Granatwerfer 36
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| Granatenwerfer 36 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Mortar |
| Place of origin |  Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1936 – 1945 |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Wars | Second World War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Rheinmetall-Borsig AG |
| Designed | 1934 |
| Produced | 1936-1945 |
| Variants | 5 cm leGrW 36 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 14 kg |
| Length | 465 mm (barrel) 350 mm (bore) |
| Crew | 2 |
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|
|
| Shell | 0.9 kg TNT filled |
| Caliber | 50 mm |
| Traverse | 33°45' |
| Rate of fire | 15-25 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 75 m/s |
| Effective range | 50 m - 510 m |
| Maximum range | 520 m |
| Sights | Telescopic, Later none |
The Granatenwerfer 36 (Literally, "grenade thrower") (Official designation: 5 cm leGrW 36) was a mortar used by Germany during World War II.
Development started 1934 by Rheinmetall-Borsig AG and was adopted for service 1936. Its intended role was to engage pockets of resistance that were beyond hand grenade throwing range. Until 1938 it used complicated telescopic sight. By 1941 the Granatwerfer 36 was seen as too complex for its intended role. It fired too light a bomb and had too small a range. Production was terminated. It was gradually withdrawn from front line service by 1942, but available mortars remained in use until 1945 with second-line and garrison units until the end of hostilities in 1945. As supplies of the Granatwerfer 36 dwindled during 1944-1945, the Germans often relied on captured French and Russian 50 mm mortars, and in most cases, preferring the captured Russian mortars over the standard German issue. Still, the 50 mm continued to be popular for the remainder of the war, simply by the fact that it was easily transported by two men, and it provided the Infantry with a hitting power and range capability greater than any other weapon readily available at the squad or section level.
