Bundesarchive picture posted on Twatter: https://twitter.com/Ninja998998/status/1482640079377997824?s=20 Training/alignment/Setup/spotting? MG, AT, tank gun, mortar? Bundesarchive bild 1011-294-1529-18a foto: müller, karl i 1943 sommer. Though I can't find it to see if there's more in a series.
Ah, Got the image. Bundesarchiv - Bilddatenbank Seems to be a series where the photographer's touring bunkers. Caption: Netherlands, Walcheren (?).- Training, soldier with part of a grenade launcher; PK 698
Purely an educated guess but it fairly obviously clamps the rifle to a gun barrel to check sight alignment probably of the direct fire telescopic sight on the gun. Firing a tracer would prove it was hitting the target area. They used to fix a bren to antitank guns to fire the main armament when the tracer hit the tank. From memory I think this was used on the Wombat in the 50's. 120 mm BAT recoilless rifle - Wikipedia Note specified crew includes target spotter with spotting rifle.
More than aware, but the devil lies, as ever, in the detail. 'Granatwerfer' a somewhat generic term in German parlance. Maybe most likely a mortar of sorts, but some carrying the name are indeed large artillery pieces and recoilless or rocket-y stuff. And wouldn't a spotting weapon require the full barrel, its aim being to enhance accuracy... Odd thought it'd almost make sense for Panzerschreck or Puppchen training...
Not the device pictured... I think..., but some very interesting Panzerschreck stuff here, including mangling one and attaching a knackered k98 for training: The Panzerschreck training
From the collection that you linked to: Presumably it was designed to mirror the arc of the mortar for training purposes.
I've never seen anything like this either, but I would strongly guess one of those typical troop conversions: Purely from the dimensions, it seems like the guys a la lances grenades de 50mm DTB mounted the barrel from one of the abundant 5-cm grenade launchers from booty stocks on a sawed-off rifle. With the tiny shell, I'm guessing something like this: https://www.skbgmbh.de/download/kdm/2016/11.pdf At that time everything the front could not use was dumped at the Atlantic Wall. Since the tiny 5 cm was only good for scaring chickens, there would have been no problem from the German military bureaucracy to make such a thing a simulator for training purposes. And Walcheren was a kind of vacation region until almost the end, so there was plenty of time and leisure to think up such curiosities. regards Olli
I wondered too, especially with that site's mention of adapting knackered rifles for Panzerschreck training. Have this feeling a book on 'Weapons of the Atlantikwall' would be just the kind of eclecticism I'd buy. Sadly, me and 14 other people does not a publishing success make. Because: Imagine the fun you'd have at the beach with that thing. Glad I pottered onto that BergFlak site in the process. Rather good. I mean... detailed articles on Slings & Boxes? Yes please.
For such training devices there was from December 44 even a regulation construction manual. (Hurra - wir haben einen Befehl! ) Article 5, by the way, states mutatis mutandis: old-style training shooting equipment still with the troops may be used up. Own new productions are prohibited Einübungsschießgerät „Panzerfaust“ regards Olli
The rifle is obviously cut right at the chamber. Either they lengthened the firing pin or otherwise mounted a spike on it, if that wasn't enough. (Neither is rocket science, you can do it in any hobby shop). You repeat quite normal and pull the trigger - the bolt/spike strikes forward on the grenade and off it goes. The grenade launcher from the linked document worked pretty similar. A bit cumbersome, but you have full control of when the shot is triggered and can also trigger remotely via lanyard: Actually ideal for training purposes. regards Olli
Well, a larger caliber would have made little sense The main thing is that Owen does not get crazy ideas with his action figures.....
