Granatenwerfer 16

Granatwerfer 16
A Granatwerfer 16 at the Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung, Koblenz, Germany
TypeInfantry mortar
Grenade launcher
Place of originGerman Empire
Service history
In service1916-1920s
Used by German Empire
 Austro-Hungarian Empire
 Kingdom of Bulgaria
 Ottoman Empire
 Poland[1]
WarsWorld War I
Production history
DesignerFather Vécer
ManufacturerStock & Co, Berlin
Bing Brothers, Nürnberg
Maschinenfabrik Alfred Wolff, Berlin.
Specifications
MassLauncher: 24 kg (53 lb)
Baseplate: 16 kg (35 lb)
Barrel length152 mm (6 in)

Shell1.8 kg (3 lb 15 oz)
Caliber60 mm (2.4 in)
RecoilNone
Elevation+14° to +85°
Traverse80° L/R
Rate of fire4-5 rpm
Effective firing range460 m (500 yd)[2]

The kleine Granatenwerfer 16 or Gr.W.16 (Small Grenade Launcher Model 1916) in English, was an infantry mortar used by the Central Powers during the First World War. It was designed by a Hungarian priest named Father Vécer and was first used by the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1915. In Austro-Hungarian service, they received the nickname "Priesterwerfers". In 1916 Germany began producing a modified version under license for the Imperial German Army.[3]

  1. ^ Ciepliński, Andrzej (1994). Encyklopedia współczesnej broni palnej : od połowy XIX wieku. Ryszard Woźniak. Warszawa: WIS. p. 80. ISBN 83-86028-01-7. OCLC 36057898.
  2. ^ "Granatwerfer 16". www.bulgarianartillery.it. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  3. ^ Jäger, Herbert (2001). German artillery of World War One. Marlborough: Crowood Press. pp. 78–79. ISBN 1-86126-403-8. OCLC 50842313.