| 10 cmNebelwerfer 35 | |
|---|---|
 Allied intelligence diagram of a 10 cmNbW 35 | |
| Type | Mortar |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1939–1945 |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Rheinmetall |
| Designed | 1934–39 |
| Unit cost | 1,500RM |
| Produced | 1939–41 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 105 kg (231.48 lbs) |
| Barrel length | 1.344 m (4 ft 5 in) L/13 |
| Crew | 7 |
| Shell | 7.38 kg (16 lb 4 oz) |
| Caliber | 105 mm (4.13 in) |
| Elevation | 45° to 90° |
| Traverse | 28° |
| Rate of fire | 10–15 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 193 m/s (633 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 3 km (1.9 mi) |
The10 cmNebelwerfer 35 (10 cm NbW 35) was a heavymortar used by Germany duringWorld War II. Much like the AmericanM2 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 ordinaryhigh-explosive shell from the beginning. It was of conventional design, and was virtually a scaled-up8 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.[1]
It was initially deployed in (German:Nebelwerfer "smoke mortar") battalions belonging to the Chemical Corps of theHeer; exactly how the American initially fielded their own 4.2 inch mortar inchemical mortar battalions. From 1941 they were replaced by the10 cmNebelwerfer 40 and the15 cmNebelwerfer 41multiple rocket launcher.
Initially they were deployed inNebelwerfer battalions numbered 1 to 9, plus theNebel-Lehr Abteilung (Demonstration Battalion) and saw service in theBattle of France and Russia duringOperation Barbarossa.
Specialist units using these mortars were also formed, such asGebirgs-Werfer-Abteilung (Mountain Mortar Battalion) 10 which was formed in Finland in early 1942 by expandingNebelwerfer-Batterie 222. This had itself been converted from 8th Battery of Artillery Regiment 222 of the 181st Infantry Division during theinvasion of Norway.[2]
Following their replacement in the chemical corps, further uses were found for the mortars, including issue toFallschirmjager units as heavy mortars.[3]