English: 21 cm Nebelwerfer 42 and
Land Mattress at the
Canadian War Museum. See also
Image:Land Mattress plaque.jpg.
The Nebelwerfer 41 (fog-launcher in English) fired six 150mm rockets, which each carried an explosive charge comparable to the projectiles of the 105mm howitzers of the time. The six rockets were fired in quick succession by the 4 man crew, which had to take cover from the rocket back blast in a small trench further away. Although a very potent weapon, the Nebelwerfer had a big drawback - the rockets it fired left a large smoke trail in the air, which could be visible from miles away. This meant that the Nebelwerfer batteries could only stay in the same place for a short time after firing, before the enemy artillery would have zeroed in on their position. When the rockets were fired they made a howling pipe-organ sound, which led the allied soldiers to nickname them 'screaming mimis'.
Also look at this link: http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/nebelwerfer/index.html
Resources to find more info about Nebelwerfer:
Emde, Joachim. Die Nebelwerfer: Entwicklung und Einsatz der Werfertruppe im Zweiten Weltkrieg
Husemann, Friedrich. In Good Faith: The History of the 4. SS-Polizei-Panzer-Grenadier-Division: Volume 1: 1939-1943
Geheimen Tagesberichte der deutschen Wehrmachtführung im Zweiten Weltkrieg, 39-45
Guderian, Heinz Günther. From Normandy to the Ruhr: With the 116th Panzer Division in World War II
Hinze, Rolf. Frost und Pulverdampf: Der Schicksalweg der 20. Panzer-Division
Ibid. 19. Infanterie- und Panzer-Division: Divisionsgeschichte aus der Sicht eines Artilleristen; 6. Auflage
Kaltenegger, Roland. Schwicksalsweg und Kampf der "Bergschuh"-Division: Die Kriegschronik der 7. Gebirgs-Division, vormals 99. leichte Infanterie-Division
Kameradenschaft der ABC-Abwehr-, Nebel und Werfertruppe. Die Nebel- und Werfertruppe (Regimentsbögen)
Klink, Ernst. Das Gesetz des handlens die Operation "Zitadelle" 43
Kurowski, Franz. Deadlock Before Moscow: Army Group Center 42/43
Kuusela, Kari. Panzers in Finland
Lehmann, Rudolf. The Liebstandarte; Vol. III
Mark, Jason D. Death of a Leaping Horseman: 24. Panzerdivision in Stalingrad 12th August - 20th November 1942
Newton, Steven H. Kursk: The German View
Niedhardt, Hanns. Mit Tanne und Eichenlaub: Kriegschronik der 100. Jäger-Division vormals 100. leichte Infanterie-Division
Niehorster, Leo W. G. German World War II Organizational Series; Vols. 2/II, 3/II, and 4/II: Mechanized GHQ Units and Waffen-SS Formations (10 May 40, 22 June 41 and 5 July 42)
Ruef, Karl. Odyssee einer Gebirgsdivision: Die 3. Geb.Div. im Einsatz
Stadler, Silvester. Die Offensive gegen Kursk: II. SS Panzerkorps als Stoßkeil im Großkampf
Tessin, Georg. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 39-45 Ullrich, Karl. Like a Cliff in the Ocean
Vopersal, Wolfgang. Soldaten, Kämpfer, Kameraden: Marsch and Kämpfe der SS-Totenkopf-Division
Zetterling, Nikolas. Normandy 44: German Military Organization, Combat Power and Organizational Effectiveness