Company Officer's Handbook Of The German Army - All Gauge Page

WEAPONS, OBSTACLES, AND VEHICLES 41
12 in the heavy-weapons company of the infantry battalion); or
mounted on a special antiaircraft mount and used against aircraft
by the addition of an adapter and antiaircraft sights.
20. INFANTRY MORTARS
The infantry mortar is normally an important support weapon
of the German infantry regiment. It was relegated to a minor
place in desert fighting because of its limited range (see fig. 24),
but its capabilities have been fully exploited in the Tunisian and
Italian Campaigns.
The two standard infantry mortars of the German Army are the
50-mm light mortar, model 36 (leichter Granatwerfer 36) (fig, 25),
and the 81-mm heavy mortar, model 34 (schwerer Granatwerfer
34) (fig. 26, p. 42).
The 50-mm mortar is the organic support weapon of the rifle
platoon and rifle company (one per rifle platoon), and the 81-mra
mortar is the organic support weapon of the infantry battalion
(six per battalion, in the heavy-weapons company). A 120-mm
mortar is also in use, firing a 35-pound projectile up to 6,500 yards
(see par. 13b, p. 27).
Quick-release
lever
Elevating-screw
sleeve
Barrel handle
Range indicator
i
Trigger level
Leveling handle
Projectile
Prolectie
Traversing
handwheel
Figure 25.-50-mm mortar, model 36.