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

German Projectiles - 47mm to 50mm Projectiles

German Projectiles

H.E. Projectile Type 36 (Czech Design), 47mm

German Designation: 4.7cm Sprgr. Patr. 36 (t) (Sprenggranate Patronen 36 (t) )

Employment: 4.7cm Pak. (t) (Panzerabwehrkanone (t) )
         4.7cm K 36 (t)   (Kanone 36 (t) )

Dimensions

Overall length (complete round): 22.44 inches

Overall length w/o fuze (projectile): 7.36 inches

Diameter at bourrelet: 1.84 inches

Width of rotating band: 0.67 inches

Diameter of projectile base: 1.625 inches

Total weight (complete round): 6.25 pounds
Total weight (projectile): 3.3 pounds

Weight of bursting charge: 6.348 ounces

Type of Bursting Charge: TNT

No tracer

Overall length (cartridge case): 15.944 inches

Diameter at case neck: 1.98 inches

Diameter at case shoulder: 2.12 inches

Depth of extracting groove: 2.52 inches

Weight of propellant: 1 pound, 15.35 ounces

Type of propellant: Strip Nitroglycerine and Nitrocellulose

Fuze: Czech time or S/D

H.E. Projectile for Bohler Gun (Austrian Design), 47mm

German Designation: 4.7cm Sprgr. Patr. (O) (Sprenggranate Patronen (O) )

Employment: 4.7cm Bohler K. (O)

Dimensions

Overall length (complete round): 16.312 inches

Overall length (projectile): 8.625 inches

Width of rotating band: 0.375 inches

Diameter of projectile base: 1.594 inches

No tracer

Overall length (cartridge case): 9.25 inches

Diameter at case neck: 1.875 inches

Depth of extracting groove: 2.187 inches

Weight of propellant: 193 grams

Type of propellant: Strip propellant (Nitroglycerine and Nitrocellulose)

Fuze: 4.7cm M 35

Markings: 4.7cm Pak. O or 4.7cm J.K. 35/36 O

Remarks: Fuze is marked 4.7 Pak 35 or 4.7 M 35.

Fuze is similar to AZ23 except that it has no optional delay.  There is an AP round which is the 47/32 Italian round in an M35 case.

A.P. Projectile for AT Gun (Austrian Design), 47mm

German Designation: 4.7cm Pzgr. Patr. 35 (Panzergranate Patronen 35 (O) )

Employment: 4.7cm Pak. (t) (Panzerabwehrkanone (t) )
         4.7cm K 36 (t)   (Kanone 36 (t) )


Dimensions

Overall length (complete round): 19.48 inches
Overall length (projectile): 5.312 inches
Diameter at bourrelet: 1.844 inches
Width of copper rotating band: 0.687 inches
Diameter of projectile base: 1.719 inches
Distance from base to band: 1.25 inches
Total weight (complete round): 6.7 pounds
Total weight (projectile): 3.14 ounces
Weight of bursting charge: 0.74 ounces

Type of Bursting Charge: TNT
Tracer present

Overall length (cartridge case): 15.944 inches
Diameter at case neck: 1.98 inches
Diameter at case shoulder: 2.12 inches
Depth of extracting groove: 2.52 inches
Weight of propellant: 15.43 ounces
Type of propellant: Strip propellant (Nitroglycerine and Nitrocellulose)

Fuze: None

Markings: Black tip, unpainted projectile.  Blued from rotating band to beginning of 3/8" boat-tailing.
"ENZ" stencilled in red.


Remarks: Same projectile is used in the Bohler gun except that the driving bad is narrower and has two grooves instead of three.  A red band is painted around the shoulder.

A.P.C. Projectile Type 36 (Czech Design), 47mm

German Designation: 4.7cm Pzgr. Patr. 36 (t) (Panzergranate Patronen 36 (t) )

Employment: 4.7cm Flak. 37 (Flugabwehrkanone 37)
                            4.7cm Pak. (t)   (Panzerabwehrkanone (t) )

Dimensions

Overall length (complete round): 21.069 inches

Overall length w/o tracer (projectile): 6.625 inches

Diameter at bourrelet: 1.844 inches

Width of copper rotating band: 0.625 inches

Diameter of projectile base: 1.625 inches
Distance from base to band: 1.5 inches

Total weight (projectile): 3.64 pounds

Weight of bursting charge: 0.74 ounces

Type of Bursting Charge: TNT

Tracer present

Overall length (cartridge case): 15.944 inches

Diameter at case neck: 1.98 inches

Diameter at case shoulder: 2.12 inches

Depth of extracting groove: 2.52 inches

Weight of propellant: 15.49 ounces

Type of propellant: Strip Nitroglycerine and Nitrocellulose

Fuze: Base fuze (2 steel balls)
Set screw in projectile holds fuze in place.

Markings: Painted black, capped.
 "pla", lot number "1" stencilled in red.
Projectile curved in towards base.

A.P. Projectile with Tungsten Carbide Core (Arrowhead Design), 47mm

German Designation: 4.7cm Pzgr. Patr. 40 (Panzergranate Patronen 40)

Employment: 4.7cm Pak. (t) (Panzerabwehrkanone (t) )
        4.7cm K 36 (t)  (Kanone 36 (t) )

Dimensions

Overall length (complete round): 18.94 inches

Overall length w/ tracer (projectile): 5.375 inches

Distance of body midway: 1.187 inches
Width of rotating band: 0.51 inches
Total weight (complete round): 2.5 kilograms
Total weight (projectile): 1.81 pounds

Length of Tungsten carbide core: 3 inches
Diameter of Tungsten carbide core: 0.812 inches

Tracer present

Overall length (cartridge case): 15.944 inches

Diameter at case neck: 1.98 inches

Diameter at case shoulder: 2.12 inches

Diameter of extracting groove: 2.52 inches

Type of propellant: Tubular

Markings: Painted black

A.P. Projectile with Tungsten Carbide Core (Arrowhead), 50mm

German Designation: 5cm Pzgr. Patr. 40 KwK (Panzergranate Patronen 40 Kampfwagenkanone)

Employment: 5cm KwK Kampfwagenkanone
5cm KwK 39 Kampfwagenkanone 39
5cm Pak 38 Panzerabwehrkanone 38

Dimensions

Overall length (complete round): 14.48 inches

Overall length w/ tracer (projectile): 5.75 inches
Diameter of bourrelet: 1.95 inches
Diameter of rotating band: 2.269 inches
Width of rotating band: 0.5 inches

Distance of body midway: 1.258 inches
Total weight (complete round): 5 pounds, 3 ounces
Total weight (projectile): 1.95 pounds

Length of Tungsten carbide core: 2.937 inches
Diameter of Tungsten carbide core: 0.81 inches
Weight of Tungsten carbide core: 0.72 pounds

Tracer present

Overall length (cartridge case): 11.342 inches

Diameter at case neck: 2.035 inches

Diameter at case shoulder: 2.668 inches
Diameter at case base: 3.085 inches
Weight of cartridge case: 1.87 pounds

Type of propellant: Tubular Diglycol
Weight of propellant: 1.2 pounds

Fuze: None


Markings: Painted black

A.P. Projectile without Cap for Tank Gun, 50mm

German Designation: 5cm Pzgr. Patr. KwK (Panzergranate Patronen Kampwagenkanone)

Employment: 5cm KwK. (Kampfwagenkanone)

Dimensions

Overall length (complete round): 16.357 inches

Overall length (projectile): 7.5 inches

Diameter at bourrelet: 1.963 inches
Distance from base to band: 1.156 inches
Diameter at projectile base: 1.938 inches

Width of soft iron rotating band: 0.406 inches

Total weight (complete round): 7 pounds, 10 ounces
Total weight (projectile): 4 pounds, 8.25 ounces
Type of bursting charge: PETN/Wax
Total weight of bursting charge: 0.58 ounces

Tracer present

Overall length (cartridge case): 11.342 inches

Diameter at case neck: 2.035 inches

Diameter at case shoulder: 2.668 inches

Diameter at case base: 3.085 inches
Weight of cartridge case: 1 pound, 12.76 ounces

Type of propellant: Diglycol

Fuze: Base Detonating fuze Rd.Z. 5103

Markings: Painted black.
"164DL 608 1940 C FES" stamped in base.

H.E. Projectile, Type 38, 50mm

German Designation: 5cm Sprgr. Patr. 38 KwK (Sprenggranate Patronen 38 Kampfwagenkanone)

Employment: 5cm KwK Kampfwagenkanone
5cm KwK 39 Kampfwagenkanone 39
5cm Pak 38 Panzerabwehrkanone 38

Dimensions

Overall length (complete round): 18.61 inches

Overall length w/ fuze (projectile): 8.82 inches
Width of soft iron rotating band: 0.376 inches

Distance from base to band: 1.55 inches
Diameter at projectile base: 1.873 inches
Total weight (complete round): 6.85 pounds
Total weight (projectile): 4.16 pounds

Type of filling: TNT with red phosphorus smoke box
Weight of filling: 5.87 ounces
Type of booster charge: PETN/Wax

No tracer present

Overall length (cartridge case): 11.342 inches

Diameter at case neck: 2.035 inches

Diameter at case shoulder: 2.668 inches
Diameter at case base: 3.085 inches
Weight of cartridge case: 1.87 pounds

Type of propellant: Flaked gudol
Weight of propellant: 0.332 pounds

Fuze: Nose percussion fuze AZ 39


Markings: Painted green, red band around fuze.
"L.R. 25.10.40.9" stencilled in black in two places on body.

A.P. Projectile with Cap for Tank Gun, 50mm

German Designation: 5cm Pzgr. Patr. KwK (Panzergranate Patronen Kampfwagenkanone)

Employment: 5cm KwK Kampfwagenkanone
5cm KwK 39 Kampfwagenkanone 39
5cm Pak 38 Panzerabwehrkanone 38

Dimensions

Overall length (complete round): 16.683 inches

Overall length (projectile): 6.51 inches

Diameter at bourrelet: 1.969 inches
Distance from base to band: 1.156 inches

Width of soft iron rotating band: 0.406 inches
Diameter of rotating band: 1.312 inches

Total weight (complete round): 7.7 pounds
Total weight (projectile): 4.56 pounds

Type of bursting charge: PETN/Wax (87/13)
Weight of bursting charge: 0.87 ounces

Tracer present

Overall length (cartridge case): 11.34 inches

Diameter at case neck: 2.035 inches

Diameter at case shoulder: 2.668 inches
Diameter at case base: 3.085 inches
Weight of cartridge case: 1.87 pounds

Type of propellant: Tubular Diglycol
Weight of propellant: 1.1 pounds

Fuze: Base detonating fuze Bd.Z. 5103

Markings: Painted black, unpainted band at nose.

Packaging: Twelve rounds to a metal carrier - 20kg

Next Time: 75mm Projectiles

Imperial Japanese Army Ammunition: IJA Rockets, Mortars and Explosive Charges

Japanese Explosive Ordnance: Army and Navy Ammunition

20cm High Explosive Spin-Stabilized Rocket

Assembled Round:
-Weight of complete round: 84.51kg
-Length of complete round (with fuze): 38.58 inches
Head:
-Weight of filled head (w/o fuze): 39.2kg
-Weight of filling (cast TNT): 16.2kg
-Length of head (w/o fuze): 17.52 inches
-Diameter of head: 7.87 inches
Filling: Cast TNT - 16.2kg

Fuzing:
-Army Type 100 mortar fuze - Selective: Instantaneous, short delay

Motor:
-Weight of filled motor: 45.31kg
-Weight of propellant: 9.52kg
-Length of motor: 19.06 inches
-Diameter of bearing surface: 7.99 inches

Propellant:
-Type: Smokeless powder B
-Weight: 9.52kg
-Number of sticks: 6 long, 2 short
-Smokeless powder B by analysis is a mixture of 27.71% N.G., 63.50% nitro-cellulose, 0.45% graphite, 0.34% percent ash, 3.81% ethylcentralite, 3.68% diphenyl formamide, and 1.30% volatiles. Six long sticks (34cm x 5.8cm x 1.05cm perforation) and two short sticks same diameter and perforation and 1/2 length. In some cases, one or both of the short grains have been omitted in assembly.

Ignition Mechanism:
-Igniter: Pull friction igniter
-Ignition charge (B/P/ in two blue lacquered silk bags)
-Weight of ignition charge: 0.04kg

Color and Markings:
Black overall, Head carries single yellow band at its junction with rocket motor. Weight of head and motor stenciled on each component.

Launcher:
The only launcher recovered for use with this round is a single barrel-type launcher

Remarks:
A newer model of this round has been recovered, similar to the first but with the rocket motor wall diametrically reduced to 18.9cm, giving a bourrelet effect at each end of the motor. The motor weight is correspondingly reduced to 42.43kg. Neither the head nor the motor is interchangeably with its respective component in the older round.




Type 89 58mm H.E. Mortar

Weight of complete round: 1.6 lbs
Weight of main charge: 5.4 oz
Explosive Components:
-Main charge: TNT
-Propellant: Nitrocellulose diphenylamine flaked powder.
Overall length: (w/o fuze): 4.33 inches
Maximum diameter: 50mm

Color:
1. Black overall with red band at nose, and
-A. A yellow band below the bourrelet and white band forward of rotating band
-B. Yellow band midway on the shell
2.Maroon color overall for Navy use
3.Green nose, black body with yellow and white bands.

Fuzing:
-Type 88 small instantaneous fuze

Used in:
-Type 89 grenade discharge

Description:
The body of this shell is made of three parts.
-The propellant base housing houses the propellant container and the percussion primer.
-The main shell base cover is threaded to the top section on one end and to the propellant housing on the other.
-The top section has an opening in the top to receive the fuze.
On firing, the gases generated blow through the ports in the base housing, expanding the copper rotating into the rifling of the discharger giving a gas seal and imparting rotating to the seal.

Remarks:
The Navy version of this shell is exactly the same in construction as the Army version the only variation being in the color scheme, Two minor variations of construction have been found.
1. The nose portion screws on (LH) the body directly below the bourrelet. The base is solid instead of being closed with base plate.
2. Similar to the first variation except the threads are right hand (RH).


I believe this entry is a typo and should read 50mm rather than 58mm


Type 95 50mm Smoke Mortar

Weight of complete round: 1.9 lbs
Weight of smoke filling: 3.7 oz
Filler:
-Smoke compound: Hexachlorethane smoke mixture
-Propellant: Nitrocellulose diphenylamine flaked powder.
Overall length (w/o fuze): 4.33 inches
Maximum diameter: 50mm

Color:
Black overall with a red band at the nose and two white bands, one immediately below the bourrelet and the other before the rotating band.

Fuzing:
-Type 89 small time fuze

Used in:
-Type 89 grenade discharger

Description:
The projectile casing is of forged steel. The nose screws onto the main body at a point just behind the bourrelet. The main body is joined to the base with a press-fit held by four screw shear pins. The propellant base housing which screws onto the shell base is similar in construction and operation to that of the H.E. shell. The smoke mixture is held in a brass can inside the main body and has attached to it by a short cord a steel retarder cup to slow its decent.

Operation:
When the fuze gaine fires, it ruptures the thin plate in the base of the gaine, ignites the smoke mixture, and expels the smoke candle from the shell casing.




Type 89 50mm Incendiary Mortar

Weight of complete round: 1.25 lbs
Weight of incendiary mixture: 10.7 oz
Filling: Incendiary Mixture:
-Potassium nitrate: 47.7%
-Aluminium: 21.7%
-Antimony trisulphide: 6.1%
-Wax: 2.8%
Propellant: Nitrocellulose powder
Overall length: 6.25 inches
Length of propellant containers: 1.25 inches
Diameter propellant container: 1.02 inches
Maximum diameter: 50mm

Color:
Natural brass body with black propellant container

Fuzing:
Powder delay train

Used in:
-Type 89 grenade discharger

Description:
The shell is a cylindrical sheet metal tube with a hemispherical nose and is covered with clear lacquer. Around the side of the casing are four silver-foil disks, each disc covering seven ports in the shell casing. The casing is crimped over the base, which contain two black powder delay trains and is threaded to receive the propelleant housing. The propellant housing is of steel with six gas escape ports in the sides and a percussion cap set in the screwed in base. The propellant is contained in a copper cup inside the propellant housing.

Operation:
The flash from the propellant ignites the delay trains in the base of the shell, which in turn ignite the incendiary filling.

Remarks:
Another incendiary shell, the Type 10 year, is similar in appearance and operation to the Type 89 shell. It is 5 and 7/8 inches in length; the color of the body is natural brass; and the propellant assembly is black. There are eight sets of perforations covered with silver-foil disks. The Type 10 year shell is fired from the Type 10 year grenade discharger, an obsolete weapon that was the forerunner of the Type 89 grenade discharger.




50mm Finned Bangalore Torpedo

I'm unsure if this is a printing error or if there is no visual documentation of the item.

Weight of complete round: 8.11kg
Weight of main charge: 2.87kg
Main charge: Picric
Overall length (w/o fuze): 78.37 inches
Base section length: 33.25 inches
Length from after end of base to forward bearing surface of base section: 12.75 inches
Maximum diameter of explosion tube: 50mm

Fins:
-Length: 14.75 inches
-Maximum width: 3.5 inches
-Minimum width: 2.5 inches

Color:
Fins and bangalore section are painted tan with a red band at the top of each section. The modified portion of the base section is painted black.

Fuzing:
-Instantaneous delay fuze for bagalore mortar

Used in:
-Type 98 discharger

Description:
The projectile is constructed in two sections. The nose section is a standard bangalore length, while the base section is a bangalore length cut off and modified to fit into the barrel of the discharger. This section also has three spot-welded brackets to which the sheet metal fins are bolted. A cap, having two circumferential grooves cut into it to divide the surface into three after bearing surfaces, is welded around the after end of the base section. A length of 50mm tubing is welded to the base section and serves as a forward bearing surface for the projectile. A plate is welded to the bangalore base section to prevent the bangalore from sliding too far down into the launcher tube.



50mm Stick Charges

(SM) Small (LA) Large
Weight of complete round: (SM) 15.62 lbs - (LA) 17 lbs
Weight of main charge: (SM) 7 lbs - (LA) 10 lbs
Explosive components:
-Main charge: (SM) Picric - (LA) Picric
-Propellant: (SM) Black Powder - (LA) Black Powder
Overall length: (SM) 27.35 inches - (LA) 25.5 inches
Length of explosive container: (SM) 6.75 inches - (LA) 4.5 inches
Width of explosive container: (SM) 4.5 inches - (LA) 6.25 inches
Height of explosive container: (SM) 4.5 inches - (LA) 6.25 inches
Wall thickness: (SM) 0.05 inches - (LA) 0.25 inches
Diameter of stick: (SM) 50mm - (LA) 50mm

Color:
The metal explosive container is painted black, while the wooden "stick" is left unpainted. The large model has a white stripe fore and aft around the explosive box.

Used in:
Type 98 discharger

Fuzing:
Two pull igniters

Description:
The projectile consists of a cast iron box containing blocks of picric acid mounted on a wooden pole 50mm in diameter. Two pull igniters are inserted in the bursting charge and are tied to metal loops on each side of the launcher tube collar. When the projectile is fired these pull igniters are initiated and will in turn set off the bursting charge after a short delay. The black powder propellant in silk bags is placed in the launcher tub below and independently of the projectile. The propellant is fired by a pull igniter inserted in the ignition aperture in the side of the launcher tube.





Next time: 70mm Mortar rounds, including the interesting High Explosive Anti-Aircraft Barrage Mortar Projectile