| 8 cm Granatwerfer 34 | |
| Origin: | Nazi Germany |
| Type: | Mortar |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Is Artillery: | yes |
| Service: | 1937–1952 |
| Used By: | Nazi Germany East Germany Bulgaria Yugoslavian Partisans[1] |
| Wars: | World War II |
| Designer: | Rheinmetall |
| Design Date: | 1932–1934 |
| Unit Cost: | 810 Reichsmark |
| Production Date: | 1934–1945 |
| Number: | 75,255[2] |
| Variants: | 8 cm GrW 34/1 |
| Weight: | 62 kg (136.6 lbs) steel barrel 57 kg (125.6 lbs) alloy barrel |
| Part Length: | 1.14m (03.74feet) |
| Cartridge: | 3.5kg (07.7lb) |
| Caliber: | 81.4 mm (3.20 in) |
| Rate: | 15-25 rpm |
| Velocity: | 174 m/s (571 ft/s) |
| Range: | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) |
| Max Range: | 2.4km (01.5miles) |
| Elevation: | 45° to 90° |
| Traverse: | 10° to 23° |
The 8 cm Granatwerfer 34 (8 cm GrW 34) was the standard German infantry mortar throughout World War II.[3] It was noted for its accuracy and rapid rate of fire.[4]
The weapon was of conventional design and broke down into three loads (smooth bore barrel, bipod, baseplate) for transport.[3] Attached to the bipod were a traversing handwheel and a cross-leveling handwheel below the elevating mechanism.[5] A panoramic sight was mounted on the traversing mechanism yoke for fine adjustments. A line on the tube could be used for rough laying.[6]
The 8 cm GrW 34/1 was an adaptation for use in self-propelled mountings. A lightened version with a shorter barrel was put into production as the kurzer 8 cm Granatwerfer 42.
The mortar employed conventional 8 cm 3.5 kg shells (high explosive or smoke) with percussion fuzes. The range could be extended by fitting up to three additional powder charges between the shell tailfins.[6]
A total of 74,336,000 rounds of ammunition were produced for the Granatwerfer 34 from September 1939 to March 1945.[2]
List of available ammunition for the Granatwerfer 34.[7]
| Name | Caliber | Mass of explosive material | Target effect | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wurfgranate 34 (Mortar grenade 34) | 80,7 mm | 533 g | Blast and shrapnel effect | |
| Wurfgranate 34 Blauring (Mortar grenade 34 bluering) | 530 g | Blast, shrapnel and chemical effect | Chemical agent: Adamsite | |
| Wurfgranate 34 Ex (Mortar grenade 34 dummy) | 0 g | None (training ammunition) | Ammunition used for learning general handling | |
| Wurfgranate 34 Nb (Mortar grenade 34 smoke) | 500 g | Smoke effect | Effect load: Sulfur trioxide in pumice stone | |
| Wurfgranate 34 Üb (Mortar grenade 34 training) | 57 g | Minimal blast effect | Training ammunition | |
| Wurfgranate 34 Weißring (Mortar grenade 34 whitering) | 550 g | Blast, shrapnel and chemical effect | Chemical agent: Phenacyl chloride | |
| Wurfgranate 38 (Mortar grenade 38) | 400 g | Blast and shrapnel effect | ||
| Wurfgranate 38 Deut (Mortar grenade 38) | 200 g | Ejection charge | ||
| Wurfgranate 38 umg (Mortar grenade 38 rebuild) | 550 g | Blast and shrapnel effect | ||
| Wurfgranate 39 (Mortar grenade 39) | 400 g | Blast and shrapnel effect | ||
| Wurfgranate 40 (Mortar grenade 40) | 80,9 mm | 2000 g | Blast and shrapnel effect | |
| Wurfgranate 40 Üb (Mortar grenade 40 training) | 0 g | None | Training ammunition | |