20 cm leLdgW

Infobox Weapon
name=20 cm leichter Ladungswerfer


caption=
origin=Germany
type=spigot Mortar
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=yes
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
service= 1940-45
used_by=flagcountry|Nazi Germany
wars= Second World War
designer=Rheinmetall
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=
number=
variants=
weight=93 kg
length=
part_length=540 mm
crew=
cartridge=21.27 kg
caliber=90 mm (spigot diameter)
action=
rate=
velocity=
range=
max_range=700 m
feed=
sights=dial
breech=
recoil=
carriage=
elevation=45° to 80°
traverse=5°
blade_type=
hilt_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
diameter= 20 cm
filling=Amatol
filling_weight=15 lbs
detonation=
yield=

The 20 cm leichter Ladungswerfer (20 cm leLdgW) was a spigot mortar used by Germany during World War II. It was used by engineers to demolish obstacles and strongpoints. It was gradually withdrawn from front-line service from 1942.

Propellant was placed at the top of the spigot and ignited when the projectile slid far enough down the spigot to complete the circuit. It fired HE and smoke rounds in addition to a special Harpunengeschosse (harpoon bomb) that carried a rope with hooks to clear mines or wire obstacles.

External Links

* [http://www.lonesentry.com/manuals/tme30/ch7sec3.html mortar page from TM-E 30-451 Handbook on German Military Forces on Lone Sentry]
* [http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/ttt/german-200mm-spigot-mortar.html Allied intelligence report on Lone Sentry]

ources

* Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter. "Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939-1945". New York: Doubleday, 1979 ISBN 0-385-15090-3