38 cm sLdgW

Infobox Weapon
name=38 cm schwerer Ladungswerfer


caption=A 38 cm sLdgW at WTS-Koblenz with its bomb
origin=Germany
type=spigot Mortar
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=yes
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
service=
used_by=flagcountry|Nazi Germany
wars= Second World War
designer=Rheinmetall
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=
number=
variants=
weight=approx. 1600 kg
length=
part_length=1680 mm
crew=
cartridge=149 kg
caliber=169 mm (spigot diameter)
action=
rate=
velocity=
range=
max_range=1000 m
feed=
sights=
breech=
recoil=
carriage=
elevation=37° to 85°
traverse=360°
blade_type=
hilt_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
diameter= 38 cm
filling=
filling_weight=110 lbs
detonation=
yield=

The 38 cm schwerer Ladungswerfer (38 cm sLdgW) was a spigot mortar used by Germany during World War II. It was used by engineers to demolish obstacles and strongpoints. It proved to be too heavy for its role and it was gradually withdrawn from front-line service.

Propellant was placed at the top of the spigot and ignited when the projectile slid far enough down the spigot to complete the electrical circuit. The spigot mortar was mounted on a traversing bracket on a drum-shaped platform that was staked to the ground. It fired HE and smoke rounds.

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/ttt07/spigot-mortar.html Allied intelligence report on 38 cm ammunition 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