7.3 cm Propagandawerfer 41

The Propagandawerfer 41 was a rocket launcher for the associated non-lethal Propagandagranate 41 rocket. The launcher and rocket were a light man-portable system fired by specially-trained propaganda troops during World War II to distribute leaflets.

7.3 cm Propagandawerfer 41
Type	Rocket artillery
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
In service	1941-1945
Used by	Nazi Germany
Wars	World War II
Specifications
Mass	12.26 kg (27 lb)
Barrel length	.75 m (2 ft 6 in)
Width	.5 m (1 ft 8 in)[1]
Shell	.4 m (1 ft 4 in)
Shell weight	3.24 kg (7 lb 2 oz)
Caliber	72.4 mm (2.85 in)[1]
Elevation	+45° fixed
Muzzle velocity	250 m/s (820 ft/s)
Effective firing range	3.4 km (2 mi)[2]
Filling	Leaflets
Filling weight	.23 kg (8 oz)[1]

Description

7.3 cm Propagandagrante 41

Launcher

The Propagandawerfer 41 consisted of a light 12.26 kg (27 lb) steel tube framework. The base of the launcher was triangular in shape and had a crossbar through the center with a hinge that connected the base to a circular launch cage. At the tip of the base there was an adjustable arm for elevating the launch cage and in the center of the launch cage was a trough which the Propagandagranate 41 rocket was launched from.^[2] The rocket rested at the top of the cage until the crew pulled a lanyard, the rocket then slid down until it hit a firing pin which launched the rocket.^[1]

Rocket

The Propagandagranate 41 was constructed of a plastic nose cone which held 200 leaflets weighing .23 kg (8 oz) that were rolled around a coiled spring and a metallic base which held the solid rocket. When the rocket was fired propellant gasses were forced through a steel base plate that had angled venturi drilled in it to impart spin.^[2] A delay fuse was also ignited and a bursting charge separated the nose cone from the base at an altitude of 100–150 m (330–490 ft), the spring then uncoiled to scatter the leaflets.^[1]