Published on
January 10, 2010 in
German.
This grenade is similar in appearance and construction to the high explosive grenade except that it contains a smoke generator instead of an explosive filler. It is fitted with a percussion type nose fuze which has a charge of gunpowder located just below the flash cap instead of a detonator. The projectile functions on impact and the gunpowder, ignited by the flash cap, ejects the smoke generator from the body of the grenade and at the same time ignites it. The projectile may be recognized by the following stencilled marking on the base of the cartridge case: NEBEL. Z.
German: p. 326
Published on
January 3, 2010 in
German.
This grenade closely resembles the high explosive stick grenade 24 in external form and size. However, instead of the high explosive filling this grenade is filled with a smoke mixture. There are eight holes in the base of the head through which the smoke escapes. The handle has three horizontal corrugations at the screw cap end to assist in differentiation by touch. Upon activation, smoke is emitted for a period of two minutes, forming an effective screen for machine gun nests and pillboxes.
| Total weight | |
1 lb., 14 ozs. |
| Overall length | |
14 ins. |
| Igniter | |
B. Z. 39 |
| Delay |
| N4 ignition tube | |
7 sec. |
| Filling | |
(HC) mixture zinc and hexachlorethane |
| Color | |
Olive drab |
| Markings | |
White band 8 inches wide around center of handle and lettering Nb. Hgr. 39 stencilled in white around the body above a broken white band. |
German: p. 322
Published on
December 30, 2009 in
German.
This weapon is designed for either smoke, chemical, or high explosive ammunition.
The smooth-bored tube of monobloc construction is independent of the breech and breech block. When the piece is loaded, both breech and breech block remain stationary, and the back end of the tube moves outward in a vertical direction in grooves cut into the inside of the legs of the breech block. During this operation, the tube pivots about its trunnions located midway between the muzzle and breech ends. There is no spring tension in the breech mechanism so that its movement is entirely manual. The piece is fired by percussion, a spring-driven firing pin being located in the breech block. The firing lever is located just below the breech operating lever.
There are two recoil cylinders, one located on either side of the tube. The cylinders are anchored to the ends of the frame, and the pistons attached to the sides of the breech. The counterrecoil system is located above the tube. Its cylinder is attached to the frame, and the piston to the yoke. Apparently both the recoil and the counterrecoil system is hydropneumatic.
The weapon is fired from the base plate (missing in photo) and wheels. In order to traverse the piece, it is pivoted about a ball and socket joint in the base plate by means of an axle traversing mechanism of ordinary design. Elevation is controlled by two parallel arcs which travel on pinions geared to and rotated by the elevating handwheel. Both traversing and elevating handwheels are located on the left side, as is also the sight bracket.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber | | 105 mm (4.1 in.) |
| Weight (traveling position) |
| Weight (firing position) | | 1,730 lb. |
| Length (traveling position) |
| Length (firing position) |
| Length of barrel | | (16 cals.) 66 ins. |
| Height (traveling position) |
| Height (firing position) |
| Width (overall) |
| Width of trail spread |
| Length of bore | | | |
| No. of grooves | | | |
| Width of grooves | | | Smooth bore |
| Depth of grooves | | | |
| Width of lands | | | |
| Muzzle velocity | | 426-1,380 f/s** |
| Max. range (horizontal) | | 6,810 yds.** |
| Min. range (horizontal) | | 1,668 yds. |
| Max. range (vertical) |
| Rate of fire | | 8-10 rds./min. |
| Traverse | | 14° |
| Elevation | | 45°-85° |
| Depression |
| Length of recoil |
| Ammunition | | H.E.; Smoke; Chemical* |
| Wt. of projectile | | H.E.—20.6 lbs. |
| | | Smoke—21.9 lbs. |
*No chemical ammunition has ever been captured, although it is believed that the gun is designed for that type of shell.
**Not verified.
German: p. 110.2
Published on
December 30, 2009 in
German.
The 10 cm Nebelwerfer, standard smoke and chemical mortar in use by the German Army, has also been used, to some extent, by airborne troops. It is serviced by five men and transported on a two-wheeled handcart.
Although the standard ammunition for the weapon is a 16-pound smoke shell designated Wurfgranate 35, a 19-lb. high explosive shell, Wurfgranate 40 is also used.
The mortar, which is merely a heavier and larger model of the German 8 cm mortar, consists of a barrel, bipod, and baseplate constructed on the usual mortar lines. The traversing gear, however, is unusual in that the traversing screw is housed in a sleeve which is supported by the two ends of a box-shaped yoke secured to the top of the elevating screw.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber | | 105 mm (4.1 ins.) |
| Weight in action | | 228 lb. |
| Weight of barrel | | 72 lb. |
| Weight of bipod | | 73 lb. |
| Weight of baseplate | | 83 lb. |
| Method of operation | | Muzzle loaded; percussion fired |
| Maximum range | | 3,300 yds.* |
| Rate of fire | | 12-15 rds./min. |
| Ammunition | | H.E. and Smoke |
| Weight of shell | | 16 lb. (Wurfgranate 35) Smoke |
| |
|
19 lb. (Wurfgranate 40) H.E. |
| Transport | | 2-wheeled handcart |
*Not verified.
German: p. 110.1
