German 56 150 and 300mm Rocket Launcher

Introduced in 1944, the German 30cm Raketenwerfer 56 was a unique rocket launcher capable of firing both 150 and 300 mm smoke, chemical, and high-explosive spin-stabilized rockets. It consisted of the launching rails of the 30cm Nebelwerfer 42 mounted on the obsolete 5cm anti-tank gun carriage, and 694 were produced by Mashinen Fabrik in Donauwörth. A special set of rails stored in a rack on top of the launcher allowed it to fire the smaller 15cm rockets, and towing eyes at the front and rear let one vehicle tow several launchers hooked in tandem. These weapons were manned by the Nebeltruppen, or Smoke Troops, of the chemical branch of the German Army, and were organized into batteries of six weapons, with three batteries in a battalion and battalions grouped in independent regiments and brigades. Because of the rockets' massive back blast, crews had to take precautions before electrically firing them. The 30cm Raketenwerfer was used on all fronts until the end of the war.

Lawton, Oklahoma · United States