Brontekst bekijken van Granatwerfer 42

{{Short description|WW2 German infantry mortar}}
{{Infobox weapon
|name= 12 cm Granatwerfer 42
|image=Granatwerfer 42 an der Ostfront.jpg
|image_size=300
|caption= Granatwerfer 42 on the Eastern Front
|origin=Nazi Germany
|type= [[Mortar (weapon)|Mortar]]
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged=yes
|is_bladed=
|is_explosive=
|is_artillery=yes
|is_vehicle=
<!-- Service history -->
|service= 
|used_by=[[Nazi Germany]]
|wars= [[Second World War]]
<!-- Production history -->
|designer= 
|design_date=1942
|manufacturer=
|unit_cost= 1,200 [[Reichsmark]]
|production_date=1943–1945
|number=8,461<ref name=Granatwerfer>[http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/granatwerfer.htm] {{in lang|de}}</ref>
|variants= 
<!-- General specifications -->
|weight={{convert|280|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
|length= 
|part_length={{convert|1.865|m|ftin|abbr=on}} L/15.5<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/mortarsrockets0000cham/page/9|title=Mortars and rockets|last=Chamberlain|first=Peter|date=1975|publisher=Arco Pub. Co|page=[https://archive.org/details/mortarsrockets0000cham/page/9 9]|others=Gander, Terry|isbn=0668038179|location=New York|oclc=2067459}}</ref>
|crew=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications --> 
|cartridge={{convert|15.6|kg|lboz|abbr=on}} bomb
|caliber={{convert|120|mm|inch|abbr=on}}
|action=
|rate=8-10 rpm 
|velocity={{convert|280|m/s|feet/s|abbr=on}} 
|range= 
|max_range={{convert|6|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name=":0" />
|feed=
|sights= 
<!-- Artillery specifications -->
|breech=
|recoil=
|carriage=
|elevation=45° to 85°
|traverse=8° to 17° variable with elevation<ref name=":0" />
<!-- Bladed weapon specifications --> 
|blade_type=
|hilt_type=
|head_type=
|haft_type=
<!-- Explosive specifications --> 
|diameter=
|filling=
|filling_weight=
|detonation=
|yield=
}}

The '''''12&nbsp;cm Granatwerfer'' 42''' (literally, "grenade thrower Model 42"; official designation: '''12&nbsp;cm GrW 42''') was a [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] used by Germany during [[World War II]].

== Development ==
Developed in 1942, the 12&nbsp;cm (about 4.7 in) GrW 42 was an attempt to give German infantry units a [[Fire support|close support weapon]] with greater performance than the [[Mortar (weapon)|mortars]] used in general service at the time. This weapon was very similar to the [[M1938 mortar]] used by [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] forces on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] which in turn was an improved version of the French 120&nbsp;mm Brandt Mle 1935 mortar. The 120&nbsp;mm Brandt m35 was used in limited quantities during the [[Battle of France]] and exported to the USSR and other nations before the country's capitulation in 1940. The Soviet [[M1938 mortar|PM 38]] 120&nbsp;mm mortar, were captured in large quantities during the war in the East and pressed into service by the Germans and other Axis nations before the introduction of similar nationally produced 12&nbsp;cm mortar designs. In German use, the captured Soviet mortar was given the designation '''12&nbsp;cm ''Granatwerfer'' 378 (r)'''.<ref name="Encyclopedie">{{cite encyclopedia|title=120-HM 38|language=fr | encyclopedia =Encyclopédie des armes : Les forces armées du monde|publisher=Atlas|year=1986|page=2042|volume=IX|number=103. Armes de soutien d'infanterie 1939-1945}}</ref>

== Description ==
The GrW 42 was basically the usual three-part construction made up of a circular base plate like the previous Soviet design, the tube itself and the supporting bi-pod. Because of the greater weight of the weapon (280 kilograms or 620 pounds) a two-wheeled axle was utilized, enabling the mortar to be towed into action. The axle could then be quickly removed before firing.{{cn|date=February 2018}} A total of 5,373,000 rounds of ammunition were produced for the weapon.<ref name=Granatwerfer/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|12 cm Granatwerfer 42}}

{{WWIIGermanInfWeapons}}

[[Category:World War II infantry mortars of Germany]]
[[Category:120 mm mortars]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1943]]