemplated by all arms of the German forces . Some
of these measures involved anti-aircraft rockets which are beyond the scope of
thi s book, as they primarily concerned the anti-aircraft arms. However, one
stop - gap solution can be mentioned here, as it concerns a projector intended
for issue to front-line troops who were especially troubled by the activities of
ground attack aircraft such as the Ilyushin 11-2, P-47 Thunderbolt and Typhoon
or Tempest. This equipment iNas known as the Luftfaust or Fliegerfaust. In the
event the war ceased before it saw field service, but large numbers had been
manufactured and were ready for issue.
The equipment was designed for quick, simple and cheap manufacture. The
shoulder-mounted projector consisted of nine drawn steel-tubes-eight spaced
The Nebelwerfer 35 and 40 are included as they constituted the first equipment
of the Chemical Warfare troops. They were not rocket equipments but large
mortars.
First issued to the Nebelabteilung in late 1935 the 10 cm Nebelwerfer 35
was an enlarged version of the 8 cm Schwere Granatenwerfer 34 mortar.
Five men formed the crew in action and the 228 Ib weight of the complete
weapon could be transported by pack-animal, two-wheeled handcart or
sledge. Rate of fire was of the order of 12-15 rounds per minute. Range wa s
3025 m. In 1939 the Nebelwerfer 35 was the standard equipment of the
Nebelabteilung during the Polish campaign and was also issued to the
Gebirgswerferabteilung (mountain rocket projector brigades) .
The 10 cm Nebelwerfer 40 was a much heavier and more complex weapon .
It embodied a recoil mechanism as the projectile was loaded via a breech
block and fired by percussion as in a normal artillery piece--however the
high elevation and trajectory of a mortar was retained, and the barrel remained
smooth bored. Weight was 1730 Ib which meant that the piece had to be
towed on its wheeled carriage, usually behind a light truck or by men across
country. Range was increased to 6225 m and the firing rate was 8-10 rounds
@@
@@@
@@@
per minute.
AMMUNITION
The Nebelwerfer 35 and 40 both had a calibre of 105 cm but fired differing
ammunition- however, the Nebelwerfer 35 could fire the generally heavier
Nobolwerfer 40 rounds. A list of the various types follows :
42
20 mm (-79 in) H. E. (~) ROCKET PROJECTOR (LUFTFAU5T)

43
a circle round one central tube. These nine tubes were held securely in
place by four identical stamped steel plates. Each plate had an integral sleeve
to make the structure really rigid and the two end plates were welded in
position- the other two were friction fitted and held in place by the firing
In
assembly.
The nine rounds were pre-loaded in ready-spaced clips 50 that the clip could
be fitted directly into the projector. Pre-spacing of the individual rounds was
effected by two further steel plates similar but lighter, to those spacing the
tubes on the projector. Rounds were held fixed in position by wire spring
clips on the base plate of the clip while the front plate was 'floating', so that
when the rounds were introduced into the projector and pushed home the front
plate was push ed back onto the base. After pushing home the clip was rotated
slightly and this locked the unit in position. A handle on the clip was provided
for the use of the loader.
The nine rockets were fired in two batches-one of four and then one of
five with an 02 second delay between salvoes. This delay was brought about
by a delay pellet inserted in the initiators of the second group.
To fire the rockets the projector was held on the shoulder against a folding
shoulder-rest and held by two folding hand-grips (both grips and rest were
simple stampings) . Sighting was by fixed open sights on the left-hand of the
projector. In front of the rear hand-grip was the trigger which when released
allowed a spring-loaded rod to energize an impulse magneto . The resultant
pulse was transmitted to the rocket clip by a wire via a plug connection to the
clip. Earth return was via another plug. On the clip itself connections were
made to each rocket from two insulated collector rings . Safety was effected by
turning the forward hand-grip out of line from the spring-loaded rod which
I'
prevented it energizing the magneto.

Each rocket had a warhead which was in fact a standard 20 mm HE shell
already in wide use with all arms of the services. The motor was made up of a
single diglycol stick in a steel tube crimped onto an annular groove on the
shell. Ignition was through a central hole in the venturi plate with the exhaust
venting through four equally spaced venturis angled at 45 and the central
venturi already mentioned. The igniter cartridge was crimped onto the motor
base. A self - destructing contact fuse was fitted to the shell nose.
Each basic equipment was issued in a wooden crate weighing 95 lb. Inside
was one launcher and eight pre-loaded clips each in a fibre container. No pre
preparation was needed before use apart from unpacking .
Production of the Luftfaust was initiated in early 1945 and mainly carried
out in small workshops manned by unskilled labour, including women and
children . Some 10,000 units had been completed by the cessation of
hostilites but few if any were issued and there is no record of any being
encountered by Allied aircrews.
The Luftfaust would indeed have been a formidable defensive weapon if
employed in large enough numbers. It was probably the earliest ancestor of
the personal ground-to-air missile systems of today- one of which is Blowpipe
and another Redeye.
Luftfaust Rocket Details
Total weight of clip .... .... ........ .. .. .. .. .... .... .. ...... .. 5t Ib
Weight of one round

.. .... .... .............. .. ..
.. ... .250 grams (8'8 oz)
Weight of shell ..... ... ....... .. .... . ...... ... .. .. ........... .. 110 grams (3 ' 9 oz)
Weight of propellant.. .. . .. ..
.. .. .. ........ .. .. .... .40 7 grams (1 -4 oz)
Length of round less igniter ......... .. ............. .... ..... 9 inches
44
Velocity of rocket .. . . . . . . . . .... . .. . ..... . . .... ..... .. ........ 280-310 metres/sec

Rotational velocity 40 metres
from muzzle
. . ..... .... .. ............... ..... ...... 26,000 rpm
Effective range ..... ...... . .. .................. .. .......... .... 230-550 yards
Maximum range .. ... . . .. .. ..... . .. ...... .... ... .. . . ............ 2,200 yards
Average dispersion ....... . ... . . . . . .. . . ...... . . . . ... ... . . ... 10%
Fuse . ............ . ..... ... ...... .. ...... . ... .. .... .. ....... . ... .Contact with self
destruct facility.
Luftfaust Projector Details
Total weight .... .. ..... .... ....
. .... ...... ............ 14tlb
Overall length ...... .. ............ . .... .. .. . ......... .... .... 51 t inches
.. .. .. i inches
Diameter of each tube .. .. . ..... .. .... .. .
Overall diameter at breech ..... .. .. .. .. .... . .. . .. . ... ......... 5j inches
The 7 3 cm Rockets
The first appearance of the 7 '3 cm rocket was in late 1941 when it was used
in the somewhat unconventional role as a propaganda spreading device. Instead
of an explosive or smoke warhead the 73 cm rocket carried propaganda
leaflets which were expelled from the rocket in flight to flutter down over
enemy positions. The rocket used for this role was known as the Propaganda
granate 41 (or Propagandageschoss) and was a conventional rocket 16 1 inches
long. Total weight of the rocket was 7 Ib 2 oz of which 1 Ib was the propellant
and the leaflet payload weighed only 8 oz.
After firing the diglycol dinitrate propellant exhaust was directed through
seven angled venturis in the base and a time fuse burned through to a small
black powder bursting charge in the rocket's centre. When the charge burst
it forced apart the two halves of the forward half of the rocket body lengthways
and released a spring round which the leaflets were wrapped thus scattering
the leaflets.
The launcher used for this rocket was the 7'3 cm Propagandawerfer 41,
which was a simple and light (25 Ib) single-round frame. It consisted of a steel
tube base-frame on which was mounted the angle -iron launching trough,
pivoted at its base. This trough frame was 29~ inches long, and elevated by
an arm from the trough to the base-frame. In use the base was held firmly in
place by three fixed spades welded to the underside of the base frame. The
launching trough was raised to the desired elevation and clamped into place,
after which the rocket could be loaded. Unlike most other German field rockets
the 7'3 cm series employed percussion firing, so the Propagandawerfer 41
employed the mortar principle. The rocket was laid on the trough and held
20 inches away from the base striker by a release lever. Attached to this
lever was a cord which enabled the firer to take the necessary cover some
distance from the launcher. On release the rocket slid down the trough ont"
the fixed striker which ignited the percussion primer in the rocket's base.
The Propagandawerfer was employed by special units (Propagandatruppen)
trained to undermine the morale of the enemy front-line troops. What effect the
leaflets distributed by such an expensive device had on the enemy is difficult
to determine but doubtless the paper was put to good and time-honoured uses.
45
THE 73 em MULTIPLE LAUNCHERS
wide rocket dispersal and thus cover a very wide area. Each row could be
individually cocked and all rows fired together. Limited elevation controls were
provided .
It seems extremely likely that this device used the 73 cm rocket, and that
this form of projector was in fact a 'one-off' device or even a field 'lash-up', as
it appears that only one was ever captured and no mention of it appears in
German accounts.
The development of the 73 cm rocket for propaganda purposes alone made

for rather an expensive exercise at a time when Germany's limited resources
were feeling the strain of producing large amounts of war material so it is
not surprising that the 7 3 cm motor was adapted to carry a more offensive
warhead. In this form it was renamed the 73 cm Raketensprenggranate and
utilised mainly as an anti-aircraft weapon. However it was also used against
ground targets and thus comes into the scope of this book.
The 73 cm R Sprgr weighed 6 Ib (2'74 kg) and was 11 ,09 inches
(28'2 cm) long . Of this length the motor made up 5 392 inches and as
before the propellant was a one-piece charge weighing just over 1 Ib and
venting through seven base venturii. The 062 Ib (280 grams) bursting charge
in the warhead was made up of two possible fillings. One filling, coded '95'on
the casing was known as 'cyclonite/TNT (60/40)'. A later variant of this was
coded 'H5+Fp02' and made up of 55% cyclonite, 40% TNT and 5% wax
(cyclonite is a form of RDX) . As the rocket was primarily intended as an anti
aircraft weapon it carried a self destructing charge in the nose fired by a ~ inch
long tracer chain ignited from a relay in the warhead base. This relay was set
off by the rocket igniter. Normally the warhead was set off by a point detonat
ing nose fuse known as the Raketenaufschlagzunder 51 (RAZ 51) which
was adapted from the fuse used in standard 20 mm ammunition , The un
painted rockets were finished in a matt dark grey or black anti-corrosion coating.
A 1 inch wide yellow band was painted round the rocket body and on the
warhead was painted a large white 'R' and charge details, also in white.
The main launcher for this rocket was the Fohn Geriit, which could be
either mobile or fixed. It consisted of 35 31 inch long launching rails mounted
in a box formation of seven superimposed rows of five. As was to be expected
of an anti-aircraft weapon 360 traverse was provided and elevation was from
-10 to 90. Sighting was carried out from an armoured box, fitted with a
transparent plastic window, mounted to the left of the racks. The sights
themselves were designed for both anti-aircraft and ground target use and a
rudimentary rear and foresight was provided for rapid pointing . All thirty-five
rockets were fired in one salvo, provided the two safety devices were cleared,
by firing pins behind each rail.
The mobile version of the Fohn Geriit was mounted on an adapted 37 cm
anti-aircraft gun two-wheeled trailer. Fixed mounts were set up on sheet iron
or concrete platforms . Some of these mountings were used to cover river
crossings at Satzvoy, Unkel and Hahn,
At the time of the German collapse development work was being carried
out on 3-,5-,7- and 24-barrel projectors for the 73 cm rocket . Each barrel
was hexagonal so various barrel combinations could be easily assembled . For
the 3-,5- and 7-barrellaunchers the barrel length was 100 cm (39'37 inches)
while the 24-barrel version was to be 55 cm (21'65 inches) long . Each barrel
held three guide rails and spring clips held the rocket in position 20 cm from
the rear. On the 24-barrel version the barrels were open leaving only the
rail 'skeleton' along most of its length . Apparently the 3-barrel weapon was
intended for one-man use and a 50 x 50 cm shield was provided for firer
protection .
One further launcher remains to be mentioned. This is the unusual device
referred to in Allied Intelligence reports as the 75 cm Multiple Fortress Rocket
Projector. It consisted of four rows of seven barrels mounted on a low, two
wheeled trailer. The four rows were at slightly different elevations to give a
During the latter months of 1943 a new weapon appeared almost simultane
ously on both sides of the conflict. On the American side the new weapon was
known as the Launcher, Rocket, M1 and fired a small rocket 236 inch in
diameter. The German equivalent fired a 8 8 cm rocket and was known as the
88 cm Raketenpanzerbuchse, Both of these relatively light rocket grenades
could knock out any tank then in service-provided it was close enough, for
both weapons could fire their missiles effectively up to only just over 100 yards,
However the destructive power of the warheads owed less to their impact
and explosive powers than to the nature of the warhead which was a 'shaped
charge' employing the 'Munroe effect'.
This 'Munroe effect' was discovered by an American explosives expert,
Professor Charles E. Munroe, as far back as 1887. Very basically a hole could
be blown, or more accurately burned, through armour plate by having an air
gap between a bursting charge and the plate at the time of the explosion,
The bursting charge is held contained in a steel casing with the front only
lightly covered with thin sheet steel. An air gap is deliberately formed
by making a conical depression in the explosive and the nose is tapered only
for streamlining and holding the impact fuse at the correct distance from the
charge. The fuse when firing thus ignites the charge which is then 'focused'
forward and spends all its destructive energy on the impact region. In practice
this meant that early rocket grenades could burn a hole in up to 8?, inches of
armour plate.
Despite the Munroe effect being widely known little use was made of it
before World War 2. The German firm of Westfalisch-Anhaltische Sprengstoff
Aktiengesellschaft did some research on shaped charges and developed them
for mining purposes from 1912 onwards. Military uses were not investigated
deeply until early in World War 2 when the destructive effect was enhanced
by lining the shaped charge with thin sheet steel to be carried along in a
vaporised state by the force of the explosion , This vapour added to the
burning effect. Other metals can be used for this liner, examples being zinc
and lead, and as some metals give better results than others much experimenta
tion was carried out with various alloys. For maximum effect the charge must
go off at an optimum distance from the plate so the shaped charge is not often
used on high velocity projectiles but on relatively slow moving ones or fixed
mines or charges. Thus the rocket was selected for use against tanks and
the 'bazooka' launcher developed. It is interesting to note that the British also
developed a spaced charge missile but chose to fire it from the PlAT launcher
which was a spigot mortar.
In time the Munroe effect became known as the 'Hollow Charge' effect.
46
47
The 8-8 cm Rocket Grenades
The 88 em Raketenpanzerbuehse Grenate 4322

This was the first German rocket grenade to see widespread service and weighed
7 26 lb. Other marks followed the same basic design so only this variant will
be described in detail.
Length was 2556 inches and the missile was stabilised by drum fin s at the
rear. The main bursting charge was in the bulbous warhead and weighed 1 Ib
72 oz made up of 41 2% TNT and 588% cyclonite. This combination of
explosives was known as cyclotol. Cavity lining was of 0 15 mm thick mild
steel plate. The detonator for the charge wa's embedded in the rear of the
charge and the nose fuse was of the AZ5095 type which had a functioning
time of 0 0002 seconds. Inside the tubular steel body was the propellant
charge weighing, togeth er with the igniter assembly, 0-403 lb. Made up of
seven propellant sticks, this charge propelled the grenade at a rate of
approximately 340 ft / sec and burned for about 7 feet of the rocket's travel.
Each stick was 76 inches long and 0-45 inches in diameter with a central
0 22 inch perforation. Composition was 64 5% nitrocellulose, 345% DEG N
and 1 % stabiliser. The sticks were held in position by two simple wire grids
with the igniter at the top end of the tube. An electrical primer was inserted
into the centre of the venturi assembly in the tail.
The R pz B Gr 4322 was fired from the R P 43 ' and had a maximum
effective range of 165 yards. Their colour was dark green with white stencilled
identifying markings.
A BOVE: An RP 43 on view at the RAe Tank Museum. Bovington.

Known also as the Ofenrohr (not to be confused with the aircraft mounted
WG 21 21 cm launcher) and Panzerschreck (tank terror) , the RP 43 wa s
5 feet 4~ inches long and weighed 20 ~ lb. The grenade was loaded from the
rear into a steel tube supported on the firer's shoulder by a shaped metal rest
a third of the way along the tube, with further support given by two hand-grips
under the tube . Simple back and foresights were provided for aiming , while a
thin webbing sling was provided for carrying by one man.
As mentioned above the weapon was normally operated by two men . The
loader also carried the ammunition in wooden boxes, each carrying three rocket
grenades, though later sheet steel carriers were provided. As each rocket
was taken from its box it was checked to see that the electrical primer was
secure in the base. Two thin leads ran from this primer to a plug . After loading
the rocket was held in position by a retaining catch and also by a spring
loaded plunger at the tail. The wandering leads were then plugged into a
housing at the end of the tube. Previous to this the firing mechanism had
been cocked by pulling on the cocking handle in front of the trigger. This
compressed a spring which was held by the trigger. Releasing the trigger allow
ed the spring to drive a magnetised rod through a coil and the resultant
current was fed to the rocket's primer via fi xed conduit on the side of the tube .
When fired the rocket motor burned for about the first 7 feet of its journey.
This gave rise to considerable flame and smoke which was very dangerous to
the firing crew. As a result they were issued with special flame-proofed
ponchos with face-masks, and steel helmets had to be worn. This extra protec
tive clothing was also extensively camouflaged as the crew had to be quite
close to the tank when they fired. The bulk of the RP 43 made 'stalking' the
Raketenpanzerbuehse Grenate 4992

The R pz B Gr 4992 (sometimes referred to as 4999) was a later version
of the 4322 and had a range improvement of up to 220 yards. It was fired
from the later R P 54/1, and featured side el ectrical contacts for the ignition
primer.
Raketenpanzerbuehse Grenate 4312

The R pz B Gr 4312 was designed to be fired from the Raketenwerfer 43
(Pi.ippchen) and was shorter and lighter than the R pz B Gr 4322 . It was 1964
inches long and weighed 5 Ib 13 oz. The propellant was a single perforated
stick made up of 628% nitrocellulose, 361 % diglycoldinitrate, 07% alkalide
and 02% ash . This mixture was ignited by a perc ussion cap in the venturi at the
rear. Weight of the propellant was only 17 oz, while the bursting charge
was 1 Ib 8 oz (684 grams) of cast RDX / TNT 60/ 40.
All the above grenades could penetrate up to 8~ inches of armour plating
placed vertically , while 40 0 sloped armour could be penetrated up to 63 inches.
However their penetration could be reduced by placing relatively thin plates
some distance away from the armour to be protected. The charge then lost
a great deal of energy before hitting the armour proper and penetration was
considerably reduced. These thin plates were loosely attached to the sides of
most tanks in combat and were known to the Germans as 'Scheutzen' . Wire
1O(!sh could also be used for the same purpose, and is still in use in Vietnam
,,,day.
\1;/
\,
Co.""
,,~
~~
'. III
0/\\1\\ \
\\
((L
Ii :,
(,,,11\
Illudu handling and loading by one man a difficult task.

48
~-"..,II
'"
I
~o scd~e t-.
lo o dcdo
III" 1I IIkoiollpanzerbuchse 42 (or RP 43) was designed as a launcher for the

fl li
~@"
~",~
{b} l e ad
Thp, Raketenpanzerbuehse 43
II I' .. II ( it II :Q 2 and came into service late in 1943. It was a two-man weapon
,Conr. u;"
I
(0 ) l e o d ..... cCI .... r ';j; n s
88 cm.(3 S in.) A.Tk. ROC !<'ET LAUNCH ER

(R Cl k e hzn
Pan .i:erb ~,c:~ s e L'!.3)
49
c:~:::~~.
')
target tank difficult in anything but closely built-up areas (where tanks were
not likely to venture anyway) so the weapon was normally fired from selected
and prepared positions. In infantry companies the RP 43 was normally
assigned to the company HQ platoon.
The Raketenpanzerbi.ichse 54 and 54/1

The addition of a shield in front of th e firer was the main change from the
R P 43 to the R P 54 . Some R P 43 users had already fitted makeshift shields to
their launchers as the protective clothing was uncomfortable 2nd impeded
movement. The new shields varied in size but were about 14 inches x 185
inches and had a mica window 22 inches x 22 inches on the left side. Weight
of the R P 54 was increased to 23'5 Ib and the rocket used continued to be
the R pz B Gr 4322 . Protective clothing for the crew was no longer necessary.
The arrival in service of the R pz B Gr 4992 meant that a new electrical
contact system to the rocket electrical primer had to be made. Re-design of
the launcher coincided with the decision to shorten the tube to 4 feet 4~ inches
and the weight dropped b3ck to 21 lb . The R P 54/ 1 as the revised launcher
was designated could still fire the old 4322 grenade as the electrical mechanism
above the breech still retained the socket for the wandering leads from the
4322 primer. The 4922 however utilised a contact ring round the tail drum
and contact was made to this via a spring-loaded plunger.
The sighting arrangements were more complicated on the RP 54/1. The
original R P 43 had only two temperature foresight positions (-25 e and
+ 25 e) but the RP 54/1 had three : -25 e, o oe and + 25 e . Further
complication was added by the fact that the foresight could also be slid
up and down to accommodate three different types of ammunition-winter
43 / 44, summer 44 and winter 44/ 45. The three different types were necessary
to accommodate the extremes of temperature met on the Russian front and
also the improvements made to the propellant to increase range. Details
are given separately. While the RP 54/1 had the sighting modifications already
fitted the earlier RP 54 could be modified by a kit of parts supplied with the
BEL O W: A 'drill book' sho t of an RP 54 team, with the loader placing a round in
the tube. In action the team w ould be heavily camouflaged. (IWM-STT6832).
~9
E ~'1iI
ABOVE: American soldiers examine a captured R P 54.' The firer is in fac t holding
th e hand tensioner for the solenoid spring-n ot the trigger. The censor has
erased the divisional markings on the Americans' uniforms. (I WM -EA29277) .
winter 44/45 ammunition. These kits also included a new rearsight slide with
offset marks for aiming-off for target speeds and a new glass window.
Besides the shield modification made to the RP 43, another field change
was the addition of a periscope and extending shoulder rest to the R P 54
and 54/ 1. All the parts could be made locally and the periscope was
modified from a standard rifle attachment or even adapted from commercial
models. A small handle was clamped to the trigger guard for steadying the
launcher. The modification was simple and gave the firing crew extra protec
tion behind suitable cover.
Despite the success of the Panzerschreck the increasing effectiveness of
the Panzerfaust series meant that the RP 54/1 had to increase its effective
range considerably to remain a viable weapon . Development of the 8 8 cm
rocket grenade could not be taken much further as it had almost reached its
development limit and further improvements could only be made by the adop
tion of heavier and larger equipment. The design of this new equipment had
actually commenced in October 1943 but was on a very low priority and
was even stopped at one time, only to be revived in early 1945.
The new equipment was the 105 cm 'Panzertot: although other names
used were 'Panzerschreck-kanone' and 'Hammer'. It was a three-man load
and used two small wheels for towing. The rocket grenade used was an 8 cm
projectile fitted with a discarding sabot. Round the rocket's fin was the propel
lant which vented between the shaped end of the tail shaft and the restricted
end of the firing tube. Development of 'Hammer' was ended by the German
collapse.
51
+ PlungEr
CIRCUIT
OIAGAAM
FOA NEW
BOMB (.;;tr.d
...... il"h rinq cont~ct)
r;n<3 "'contact
Backsi")h_t_ _
-c:::::===~~~
8'8cm (3'5in) A. Tk. Rocker L2.unch~r (improvEd parrern)

(Ra.kskn P2.n7,erbuchs~ 54/1)
However one launcher that increased the range of the 88 cm grenade had
already been tried in action, although only, it appears, in small numbers. This
was the 88 cm Raketenwerfer 43 or Puppchen ('Dolly') encountered on the
Italian front . In appearance it resembled a small two-wheeled conventional
artillery piece but there was no recoil mechanism. It fired the R pz B Gr 4312
which differed from the other 88 cm rocket grenades in having a percussion
primer. When fired from the closed breech, the recoil was taken up by the
small trail spade and hardly any recoil forces could be felt by the firer. The
backsight was calibrated up to 700 metres and there were no elevation or
traversing controls-all movement of the barrel being made manually via two
spade grips slightly offset to the left of the breech (the right hand grip
mounted the trigger). Overall length of the piece from the muzzle flash
eliminator to the end of the single trail was 9 feet 10 inches while the barrel
was 5 feet 9 inches long. The height was only 3 feet but this could be further
reduced to 2 feet 6 inches by removing the wheels and resting the piece on
two rocker sledges. For transport the piece could be easily broken down into
seven sub-assemblies, total weight being 322 Ib (146 kg) . Exactly why this
launcher was not developed or encountered in greater numbers is not known.
BELOW: An 8.8 cm Raketenwerfer 43 on its rocker legs which reduced the

height of the piece to 2 feet 6 inches. The standard round for this weapon
is shown standing on its tail in the foreground.
ABOVE: An Allied soldier posing on an 88 cm Piippchen. Detat! of the breech

block is clear. Note also the detailed firing instructions printed on the shield.
(IWM-NA 15782).
One possible reason is that its light construction would not have stood up to
towing over rough ground. Another is that its relatively sophisticated nature
made its cost-effectiveness rather low compared to the simpler and cheaper
RP 43 and 54.
Two further developments of the 88 cm family remain to be mentioned .
One was the experimental adaptation of the standard 8 cm mortar bomb
to be fired from the Panzerschreck. This idea was dropped as there was no
real advantage over using a mortar and the propellant was in increasingly
short supply.
Another use of the 88 cm projectile was in the ' Fliegender Panzerschreck '.
This was the adaptation of four 88 cm rocket grenades hung in a container
under the wing of a Fw 190F-8. The propellant tube was increased in length
to take a larger charge, so the overall length of the container (with the noses
protruding) was 995 cm, and the width 188 cm. They were used in small
numbers on the Eastern Front during the latter part of the war.
The RP 54/1 Foresight

By 1945 it was possible to come across three different types of propellant
used in rocket grenades. These were:
Wi nter 1943-44
Identified by the letters 'AR KT' they were intended for use on the Russian
front over a temperature range from -25 C to + 25 C.
Summer 1944.
Intended for use at any temperature-no identifying letters.
Wi nter 1944-45
Identified by 'ARKT 44/ 45 ' it was again for the range from - 25 C to + 25 ' C.
52
53
However, use above +25 C was not recommended as the rocket was liable
to explode while stili in the tube . As a result the projectiles could not be left
in sunlight or stored near heat. To show the difference made to range by
temperature this last projectile had a range of 200 m at +25C and 100 m at
- 25C.
To accommodate this range of propellants the RP 54/ 1 foresight could be
clamped into one of three vertical positions : '+' '0' and' -' (see diagram).
. . . . . . . ..
Details of the RP 54/ 1
foresight described
in text.
Division HQ
Reconnaissance Company
Signal Battalion
Artillery Regiment
AA Battalion
120 mm Mortar Battalion
Anti-tank Battalion
Engineer Battalion
6
4
6
12
12
6
36
Volksturm battalions had an establishment of 36 launchers; 3 to each

platoon of the three companies, so that each Volksturm squad had an issue
of one RP 43 or 54.
The Panzerfaust (Tank Devil)
The pre-1944 infantry division (Infantriedivision) had 90 R P 43s but the post
1944 total was increased to 108. These were distributed 36 to each of the
three regiments where they made up two platoons of the anti-tank company
(14 Company) .
The post-September 1944 Volksgrenadier Divisions had an establishment
of 216 launchers as the Raketenpanzerbuchse took over the anti-tank role from
the anti-tank gun (one company to each regiment). Distribution was 18 to each
of three platoons with 18 in reserve. The anti-tank company continued to be
referred to as '14' Company.
Army Mountain Divisions (Gebirgsdivisions) had an establishment of 72
launchers: 36 to each of the two mountain infantry regiments, where they were
used by '16' Company.
The Luftwaffe parachute division (Fallschirmjagerdivision) had 250
launchers. Each of the three regiments had 54 with the remainder divided
among the other units as follows:
The Panzerfaust portable one-man rocket projector was developed to combat

the increasing numbers and quality of Allied tanks which began to appear
during 1942. In particular, the Russian T-34 had shown the inadequacy of
most current anti-tank weapons at infantry unit level, and similarly armoured
vehicles were known to be under development in all combatant countries.
Thus the Panzerfaust was conceived to give the hard-pressed infantryman his
own personal anti-tank defence.
Development of the new weapon was carried out by a team led by the
weapon 's inventor Dr Heinrich Langweiler at the Research Department of
HASAG (Hugo Schneider Action Geselischaft) of Leipzig . Work began in the
summer of 1942 and the first weapon wa~ ready soon after. Basically the
weapon was a small hollow-charge rocket which was fired from a tube. The
first development example was only 5~ Ib in weight and the launching tube
was 14 inches long . No sights were fitted as the weapon was intended to be
fired by holding it at arm's length with the tube at right-angles to the arm.
Sighting was then carried out by judgment alone and even at short range
accuracy was not good. This method of holding the tube gave the weapon
its early name of Faustpatrone ('fist cartridge'), but the poor results necessitated
the use of some form of sighting arrangement and these when fitted meant
that the user now had to hold the tube under his arm or pointing over the
shoulder. To protect the firer the tube was extended. Later the bomb was re
designed to improve its ballistic shape and penetration. This model was then
designated Faustpatrone 1 but later became Panzerfaust (klein) 30 m. It was
sometimes also known as 'Gretchen'. Further bomb development produced
the Faustpatrone II, or Panzerfaust 30 m by January/February 1943.
Both weapons were shown to the Heereswaffenamt in a demonstration
at Kummersdorf in March 1943. In July 3,000 were ordered for troop trials
on the Eastern Front. where results were so encouraging that production was
ordered . The initial order was for 100,000 Panzerfaust (klein) 30 m, and
200,000 Panzerfaust 30 m a month, but higher priority programmes, the
general growing disruption of industry by air-raids and the supply situation
prevented this target being reached until April 1944.
Development continued with the emphasis on increasing the range from
30 metres (which explains the name of Panzerfaust 30 m) to initially 60 metres
with the Panzerfaust 60 m. This need for increased range was brought about
by the increasing use of infantry combat teams working in close co-operation
54
55
The following table shows the range of settings then employed.

Class
Temperature
Clamp at Position
Winter 43/44
+25 C
0
-25 C
All
Summer 44
Winter 44/ 45
+25 C
+
OC
o
-25 C
Thus to engage a moving target the firer had to be aware of its range, the
class of propellant in use, the ambient temperature and the speed of the
vehicle. This is not so complicated as it sounds for the class and temperature
would normally have been pre-set before going into action. Range would then
be accommodated by selecting one of the three range notches on the fore
sight and the speed 'aimed-off' on the rearsight.
Raketenpanzerbuchse
Establishments
~ amMifitEr
]I
PANZERFAUST (KIE,n) -3 0m
~<#1 'j TIiU"
PANZE:RFAUST BOm
ABOVE: A typical Panzerfaust team position, well dug-in and covering a

roadway out of the picture to the left. The particular model shown is the
Panzerfaust 30 m, which had a range of 30 metres (100 yds).
with tanks. The Panzerfaust 60 m replaced the Panzerfa ust (klein) 30 m in
production during th e summer of 1944 but development continued and in
September 1944 the Panzerfaust 1 00 m appeared with production commencing
in November 1944. This was the last w ea pon of the series to actually reach
the field. However, development continued and the resultant Panzerfaust 150
and Panzerfaust 250 will be desc ribed later.
The Panzerfaust described

The four Panzerfaust variants used in the field (see diagram) all worked on the
same basic principle .
The bomb was held in the steel launching tube by a pin which was
removed just before firing . Firing the bomb was by percussion of a spring
loaded striker on to the propellant. Th e launching tube also held the flip - up
sights wh ich w ere rudimentary and marked off roughly in luminous steps on th e
lo nger-range models . The foresight was a small spike on the bomb body.
Raising the sight also released the fuse safety pin .
Th e bomb used was the same on all models except the Panzerfaust
(klein) 30 m which was smaller. It consisted of a hollow-charge grenade
on a finned tail unit. The tail fins were four spring steel leaves which w ere
wrapped round the tail and held in position in the launcher tube until firing,
when the y sprang out to guide the bomb . The hollow-charge hea d was thin,
pear-shaped and weighed 6 Ib 14 oz, of which 3 Ib 7~ oz w as the warhead .
(See table for Panzerfaust (klein) 30 m). The 30 m, 60 m and 100 m could
penetrate 200 mm (79 inches) of armour sloped at 30 to the normal (ie,
vertic al) which compared very well with later variants of the famous 88 mm anti
tank gun. This also meant any Allied tank was vulnerable. The warhead was
made up of 53-4% RDX and 46-4% TNT. The gunpowder propellant varied
from model to model (see t able) and on the Panzerfaust 100 m var ia nt two
separate charges were used to obtain a more gradual firing acceleration to the
higher muzzle v elocity. On firing the propellant drove the bomb from the front
of the tube and stayed with it f or part of its flight. Some exhaust gases
[Jushed off th e cap at the other end of the launc hing tube and ca used a
jot of flame to extend rearwards some six feet beyond the tube. This flame
cou ld be very dang erous to the user or anyone in the vicinity and put limita
56
~
o
~.
' .
' =nzNZE2AhT~loom
11 /1:(11
Develop-mn~ seg,uence of Recoilless A. Tk. Bomb Dischargers (Panzerfaus~)

1, <.1... 0
1\
tions on where and how the weapon could be used. After firing the tube
was disca rded .
The whole Panzerfau st w ea pon series was designed for use after a minimum
of training and experience. Instructions were printed on the bomb body so that
anyone finding one in a battle area who had not been train ed in its use could
still fire it to some effect. Th e launching tube carried the words 'Achtung!
Feu erstrahl! (Beware of jet flame) to protect the unwary user and th e firing
button or lever was also clearly marked ' Feuer' .
The whole equipment was robust and highly portabl e but the equipment
had to be protected from damp which co uld penetrate the cardboa rd ca p on
the end of the launcher tube and also seep past the soft plastic disc in front
of the propelling charge. The effects of the damp could produce misfires or
partial firing causing the bomb to fall short. Damp could also ca use the tail
fins to rust together with resultant loss of guidance on firing. Ord ers stipulated
keeping the weapon under cover from the weath er but in forward areas this
usually mea nt wrapping th e head in sacking. Fuses were also a source of
malfunctions and prematures, and tests employed involved shaking (any that
rattled were not used ) and dropping onto a hard surface from about 50 cm;
if it survived it was then safe for transport . This fuse testing cannot have bee n
BELOW: The Panzerfaust (klein) 30 m. Note the warning 'Achtung Feuerstrahl

along the top of the barrel, which is just visible.
UI; "~I"\ I"
CHARGE
= : l HOllOW
"C-- 41
DVM D
"""
~ ----- ~ -
sleeve to give the weapon an anti-personnel role.
In May 1945 the Panzerfaust 150 was still being developed to overcome
the increasing Shortage of raw materials including the steel launChing tubes
A new re-Ioadable tube was designed to be used ten times. The bomb was
altered by lengthening the propellant charge and the firing mechanism
contained a strip of ignition caps not unlike toy pistol caps. This development
was curtailed by the end of the war.
The Panzerfaust 250 was intended to replace all other types in service by
August 1945 but the propulsion system development was not completed. The
changes from previous models were again increased range and also a reload
able facility combined with electrical firing.
The range increase was effected by using the Panzerfaust 150 bomb with
a longer tail shaff, a larger propellant charge (in two parts again) and a venturi
at the exhaust end of the launching tube. This increased the muzzle velocity to
120-150 metres/second. The electrical firing mechanism ignited an electrical
fuse in the lengthened propellant charge attached to the bomb. Firing was
from a trigger~operated impulse magneto in a pistol grip (similar to that on the
88 cm Raketenpanzerbuchse) . This was connected to the bomb by a plug
and socket connection at the front of the tu be. The circuit was completed by
a further surface connection between the bomb and the tube.
By the time the Panzerfaust 250 was under development the length of the
tube was becoming too long for easy field handling . Further developments
would have been directed towards staggering the propellant ignition on firing
to increase the muzzle velOCity and range still further, but the Panzerfaust
250 would probably have marked the end of the weapon's useful development.
The 250 model was too complex, awkward and expensive-a far cry from the
Simple Faustpatrone I.
The Panzerfaust in use

a popular task as the fuses were likely to go off under test.
In addition to the field models mentioned above two further Panzerfaust
models were under development as the war ended-the Panzerfaust 150 and
250.
The Panzerfaust 150 was designed by January 1945 and production was
started in February by R. Tumbler of Doblen in Saxony. 100,000 had been
manufactured by April but few, if any, reached the field. The 150 model
differed from earlier models mainly in having a redesigned bomb in which
the explosive content was reduced. The shaping of the head cone meant that
the detonation wave was more concentrated so that combined with a longer
pointed nose only half the previous HE weight would produce the same effect
as the earlier models. The longer nose also helped to overcome a shortcoming
of earlier hollow~charge heads. This shortcoming occurred when firing at
vehicles protected by hanging plates or 'Scheutzen'. Previous hollow-charge
heads dissipated their energy on striking the plates so that a second weapon
was needed to penetrate the armour. The longer nose and design of the Panzer
faust 150 bomb overcame this by concentrating the explosive jet and making it
more effective.
Other changes on the Panzerfaust 150 were increased propellant charges
(two) to give a muzzle velocity of 82 metres/second and thus increased
range. Another improvement was the addition of an optional fragmentation
58
The early 30 m models were not well received at first by the troops in the
field. The fuses in particular were not very reliable and the fire jet caused
casualties when used in unsuitable situations such as bunkers and in front
of walls. Also the low range of 30 metres meant that the user had to get
BELOW: Troops disembark from a lorry during the last winter of the war. They
are carrying Panzerfaust 60s with slings.
' ~." ~-~.
..,
---::=;:r:o.~,
very close and become exposed to his target and could be injured by the
resultant flying splinters. Experience showed however that the weapon was
invaluable as a 'tank killer' and that the weapon's more dangerous traits
could be tamed. In time all 'blind' rounds were left well alone and the
user wore a steel helmet whenever possible , On the practise ranges a 770
yard radius circle was left round each firing point. Individual rounds were
kept dry and always close to hand . There are few photographs of German
infantry during the last year of the war that do not show one variant or other
of a Panzerfaust somewhere in the frame. All arms of the German forces were
equipped with the Panzerfaust including Volksturm, Hitler Jugend cadre units
and Luftwaffe field units. Nearly all transport in front-line areas carried at least
one round for individual defence.
One unusual role of the Panzerfaust in the late period of the war in NW
Europe was in trip-wire operated booby-traps for tanks. A wire stretched across
a road to be used by tanks was connected to the Panzerfaust firing mechanism
of a round secured behind a wall so that when the wire was stretched the
round was fired into the vehicle's side. Devices of this sort delayed the Allied
advance in built-up areas during the later period of the war.
As the ranges of the various marks increased so did their popularity with
the infantryman who used them. But it was basically a defensive weapon and
a cheap and simple to use one at that. It exactly suited the defensive role of the
German forces in 1944-45.
After the war development of the Panzerfaust was not entirely neglected as
can be seen by the adoption of the 'Leichte Panzerfausf by the West German
Bunderswehr. This weapon is a much modernised Panzerfaust 250, with a
re-usable launcher, shoulder rest and sophisticated sights.
The American M72 6 6 cm anti-tank rocket launcher closely follows the
Panzerfaust concept by utilising a collapsible and expendable launching tube.
However, the 66 cm projectile has a range of 300 m, and the complete
equipment weighs only 216 kg. It has been issued to nearly all NATO armies.
Penetration
Weight of Muzzle
Performance Propellant Velocity
Sighted
up to
140mmat
30 to N
535
grams
30 m/
sec
30
metres
3~lb
200 mm at
30 to N
95
grams
30 m/
sec
30
metres
15 cm
3~lb
200 mm at
30 to N
134
grams
45 m/
sec
80
metres
15 cm
3~
200 mm at
30 to N
190
(2 x 95)
grams
62 m/
sec
150
metres
Panzer
faust
Total
Weight
Bomb
Weight
Bomb
Weight
Diameter of HE
(klein)
30 m
9~lb
3~lb
10 cm
1 ~ Ib
30 m
11~
6ilb
15 cm
60 m
15 Ib
6ilb
100 m
151b
6ilb
Ib
Ib
10-5 em Rocket
From about mid 1944 in the Skoda Works at Pilsen, Czechoslovakia had been
working on launching equipments for a 105 cm rocket. Little is known about
this rocket apart from the fact that it weighed 19 kilogrammes and had an
60
initial speed of 700 metres/second. It was designed as a multi-purpose

weapon and anti-aircraft launchers had been built for field and ship use. The
field anti-aircraft mounting, which was built in prototype form, used the 88 cm
Flak 36 carriage and launched its rockets from twelve open-frame rails similar
in appearance to the Russian 'Katyusha' launchers .
Also being designed as the war ended was the Raketenwerfer in Kammer
lafette/ OKH. This was a tank mounted launcher with 360 0 traverse and
elevation from _5 to + 75 which would have made it suitable for artillery or
anti-aircraft use. Approximate weight of this launcher was to have been 3500
kilogrammes. It is not known what chassis would have been utilised but it
would probably have utilised obsolete vehicles rather than a new design.
28 em Rocket-assisted Shell
Ordnance designers are constantly looking for new ways to increase the range
of their progeny. During World War 2 many new and novel approaches were
made into this age-old problem and among these was the use of a delayed
action rocket to fire just as the shell's initial velocity was beginning to die
away. This principle went into service in the form of the 28 cm Raketen
granate 4331 (R Gr 4331) which was fired from the 28 cm K5 (E) railway
gun. It increased the gun's not inconsiderable range of 67,800 yards to
93,100 yards-a 37% improvement.
The 28 cm R Gr 4331 was a pre-rifled projectile weighing 545% lb. After
loading into the gun, using a special aligning rammer to align the pre-rifling
with the barrel grooves, the shell was fired using a normal charge. After 19
seconds, a Zt Z S/30 time fuse set in the shell nose ignited a cast one-piece
motor to exhaust through a single venturi, after burning away a base plug. This
carried the warhead onwards at a time when the shell would otherwise have
begun its downward path. Two AZ 4331 percussion fuses were armed ready
for detonation by the rocket exhaust gases burning through a black powder
pellet.
The R Gr 4331 was used operationally but SUffered two major failings. One
was that the 19-second timer and the rocket burning time could not be made
to perform to very exact limits so that the range and as a result, accuracy
could not be constant. Another, and perhaps the major drawback was that
the warhead weighed only 30l lb out of a total projectile weight on firing of
545llb. The resultant explosion on impact could not be justified in view of the
large amount of effort and cost expended, even though the nuisance and
propaganda value would have been considerable.
The 38 em Raketen
During 1942 the German Army encountered great difficulties in adapting to
street fighting in the Russian cities of Leningrad and Stalingrad. Solidly built
office and factory blocks were vigorously defended by the Russian troops who
used great skill and ingenuity in turning every building they occupied into a
fortress. Ordinary infantry weapons were not heavy enough to make much
impression on these solid structures and tank and mobile artillery weapons
could do little but chip away masonry bit by bit. As a result the house-to
house fighting was prolonged, costly, and always bitter.
Various remedies were investigated by the German staff. One project was
the Rammtiger-a heavily armoured carapace on a Tiger chassis which would
61
demolish buildings by charging into them. This idea was dropped. A 21 cm

gun on a Tiger chassis was looked into but this would have resulted in a
very large and cumbersome vehicle as the only 21 cm guns available would
not adapt easily to a self-propelled mounting . The end result was the adoption
of a weapon originally designed as a naval anti-submarine projector which
became known as the 38 cm Raketenwerfer 61. This formidable weapon
was mounted on a specially adapted Tiger Ausf E chassis and fired a rocket
propelled projectile weighing about 761 Ib to a range of 6,179 yards, though
it was intended for use at much shorter ranges. Descriptions follow of the
rocket, the projector and finally the adaptation of the Tiger Ausf E to carry the
weapon.
The Raketen Sprenggranate 4581

Despite its size the 38 cm rocket was merely an enlarged version of the other
field rockets. Like them it could be considered to have three main assemblies
the high explosive head, the motor and the nozzle assembly.
38 C;.1.
.-ccc-- -- , =
119Y
,-
-'--l - jC:='I;A
I
ROC:~ET
PROJECTILE.
(38 cm. R. Sprgr i.-581)

fuZE
" ,'01.
~,~~t~ln 9.: '...... d;'.;..
1.,~c!t~;.J(li i:[ii\~ )~ .~ .
13l5"
<:
,04
~ iJ
Sti'iot l e il
w(\,OEO
14.94- 0 1A..
Ir.
. ~3~
-IA . ~YD IA.
1 , I ~r
HIGH
EXPLOSIVE
BODY
,,~. I
-.30
.l l"
There were in fact two types of high explosive heads. They had the S;lIl1ll
length (94'5 cm) and diameter (38 cm) but the Sprenggranate 4581 contuin o<i
a conventional thin-walled charge of 270 Ib of Amatol 50/50. Th e other lyp",
the Hohladungsgranate 4592 contained a similar charge but employed a hollow
charge head. Fusing arrangements differed . Both employed nose fuses but lho
HE fuse incorporated an optional 012 second delay (the A Z KM 8) while lho
hollow-charge head employed a normal percussion device (the A Z KM 10) .
Some fuses were marked with a red ring. This meant that the rocket to whi, ;h
the fuse was fitted could be carried loaded in the projector. Both typ es of fU SI)
also had a 'safe' position, and had to be rotated to the 'armed' or 'doklY'
position before loading,
The motor body was known as the Treibsatz 4581, and screwed into tho
threaded rear of the explosive head. Length of th e body was 471 cm ,111(1
the 88~ Ib propelling charge was contained in a 1346 cm thick metal casino.
At the rear of the body nine splines were set ready for insertion into [hn
projector.
The propellant was made up of twelve sticks-ten spaced round [WI)
concentrically placed sticks, Down the central stick were placed three blnck
powder filled bags which acted as a relay from the flash-fired igniter ill III<'
base centre to the maintainer in the front of the body. This maintainer W ; I! ;
supported on a spacer ring and spread the ignition to all the other stick:;,
Each stick was spaced from the others to enable steady and equal burninn.
The nozzle assembly contained thirty -two venturi holes spaced in four group:;
of eight . Each venturi was angled at 14 to give the rocket clockwise rNnli()l)
in flight. The assembly threaded into the motor body, and the nozzles W(JJfJ
sealed with a thin asbestos gasket.
When fully assembled the projectile was 144 cm long . The total wl,iqlil
varied around 761 Ib (345 kg) . Each rocket was stencilled with its w oi(J111
correct to the nearest 12 Ib (5-436 kg) as this had to be taken into acc(lI"ll
when computing ranges. Special range tables were compiled for this purpo,;o.
The temperature of the propellant also had to be allowed for, and themJ()
meters were issued for this purpose. Extracts from the compiled rang e tnl>l,, :;
show the effect of the propellant temperature on the rocket performance .
~
1.4.9 <1 " 0 14 ,
t ,U;-'
50%
MOTOR
800V
Temperature
Range
Elevation
Drift
Correction
115 C
- 15C
4600 m
4600 m
1131 mils
1150 mils
+ 123 mils
+ 91 mils
460 sec 150

48 0 sec 140
Length
Width
(J1l 0 IH IiI )
208
246
2%
I6.S"
IGNIT ER
TWICr.,~~
'J;
R~pT~~I~G
HOl.ILE
A~!;!=MBLY
.60'
.". =
~~~:.;::
~".omn
~ l. "'ENT U ~ I
H OL.S
s'
.J;.
.J4 '
.z.a'
tr::l
~
oI I 2.I ' 4! 1
.E{).
JL0.!Q 1'J_~A
SPLINE
.fY'
l .or
rOUR TlM[.5 SCALE
L .'
fiI
O~~~'L
110
Nt
,He n ON B - B
NOZZLE DETAIL.
ZOllO
II0lillii
Time of
Flight
:~ Ol\
From the above it can also be seen that the rocket was visible in flight, ;llId
that the 50% zone was quite large . However, when used against large [;1r!i' , I:.
at short rang es the blast effect must have been devastating.
The rockets were painted olive drab with a 2 cm wide white band I"OlIlId
the centre of gravity. On the nose the figures 13A (a code number for Iii "
explosive filling) were stencilled in white along with entreaties to protncl 1111)
device from rain, water and damp.
The Raketenwerfer 61
Manufactured by Rheinmetall Bohrsig at their Dusseldorf factory, the R"l<oll)1I
werfer 61 featured many novel design developments. Unlike any provl l1 l." ,
63
rocket projector it utilised breech loading with a sliding breech block which,
as well as sealing off any exhaust gases which would otherwise vent to the
rear, actually diverted them to discharge round the muzzle. This was bought
about by an obturator ring of unusual design, consisting of two 'L' -shaped
rings. The heavier inner ring was perforated with eighty half-inch holes. Exhaust
gases from the rocket found their way through these holes to the outer, 'L'
shaped ring which expanded outwards to seal the breech and also enable the
gases to expand upwards and outwards through the 1 t inch wide chamber
between the barrel liner and the projector jacket. They finally exhausted through
31 holes in a ring round the muzzle.
Length of the projector was 206 cm (81 ~ inches). It was made up basically
of a liner, jacket and breech block. Liner length was 188 cm (74l inches)
and was made of t inch thick steel. The rifling in the liner consisted of nine
grooves about 5 mm deep and having one complete turn every 176 calibres.
At the breech end the rifling had a leader to take the fixed splines on the
rocket. The jacket was separated from the liner by four steel blocks at the
breech end and the previously mentioned 31 hole ring at the muzzle.
The breech block, as in most German artillery designs, was of the sliding
type and closed from right to left on a hand - operated rack and pinion. The
block proper was machined from a 2fs inch thick steel plate and featured the
normal safeties. After the rocket was inserted into the projector a plunger fell
behind the round to hold it in place some 5 inches from the block ready for
firing. Centrally mounted on the block was a further rising block which when
lifted enabled a percussion tube to be inserted into the firing mechanisni .
Firing was then effected via a lanyard operated lever which operated a striker
mechanism. The resultant flash was then directed on to the igniter in the rocket's
nozzle assembly.
The Sturmtiger
The vehicle chosen to carry the Raketenwerfer 61 was a much modified Tiger
Ausf E which was given the designation 38 cm RW61 Ausf StuMrs Tiger.
~/
Two views (above and opposite) sho w the massive appearan ceo f the S turm tiger.
Note ammunition crane and resilient steel wheels.
This vehicle featured a bulky armoured compartment bolted on to a Tiger
chassis with the RW61 mounted on the front plate. Alterations were made to
the forward part of the Tiger hull to increase internal space. These modifications
were carried out by the Berlin firm of Alkett on vehicles returned from the front
but only ten were completed . As well as the armoured compartment the
suspension was also altered to the later steel tyred wheels version as opposed
to the earlier convex rubber tyred wheels which were fitted to earlier Tiger
models and also to the Sturmtiger prototype. This prototype was first
demonstrated to Hitler and the General Staff on October 20 1943 but produc
tion did not begin until August 1944.
The RW 61 was mounted on the 45 sloping superstructure front plate
which was 150 mm (5 '9 inches) thick . Side (20 ) and rear (10) plates were
84 mm (3'3 inches) thick and the horizontal roof 40 mm (1'6 inches) . An
extra armour plate was also added from the hu II front up to the bottom of the
sloping superstructure front. The RW 61 was offset to port along with its
attendant mantlet, supporting bracket and cradle which were all heavy castings.
Elevation controls enabled the projector to be elevated from 0 to 85 and
traverse was limited to 10 on either side. Dimensions of the superstructure
are shown separately but the internal space available in the fighting compart
ment was quite large until the rockets were loaded. There were folding racks
fitted to the side walls for stowage of twelve projectiles and one extra could
be carried in the projector provided it was fitted with a redband fuse. With a
full crew of five (sometimes six) and a full load, space was at a premium,
especially for the machine-gunner/ radio operator in the right-hand hull front.
Other crew members were the commander, driver, layer, loader and sometimes
an extra loader who doubled as observer.
65
Ol
Ol
o
0
0=,
- -. .:.... ..
ABOVE: Breech mechanism of the RW 61 inside the Sturmtiger.

Loading could be carried out by one man. The projector was lowered to 0
elevation and a rocket slung out from its rack using an internal sliding winch
attached to rails under the roof. Lowered on to six rollers on the loading
tray the projectile was then pushed into the breech and held in place by the
round retaining plunger. The breech block could then be wound closed and
the projector aimed and fired . To assist in loading the heavy rockets into the
vehicle an external winch was welded to the superstructure right rear to enable
the rockets to be lowered through a three-piece roof hatch. Once inside the
internal winch was used to place the rockets into their racks, six on each side
of the vehicle.
The layer was equipped with a closing port and optical sights on the left
of the projector. Sighting was carried out with the rocket loaded. Some
BELOW: Rounds of 38 cm R Sprgr 4581 stowed inside the vehicle.
vehicles carried a counterweight round the muzzle to assist in elevation and

depression. The machine-gunner used an MG 34 with KZF 2 sights and operated
a standard Fu5 radio set. An intercom was provided for all crew members. In
the roof right rear a Nahverteidigungswaffe projector was fitted to fire either
smoke (nebelkerzen) or HE charges for close-in defence against attacking
infantry. Some vehicles did not carry this weapon. Extra defence could be
obtained by firing the crew's weapons through wedge-and -chain ports-one
in each side plate. Zimmeritt was sprayed on the hull. Road range was 87
miles and cross country 55 miles.
Coming in such small numbers late in the war the Sturmtigers made no
effect on the course of the conflict. By the time they appeared there was
little or no call for the close-in house-to- house battle for which they were
meant, so they were pushed into battle in tactical situations which gave them
little opportunity to use their main armament to any great effect. Their great
bulk and weight (70 tons) made them virtually sitting ducks and those that
ventured into action were quickly immobilised or captured. Another thing which
often immobilised the Sturmtigers was their thirst for fuel. In 1945 any vehicle
that consumed two gallons for every road mile could not travel far when petrol
stocks in Germany had virtually run dry.
Vehicle dimensions
Overall length
.. . .......................... 20 feet 8~ inches
Overall width ............ ..
........ .. ......... .. .. 12 feet 3 inches
.................. .. ................ 11 feet 4 inches
Overall height with crane
Overall height less crane ................... ....... ............. 9 feet 3 inches
BELO W: Tvpica l fate for a Sturmtiger in 1945 - capture bV Allied troops.
Width of front superstructure:

At base .......... . .. . . . ................ . .. . . . . .. . ...... 1 0
At top
...... .... .. .. .... .. . .. ..... ... .. .. .. .. ...... ... 8
Height of front superstructure ....... .. ,. , ' , .. .. . , ... .... , . ..... ' , 6
Length of superstructure sides:
At base .... . ................. .. ........... .... . ..... .. 10
At top
.. . .. .. .. .. ..
.. .. .. .. .. . .. .. ... 7
.... .. .. ... .. .. .... .... .......... 2
Height of roof above hull top
feet 7 inches
feet 5 inches
feet 1 inch
feet 9 inches
feet 2 inches
feet 11 inches
Raketen Sprenggranate 4831

Rheinbote
Although strictly coming under the heading of long range bombardment roc
kets (such as the A-4), Rheinbote is included here to demonstrate what was
probably the ultimate achievement in German solid fuel rocket design. It was in
fact a three-stage rocket with a maximum range of 137 miles (220 km) .
Designed by the armaments firm of Rheinmetall- Borsig (from which its
name of 'Messenger from the Rhine' probably derives) the rocket was made
up of three stages plus a take-off booster. Each stage employed diglycol
dinitrate as a propelling charge venting through a single venturi while the
booster employed three venturi. The whole rocket length, plus booster, mea
sured 37 feet 5 inches while at its widest body section it was only 21 inches
wide (across th e booster) . Total weight at take-off was 3775 Ib of which the
booster made up 1530 lb. Each stage ignited the next stage after it had
completed burning at the following intervals:
Booster
1 second
First stage
7 seconds
Second stage
17 seconds
25! seconds
Third stage
At the end of the final burn (Brenchluss) the missile had reached a
velocity of 1 mile / second and was at an altitude of nearly 80 km,
Rheinbote was fired from a modified A-4 trailer boom (the trailer was
called a Meillerwagen), and trials were carried out at Blizna, 20 miles east of
Mielec in Southern Pol and, The trials generally went well , except for one
round which went wrong on launch and showed up the weapon's greatest
failing, After failing to gain altitude the warhead came to earth and exploded .
A shallow crater only four feet across was found. This was due to the fact
that of the rocket's total weight of 3775 Ib only 44 Ib (20 kg) was actual
warhead explosive (total warhead weight was 88 Ib), Such a payload was
militarily and economically useless and General Dornberger, in charge of
rocket research, reported accordingly, However, he was overruled by Hitler who
insisted on its use, no doubt for propaganda reasons . He was supported by
the Special Commissioner for long-range weapons, Hans Kammler, and a special
Army unit was formed and trained.
Rheinbote went into action during November 1944. Some two hundred
rounds were fired against Antwerp from Zwolle in Holland, as part of the
attempt to deny the port's facilities to the Allies. At that time, Antwerp was
already under bombardment from V-1 s, V-2s and sporadic Luftwaffe raids, so
it is not surprising that the Rheinbote warheads were of very limited value,
and were hardly noticed by the recipients. However, when regarded purely
from design viewpoint, Rheinbote must count as a remarkable achievement.
70
J,
The Nebelkraftwagen
(Sd Kfz 11/1)
Many different types of vehicle were used to tow the various Nebelwerfer
projectors into action, but one specialised vehicle was developed for use by
Nebeltruppen, This was the Nebelkraftwagen (Sd Kfz 11/1) or H L kl 6N, a
half-track weighing 73 tons. It carried the launcher crew and also the
ammunition . In use with 15 cm units it could carry 36 rockets but when
used by 21 cm units stowage was limited to 10 rockets, The stowage
bins were interchangeable .
A BO VE: The Sd Kfz 11/1 With th e locker doors open showing storage racking,
BELOW: Th e two standard tactical signs carried by all Nebeltruppen unirs on

their towing vehicles and any other transport concerned with this specialised
fo rce. The le ft- hand sign was used to denote individual projector p ositions on
th e Command maps.
~
71
Field Rocket Equipment of the German

Army, 1939 - 1945
T. J. Gander
A well detailed guide to a little known aspect of the German
Army's weaponry used throughout World War 2.
Covering organisation, units, uniforms and much detailed
information on the various types of rocket weapons, from the
simple Panzerfaust to the ubiquitous Nebelwerfer 41, this book
will be of interest to modellers and weapon enthusiasts alike.
ISBN 085524084 9 (hard cover edition)
ISBN 0 85524 085 7 (paper covered edition)
UK price:
1.00 (net) ~"
;' Y " '
paper covers
ALMARK
PUBLICATIONS

Almark - Field Rocket Equipment of The German Army 1939-1945

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Almark - Field Rocket Equipment of The German Army 1939-1945

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1972, Almark Publishing Co. Ltd.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication ma y be reproduced. stored in

First published - October 1972

ISBN 855240849 (hard cover edition)

ISBN 85524 085 7 (paper covered edition)

Printed in Great Britain by

1: Deployment and Organisation

TACTICAL USES OF ROCKET UNITS

an d awesom e accompaniment to Nebelwerfer battery fire.

FRONT COVER: (Top) RP 54 team at the moment of loadin g. (B o ttom)

I'ilrarrooper with the ubiquitous Panzerfaust. This variant is the 30 m model.

BA CK COVER: Rocket troops re -Ioading a 15 cm N ebelwerfer 41.

ORGANISATION OF 'DIE NEBElTRUPPEN'

BEL 0 W: A battery of 15 cm N ebelw erfer 41 s in action. N ote the absence of

(2) Heavy Rocket Projector Brigade (motorized}-Schwere Werferabteilung

The Werferabteilung (mot) (15 em)

ABOVE: Maultiers with 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42 projectors being prepared for

ROCKET UNIT DESIGNATIONS

2 Werfer Regi menter 3, 70

4 Werfer Regi menter 51, 52, s2

Werfer Lehr Regiment 1, 2

Werfer Abteilung 1 (with WR 54)

Werfer Abteilung 2 (with WR 52)

Werfer Abteilung 3 (with WR s3)

Stab Werfer Regiment z b V 4

Werfer Abteilung 5 (with WR 55)

Werfer Abteilung 7 (with WR 54)

Werfer Abteilung 8 (with WR s 2)

Stab W erfer Regiment s b V 8

Werfer Abteilung 9 (with WR 71)

Gebirgs Werfer Abteilung 10

s Werfer Regimenter 13. 14, 15

Panzer Werfer Bam 21 (with WR 57)

Panzer Werfer Battr 22 (with 15 Panzer Grenadier Div)

s Werfer Regimenter 21, 22, 26

Werfer Regimenter 38. 50, 51, 52 53

Werfer Regiment 54 (mit 21 [pz] Battr)

W erfer Regiment 55, 56

s Werfer Reg iment 57 (mit 21 [pz] Battr)

Werfer Reg iment 70 (mit 21 [pz] Battr)

Werfer Regiment 71 (Tunisia '43)

Werfer Regimenter 77,79,81,83,84,86,87,88,89

Stell Werfer Regimenter 100, 101, 102, 103

Werfer Batlerien 105

151 (with WR 70)

287 (with WR 56)

7 Werfer Regimenter 83, 84 (Normandy July '44)

Rocket Projector Regiment (motorized)

Regimental HO ......... . ... . ....

Projector Battalion ........ . ...

Total ... . ................. ...

Total strength 1,876

ABOVE: (Top) 32 em Wurfkorper MFL 50. (Bottom) 30 em Wurfkorper Spreng.

Rocket Projector Battalion (motorized)

l ' j i 'I' ll llti 1IIIIIoly .. " ........... . ..

14 101 440 464

A lli""",III""" 1;"I0""n .... . . ......

I', "I, " I"' 1I"II"ry

1' 1111.,4 .1111 nllllllry.

Total strength 555

Werferabteilung (mot) (15 em)

ie, for each battery:

For light column:

.' ,~.;c? ;.. ,:;,-'.:. ;.\~:%~