German Projectiles - 50mm to 80mm Mortar Rounds

German Projectiles

H.E. Mortar Projectile, Type 38, 80mm

German Designation: 8cm Wgr. 38 (Werfergranate 38)

Employment: 8cm s. Granat Werfer 34

Dimensions
Overall length (complete round): 12.99 inches

Overall length of body (projectile): 8.5 inches

Diameter of bourrelet: 3.188 inches
Width of bourrelet: 1.187 inches
Diameter of fins: 3.189 inches
Weight of bursting charge: 1.11 pounds
Total weight (projectile): 7.75 pounds

Number of fins: 12

Markings: Painted grey green, "38" stenciled on body.

Fuze: Wgr. Z. 38 or 34

Remarks: Contains a powder pellet under fuze to give delay action.

H.E. Mortar Projectile, 50mm

German Designation: 5cm H.E. Bomb

Employment: 5cm L. Granat Werfer 36

Dimensions
Overall length (projectile): 8.625 inches

Overall length of body (projectile): 4.25 inches

Diameter of bourrelet: 1.312 inches
Width of bourrelet: 1 inch
Diameter of base: 0.937 inches
Type of bursting charge: TNT
Weight of bursting charge: 112 grams
Total weight (projectile): 2.2 pounds

Number of fins: 8

Markings: Painted dull red.

Fuze: Wgr. Z. 38

Remarks: Ten rounds in metal container - 12.5 kilograms

H.E. Mortar Projectile, Type 39, 80mm

German Designation: 8cm Wgr. 38 (Werfergranate 38)

Employment: 8cm s. Granat Werfer 34

Dimensions
Overall length (complete round): 13.109 inches

Overall length of body (projectile): 8.5 inches

Diameter of bourrelet: 3.188 inches
Width of bourrelet: 1.187 inches
Diameter of fins: 3.189 inches
Type of bursting charge: TNT
Weight of bursting charge: 1.11 pounds
Total weight (projectile): 7.75 pounds

Number of fins: 12

Fuze: Wgr. Z. 38 or 34

Remarks: An improved model of 38

Colored Smoke Mortar Projectile, 80mm

German Designation: 8cm Wgr. 38 Deut. (Werfergranate 38 Deut.)

Employment: 8cm s. Granat Werfer 34

Dimensions
Overall length (complete round): 12.874 inches

Overall length of body (projectile): 8.5 inches

Diameter of bourrelet: 3.187 inches
Width of bourrelet: 1.187 inches
Diameter of base: 1.187 inches

Number of fins: 12

Fuze: Wgr. Z. 38 or 34

Smoke Mortar Projectile, Type 34, 80mm

German Designation: 8cm Wgr. 34 Nb. (Werfergranate 38 Nebel)

Employment: M. Gr. W. 34
                        Kz. Gr. W. 42

Dimensions
Overall length (complete round): 12.937 inches

Overall length of body (projectile): 8.5 inches

Diameter of bourrelet: 3.187 inches
Width of bourrelet: 1.187 inches
Diameter of base: 1.187 inches
Type of bursting charge: Penthrite wax, sulphur trioxide smoke mixture
Weight of bursting charge: 36 grams
Total weight (projectile): 7.85 pounds

Number of fins: 12

Fuze: Wgr. Z. 38 or 34

H.E. Mortar Projectile, Type 34, 80mm

German Designation: 8cm Wgr. 34 (Werfergranate 38)

Employment: Kz. Gr. W 42
                                       8cm s. Granat Werfer 34

Dimensions
Overall length (complete round): 13.07 inches

Overall length of body (projectile): 8.5 inches

Diameter of bourrelet: 3.188 inches
Width of bourrelet: 1.187 inches
Diameter of fins: 3.189 inches
Weight of bursting charge: 1.11 pounds
Total weight (projectile): 7.75 pounds

Number of fins: 12

Markings: Painted reddish brown

Fuze: Wgr. Z. 38 or 34

Packaging: Three rounds in a metal carrier

Remarks: Propelling charge for this weapon consists of a primary cartridge and 4 augmentary charges.  The latter consists of strip propellant in silk bag.

Next Time: 100mm+ Mortar Rounds and Rockets

Imperial Japanese Navy Ammunition - 80mm Projectiles

Imperial Japanese Navy Ammunition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8cm (76.2mm)(3 Inch) Complete Round (Semi-fixed)

 

 

   

Case:

-Length: 15.06 inches

-Diameter at base: 4.13 inches

-Material: Brass (recovered); steel (documentary)

 

Propellant:

- 20 C3 (Type 89 propellant) 1.98 lbs  (0.9 kg).

 

Unperforated cylindrical sticks, approximately 2mm by 12.75 inches, amber-colored double-base powder.  The propellant sticks are enclosed in a bag of heavy brownish silk.

 

Primer:  Mk I case percussion primer, Model 4

 

Weapon used in: "AN" (Armstrong) type 8cm/40 gun (low angle)

 

Except for minor changes, this is an exact copy of a British naval gun, and guns of both British and Japanese manufacture have been found ashore in Japanese emplacements for coastal defense.  The gun is pedestal-mounted.  The breech is closed by a two-step interrupted-thread block.

 

 

 

 

 

8cm (76.2mm)(3 Inch) (Ordinary Mk 2 Mod 2) High-Explosive Projectile

 

  

 Weight of filled projectile (without fuze): 11.46 lbs

Weight of porjectile: 10.75 lbs

Weight stamped on rotating band (sample): 4.86 kg (varies with individual projectiles)

 

Length of projectile (without fuze): 9.49 inches

Diameter at bourrelet: 3 inches

Distance from base to rotating band: 0.44 inch

Width of rotating band: 1 inch

Radius of ogive: 6 cal.

 

Filling: Cast picric acid (Shimose) .71 lb

 

The charge consists of a single block of explosive cast and sealed in a waxed paper container, encased in a heavy cotton flannel bag and sealed in the projectile with paraffin.

 

Fuzing: Type 5-year point detonating fuze

 

Weapon used in: "AN" (Armstrong) Type 8cm/40 gun (low angle)

 

 

 

 

 

 8cm (76.2mm)(3 Inch) Shrapnel Projectile

 

 

Assembled round:

-Weight of complete round (without fuze): 19 lbs

-Length of complete round (without fuze): 23.75 inches

Projectile:

-Weight of filled projectile (without fuze): 10.5 lbs

-Weight of projectile (empty): No data

 Weight stamped on rotating band (sample): 2.86kg (Varies with individual projectiles)

Dimensions:

-Length of projectile (without fuze): 8.38 inches

-Diameter at bourrelet: 2.97 inches (75.5mm)

-Distance from base to rotating band: 0.75 inch

-Width of rotating band: 1 inch

-Radius of ogive: 4 cal

Filling: Black powder and shrapnel balls

Fuzing: 30-second time fuze

Weapons used in: Type 3-Year 8cm/40 dual-purpose gun

Type 88-Year 8cm/40 dual-purpose gun

Type 98-Year 8cm/60 dual-purpose gun 

 8cm (76.2mm)(3 Inch) Complete Round (Fixed)

 

 

Case:

-Length: 16.06 inches

-Diameter at base: 4.13 inches

-Material: Brass

-Weight (empty): 6.25 lbs

The case is crimped tightly into a groove in the base of the projectile by a single continuous crimp.

Propellant:

20 C3 (Type 89 propellant): 2.039 lbs

Unperforated cylindrical sticks, approximately 2mm by 12.9 inches, amber-colored double-base powder.

The propellant sticks are enclosed in a bag of heavy brownish silk.  Primer Mk 2 case percussion primer, Model 4.

Weapons used in:  Type 88 8cm/40 dual-purpose gun; 8cm/40 Type 4-Year dual-purpose gun.

The latter gun is a pedestal-mounted gun with a breech block sliding diagonally down to the right.  Although designed as a ship-board mount, it is commonly found mounted in fixed emplacements ashore for anti-aircraft and coastal defense.

 

 

 

 

8cm (76.2mm)(3 inch)(Ordinary Mk 3 Mod 1) High Explosive

   

 

Assembled round:

-Weight of complete round: 19.25 lbs

-Length of complete round, with Type 89 fuze: 28.25 inches

Projectile:

-Weight of filled projectile (without fuze): 9.5 lbs

-Weight, empty: 8.6 lbs

-Weight stamped on rotating band (Sample) 4.865 kg (varies with individual projectiles)

Dimensions:

-Length of projectile (without fuze or adapter): 9.25 inches

-Diameter at bourrelet: 2.97 inches

-Distance from base to rotating band: 0.7 inch

-Width of rotating band: 1 inch

-Radius of ogive: 4 cal

Filling: Cast picric acid (Shimose): 0.9 lb

The charge consists of a single block of explosive cast and sealed in a waxed paper container, encased in a heavy cotton flannel bag and sealed in the projectile with paraffin.

Fuzing:

-A. Army Type 89 powder time fuze (30 seconds)

-B. Type 5-Year point detonating fuze (instantaneous) with adapter

Weapons used in:

Type 3-Year 8cm/40 dual-purpose gun

Type 88 8cm/40 dual-purpose gun

8cm(76.2mm)(3 inch)(Armor-Piercing Type 1) Special Common

 

  

Assembled round:

-Weight of complete round: 21.04 lbs

-Length of complete round: 25.31 inches

Projectile:

-Weight of filled projectile (with fuze): 12.7 lbs

-Weight, empty: 11.72 lbs

-Weight stamped on rotating band (sample): 5.31 kg (varies with individual projectiles

Dimensions:

-Length of projectile: 9.875 inches

-Diameter at bourrelet: 2.98 inches

-Distance from base to rotating band: 0.75 inch

-Width of rotating band: 1 inch

-Radius of ogive: 4 cal

Filling: Trinitroanisole (Type 91 explosive): 0.41 lb

The charge consists of a single block of explosive cast and sealed in a waxed paper container, encased in a heavy cotton flannel bag and sealed in the projectile with paraffin.

Fuzing: Type 1 fuze

Weapons used in:

-Type 3-Year 8cm/40 dual-purpose gun

-Type 88 8cm/40 dual-purpose gun

 

8cm(76.2mm)(3 inch) Time Practice Projectile

 

Assembled Round:

-Weight of complete round: No Data

-Length of complete round: 28.06 inches

Projectile:

-Weight of filled projectile: No Data

-Weight of projectile, empty: 12.3 lbs

-Weight stamped on rotating band (Sample): 5.2 kg (varies with individual projectiles)

Dimensions:

-Length of projectile: 12.69 inches

-Diameter at bourrelet: 2.98 inches

-Distance from base to rotating band: 0.69 inch

-Width of rotating band: 1 inch

-Radius of ogive: 4 cal

Filling: No Data.  Possibly smoke compound or spotting dye.

Fuzing: Type 98 time fuze

Weapons used in:

-Type 98 8cm/60 dual-purpose gun

-8cm short dual-purpose gun

Next Time: 10cm and 12cm Projectiles (Part 1)