Published on
July 9, 2010 in
German.
The German 8.1 cm heavy mortar, first manufactured in 1934, is of conventional design, consisting of a tube, base cap, and firing-pin mechanism. Wall thickness of the tube or barrel tapers from 0.288 inch at the base cap to 0.190 inch; a collar at the muzzle slightly increases the wall thickness at that point. A leather-covered handle attached to the collar clamp near the muzzle is used apparently to change elevations when the tube is hot. The firing pin mechanism can be adjusted for two positions. In the “On” position, the pin protrudes into the tube the correct length for firing; in the “Safe” position, the firing-pin head is retracted, permitting greater safety in unloading the mortar in the event of a misfire or other malfunction. The change in setting is readily made by means of an adjuster located on the side of the base ring. The mortar is supported by a bipod and base plate.
The bipod includes cross-leveling, elevating and traversing mechanisms. The legs, and all other nonsliding parts, are made of light white metal. These legs, which have spikes and feet attached to the bottom, are adjusted to any one of six positions by a lever and held in place by locking gears. General construction of the bipod is sturdy and compact. It is easily folded for carrying purposes by swinging the cradle, which is hinged on the traversing mechanism sliding housing, until the left hook at the rear of the cradle is mated in the slot at the top of the rear bipod connector plate. The cradle is then traversed to the left, locking the hooks into the connector plate, and the legs are brought together.
The sighting system, having a total weight of 2 1/2 pounds, includes a collimator, cross level, longitudinal level, and an elevating and lateral deflection mechanism. Machining of the sight parts is excellent, and when in use it is attached to a mount on the left side of the traversing mechanism mount.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber |
|
81 mm (3.189 ins.) |
| Weight |
|
|
| Mortar and Mount |
|
124 lb. |
| Mortar |
|
40 lb. |
| Mount |
|
84 lb. |
| Bipod |
|
41 1/4 lb. |
| Base plate |
|
43 3/4 lb. |
| Length (overall) |
|
44 7/8 ins. |
| Method of loading |
|
Muzzle |
| Firing mechanism |
|
Firing pin with safety feature |
| Rate of fire |
| Maximum |
|
45 rds./min. |
| Practical |
|
10 to 12 rds./min. |
| Muzzle velocity |
|
Not determined |
| Range |
| Maximum |
|
2,625 yds. with light bomb
2,100 yds. with heavy bomb |
| Minimum |
|
66 yds. |
| Elevation |
|
40° to 85° |
| Traverse |
|
370 mils |
| Cross leveling, max. correction for cant |
|
15° |
| Sights |
|
Collimator type (similar to Brandt sight for 60 mm Mortar, M2) |
| Lateral adjustment |
|
6,400 mils |
| Elevation adjustment |
|
1,600 mils |
| Ammunition |
| Weight of complete round (smoke shell) |
|
7.80 lb. |
| Ignition cartridge charge |
|
150 grs. |
| 3 Increment propellents |
|
.35 oz. each |
German: p. 114
Published on
January 10, 2010 in
German.
This rocket is actually 78 mm in diameter. Two features distinguish it from other German rockets: the use of tail fins to secure stability in flight without rotation, and the employment of a novel fuze arming device.
The complete round weighs 15.19 pounds and is nearly 28 inches long. Its two principal components are the nose fuzed high explosive war head and the rocket motor tube. The shell is attached by means of an adaptor ring and the motor tube is closed by a cone-shaped assembly carrying the fins and containing the venturi and propellant supporting grid. Six tubular sticks of cordite form the propellant ignited by a circular gun powder igniter set off by a wire ignition bridge. The launcher used is the Mantelrohr.
The nose fuze consists of a steel nose piece housing a light alloy striker held by a light spring, a percussion detonator, a magazine containing four pressed pellets, and a thermal arming device. When the rocket is fired, the heat of the propellant gases melts a ring of fusable metal, permitting the detonator and magazine to approach the striker. The main filling of the high explosive head is pressed flake TNT.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight of complete round | | 15 lbs., 3 oz. |
| Weight of motor unit with central adaptor | | 10 lbs. |
| Weight of high explosive head with central adaptor | | 6 lbs., 5 oz. |
| Weight of high explosive filling | | 1 lb., 5 1/2 oz. |
| Weight of fuze (approx.) | | 4 oz. |
| Weight of propellant sticks | | 2 lbs., 3 oz. |
| Length of rocket | | 27.7 ins. |
| Ground range (estimated) | | 6,300 yds. |
German: p. 359 (May 1, 1945)
Published on
December 31, 2009 in
German.
This weapon is of the same general design as the standard 8 cm mortar (s. Gr. W. 34) described on page 114. It is, however, shorter and lighter. It differs from the original weapon in the following respects:
The Model 42 has a shorter barrel with no striker control bolt at the base. It has a smaller baseplate, square in shape, with no carrying handle. The barrel is fastened to the baseplate by a spring catch. It also has a smaller bipod.
The elevating handle is situated at the base of the elevating column between the bipod legs. The cross levelling screw is halfway down the elevating column, and is connected to the left bipod leg by a sliding screw clamp.
The sight is situated on the left side of the traversing screw. Ammunition fired is the same as for the 8 cm s. Gr. W. 34.
A firing table printed on a steel plate is clamped to the tube.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber |
|
81 mm (3.2 ins.) |
| Weight in firing position |
|
62 lbs. |
| Length of barrel, overall |
|
29.5 ins. |
| Length of bore |
|
25.5 ins. |
| Size of baseplate |
|
12 ins. x 12 1/2 ins. |
| Principle of operation |
|
Muzzle loaded; percussion fired (only) |
| Elevation |
|
47° to 88° |
| Maximum range |
|
1,200 yds. |
| Ammunition |
|
Same as for 8 cm s. Gr. W. 34 |
German: p. 114.1 (June 1, 1945)
Published on
October 27, 2009 in
Japanese.
This weapon, previously erroneously called the Type 10, is a naval type antiaircraft gun, mounted on a pedestal which permits a traverse of 360 degrees. The gun tube, of built-up construction, recoils inside a sleeve type cradle. A guide on the bottom of the tube rides in a groove, preventing rotation of the tube. Since the trunnions are located at the rear of the tube, muzzle preponderance is compensated for by an equilibrator inside the pedestal.
A hand-operated, semi-vertical sliding type breechblock and a hydrospring recoil mechanism are used. Recoil and recuperator are located over the tube. A small cylinder above the recoil cylinder is apparently for storing an oil reserve.
The elevating handwheel is located to the left of the weapon, and the traversing handwheel to the right. Two platforms, one on either side attached to the superstructure, allow the layers to move with the gun in traverse.
A bracket on the left of the piece is believed to mount a telescope and range drum.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber | | 76.2 mm (3 ins.) |
| Weight of gun and mount | | 5,290 lbs. |
| Weight of gun | | 1,100 lbs. |
| Length of barrel | | 40 cals. |
| Length of tube | | 9 ft., 6 ins. |
| Height (traveling position) |
| Height (firing position) |
| Width (overall) |
| Length of chamber | | 1 ft., 8 ins. |
| Rifling | | R. H. twist |
| No. of grooves | | 24 |
| Width of grooves |
| Depth of grooves |
| Width of lands |
| Muzzle velocity (H.E. shell) | | 2,200 f/s |
| Max. range (horizontal) |
| Max. range (vertical) | | 26,000 ft. |
| Rate of fire | | 10 to 12 r.p.m. |
| Traverse | | 360° |
| Elevation | | 75° |
| Depression | | 5° |
| Length of recoil |
| Ammunition | | H.E. w/ powder train time fuze
|
| Wt. of projectile | | 12 lb., 11 ozs. |
Japanese: p. 114.1 (August 1, 1945)
