Panzerwerfer
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The German Panzerwerfer is one of two different types of half-tracked multiple rocket launchers employed by Nazi Germany during the Second World War. The two self-propelled artillery vehicles are the 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42 auf Selbstfahrlafette Sd.Kfz.4/1 (based on the Opel Maultier, or "mule", half-track) and 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42 auf Schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper (or Panzerwerfer auf SWS).
[edit] Specifics
The Panzerwerfer 42 auf Maultier weighed 7.1 tonnes, was six meters long, two meters wide, and nearly three meters high. It was capable of reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h. One of these half tracked vehicles generally carried a Nebelwerfer 42 launching system, which was specially designed to be mounted on the Opel-engine powered Panzerwerfer. The German engineers designed this system because of the conspicuous trails of smoke left behind by the Nebelwerfer batteries, which necessitated a self-propelled artillery piece. The system contained 10 missile tubes, and generally carried 20 projectiles, enough for the vehicle to fire two full salvos.
[edit] Reputation
It was considered less accurate than a dedicated artillery piece, but its ability to saturate an area with fire and strike terror into enemy infantry helped it reach widespread use during the war. Some Panzerwerfers had a machine gun mounted above the cab. It was known as the "Moaning Minnie" by Allied soldiers for the distinctive noise the rockets made when fired, similar to the Nebelwerfer stationary artillery.
[edit] 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42 auf Selbstfahrlafette Sd.Kfz.4/1
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A Sd.Kfz. 250/5 leading a column of four 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42 in June, 1944
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A close-up of the Sd.Kfz. 250/5 and the first 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42 in June, 1944
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