10 cm Nebelwerfer 35

10 cm Nebelwerfer 35
Allied intelligence diagram of a 10 cm NbW 35
TypeMortar
Place of originNazi Germany
Service history
In service1939–1945
Used byNazi Germany
WarsWorld War II
Production history
DesignerRheinmetall
Designed1934–39
Unit cost1,500 RM
Produced1939–41
Specifications
Mass105 kg (231.48 lbs)
Barrel length1.344 m (4 ft 5 in) L/13
Crew7

Shell7.38 kg (16 lb 4 oz)
Caliber105 mm (4.13 in)
Elevation45° to 90°
Traverse28°
Rate of fire10–15 rpm
Muzzle velocity193 m/s (633 ft/s)
Maximum firing range3 km (1.9 mi)

The 10 cm Nebelwerfer 35 (10 cm NbW 35) was a heavy mortar used by Germany during World War II. Much like the American M2 4.2 inch mortar it was intended to deliver chemical munitions, such as gas and smoke shells. Unlike the American weapon it appears to have had an ordinary high-explosive shell from the beginning. It was of conventional design, and was virtually a scaled-up 8 cm GrW 34. It broke down into the standard three loads for transport. The tube weighed 31.7 kg (70 lb), the baseplate 36.3 kg (80 lb) and the bipod 32.2 kg (71 lb). Each could be man-packed for some distance, but small handcarts were issued for longer distances. Each mortar squad consisted of a squad leader, three gunners and three ammunition bearers.

It was initially deployed in (German: Nebelwerfer "smoke mortar") battalions belonging to the Chemical Corps of the Heer; exactly how the American initially fielded their own 4.2 inch mortar in chemical mortar battalions. From 1941 they were replaced by the 10 cm Nebelwerfer 40 and the 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 multiple rocket launcher.