Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung

The Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung (abbreviated N.K.A.V.) was a rear mounted grenade dispenser used to disperse the Schnellnebelkerze 39 smoke grenade. It was typically found on German tanks from 1939 through 1942.^[1]

Close up of the Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung.

Operation

The device carried five smoke grenades, each grenade being held in position by spring loaded catches. The vehicle commander released the grenades one at a time^[1] by wire control which operated a ratchet coupled to a camshaft.

Each pull of the control wire rotated the camshaft one fifth of a turn, releasing a smoke grenade, the pin of which was drawn out by a fixed chain, and the ratchet was returned to its original position by a second spring. Five pulls on the control wire would release all five smoke grenades in succession, enabling the vehicle to reverse out of sight into its own smoke screen^[2] with the grenades discharging smoke for about 100 to 200 seconds.^[3] Later examples of the Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung were fully enclosed in an armored box (N.K.A.V. mit Schutzmantel).^[4] The Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung was discontinued beginning in April 1942 because it had not proven to be effective,^[3] the main disadvantage being that the resulting smoke screen built up behind the vehicle.^[5] It was succeeded by the turret mounted Nebelwurfgerät launcher.

Gallery

• 
  Panzer I tank equipped with the N.K.A.V.
• 
  Panzer II tank equipped with the N.K.A.V.
• 
  Panzer 38(t) tank with an armored N.K.A.V. mounted below the muffler and painted with a Balkenkreuz.
• 
  Panzer III tank equipped with the N.K.A.V.
• 
  Panzer III tank equipped with the N.K.A.V.
• 
  Panzer III tank with an N.K.A.V. mounted above the right muffler.
• 
  Panzer III with an armored N.K.A.V.
• 
  Panzer IV tank with an N.K.A.V. mounted above the muffler.
• 
  Panzer IV tank with an N.K.A.V. mounted above the muffler.
• 
  A destroyed Panzer IV with an armored N.K.A.V. painted with a Balkenkreuz.

See also

• Nebelwurfgerät
• Minenabwurfvorrichtung
• Nahverteidigungswaffe