Panzerwerfer 42 - Hitler's Armoured Rocket Launchers

The fearsome Panzerwerfer 42 - a special German armoured vehicle mounting the dreaded six-barrelled Nebelwerfer 41 rocket launcher.
Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Credits: US National Archives; Library of Congress; Bundesarchiv

[@blitzkrieg1711]

Sometimes I click a Mark Felton video just to hear the intro music

[@danthewalkingmanen-dorsetg8521]

Me too Then I'm hooked

[@badbotchdown9845]

As me

[@scottmccloud9029]

I agree.

[@aredditor4272]

Make it your ringtone

[@Zebred2001]

I does stir the blood!

[@timothyhouse1622]

Technically, "werfer" means "thrower." So Nebelwerfer is literally "smoke thrower." A mortar is a granatwerfer, or grenade thrower. Naturally , that means Panzerwerfers throw panzers.

[@badAim2]

Im pretty sure "Panzer" translates not only to tank but also armour and the vehicle name is something like "armoured thrower" ;)

[@badAim2]

Or just something like "tank that throws" but I think the first one is more likely

[@admDanRyan]

I'm fairly certain it was "Armored thrower"

[@stevepodleski]

nebel=fog

[@derin111]

Technically Nebelwerfer = Fog Thrower. Nebel means fog…not smoke. Smoke Thrower would be Rauchwerfer ( Smoke = Rauch in German).

[@spankflaps1365]

And only 80 years before this, soldiers would face off 200 feet from the enemy, firing rifles and cannon balls.

[@nilanjangupta763]

Warfare plays an integral role in technological developments. Though these development comes at the price of young soldiers.

[@IrishCarney]

Even in this war, the vast majority of bullet casualties came from close quarters - within 300 yards or less. And victory in such fights most often went to the side that managed to throw more rounds at the enemy. It took a long time especially for the Germans to get past their old insistence on the importance of long range accuracy at the expense of rate of fire.

[@warbrain1053]

@@IrishCarney artillery is a big game player. Mgs too

[@teaadvice4996]

@@nilanjangupta763 who cares

[@samuelgordino]

@@IrishCarney The vast majority of casualties were because of artillery. And Germany was well known for their very fast firing machine guns.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Pretty sure the rocket artillery noise was used as the T Rex sound in Jurassic Park or some other movies.

[@thomasmarren2354]

Sounds like something out of Star Wars like the AT-AT walkers or TIE fighters the Empire had.

[@quigonjinn5349]

Beat me too it

[@lordgarion514]

Godzilla movies.

[@taxidermypolarbear1724]

@@thomasmarren2354 errrwererweeewwrrrr

[@spookysockmonkey4605]

The trex is an alligator lion and baby elephant

[@DesertVox]

Somehow, they sound more fearsome and terrifying than their modern counterparts, which are less noisy and more lethal.

[@michaelandreipalon359]

Surprise attack purposes, of course. This one is made for scare tactics.

[@XxXtwitchXxX13]

@@michaelandreipalon359 that's wholly inaccurate, the sound is just produced via design of the rocket; modern rocket Munitions are just much more efficient , thuse quieter!

[@Merdican]

Sounds like starwars

[@shawnmiller4781]

@@Merdican makes sense, Han’s blaster was a reworked Luger

[@Merdican]

@@shawnmiller4781 everything comes together…

[@gunman47]

I remembered seeing this vehicle back in Medal of Honor: Spearhead and Medal of Honor: Breakthrough. The sounds that the Nebelwerfer made were terrifying even at a distance away.

[@Mat-threw]

Back when video games were good. And not woke.

[@dante666jt]

Bruh

[@HAZRDLyrics]

When he said “ I remembered seeing this vehicle .. “ first thing came to my mind that he is a real WW2 soldier until I reach “ in Medal of Honor “ Nvm lol

[@GP30277]

@YourWaifuRena you can’t say cringe when you watch anime, you probably touch kids and have pink hair and call yourself they them

[@GrooveSpaceArk]

@YourWaifuRena waifu

[@RT-mm8rq]

By 1945 Germany's economy and infrastructure was definitely in shambles. I continue to be amazed that Germany's armerments industrie were able produce these mobile rocket launchers despite dwindling resources and competition from other weapons programs.

[@ottovonbismarck2443]

It's basically a combination of existing components. Truck, launcher, minimal armor. Running/gear and tracks initially came from captured Bren or Universal carriers. It was far less complicated and much cheaper than an SdKfz 251. A lot of these conversions were done by smaller companies which weren't necessarily involved in other programs.

[@highjumpstudios2384]

The German government robbed the cradle and the grave equally for their military and industry. You'd be surprised what you can throw together when your workforce is hopped up on methamphetamines trying to cope with the shifts the government mandated.

[@dragospahontu]

It was easy under a dictatorship

[@Desertfox92308]

I believe Albert Speer was responsible for war production even up to the end of the war.

[@duicic8541]

Two words: Forced labour. That kept young men free for service on the front lines, while ensuring high production capacities. They were still capable of making V-2s up until nearly the end of the war. Look up Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp, and bring a strong stomach when you reach the end of the article.

[@jkern35]

Mark Felton could give a lecture on a time share scheme in the Arctic circle and I'd still buy a ticket. Really enjoy your channel, one of my favorites 👍

[@musicmanbc9613]

I’m just glad he exists! This stuff is always fascinating no matter how mundane.

[@bremnersghost948]

Sold!! bring on Global Warming ;-)

[@kragar77]

Even if he said don't take my word for it since however it would be far fetched!

[@jaybuck5818]

Well... Maybe if hot soup was offered! 🙂

[@vk2ig]

How about a time share scheme for Nazi leaders at a secret Antarctic base?

[@lsq7833]

The one example at the Saumur tank museum is, as far as I know, the only survivor of those. What's more, it's also in running condition despite visible battle damage from British antitank rifles!

[@richardm3023]

I thought the British phased out antitank rifles in '41. Since these vehicles were in use after 1943, perhaps it was damaged by PIAT hits?

[@fossforus4704]

Says more about the boys AT rifle than it does the Werfer.

[@vermas4654]

@@fossforus4704 meh, considering its armour is not worth the ammo fired at it, an anti tank rifle is just the simplest choice

[@daniellejones5981]

Shrapnel damage...

[@topcat4759]

Admit I have never seen one at Bovington or the land museum at Duxford so maybe it is the last one in existence.

[@L_Train]

I can't imagine being on the end of a large Katyusha bombardment. The thing you don't always realize when watching film is just how loud rockets really are. It's like they are violently ripping the air as they scream toward a fiery end.

[@extragoogleaccount6061]

My question with those is: how did they do any spotting and aiming? The technology seems to have massively increased range and lethality, but if you are launching stuff out of eyesight or binocular range, how do they determine if they are hitting anything? Its like they have the range of more modern artillery, but its all "dumb" bombs. Anyways, yea, those sounds sound terrifying even off my laptops little treble-y speakers. Can't imagine facing it. Especially at night with the stroboscopic effect.

[@trappenweisseguy27]

They were not terribly accurate from rocket to rocket but depended more on a barrage effect. They must’ve had a hidden spotter somewhere who could see up front. Otherwise as you say they could be landing long or short.

[@leomduffy794]

Well anything with in site to zero in on like say a few tanks and tank crews being caught off guard would be terrible Imadgin sleeping and then woke up to that everything withing a 50 or more yard radius would be destroyed.

[@thegreatxcelerator4224]

@@extragoogleaccount6061 I think there is some misunderstanding here. The range of the Nebelwerfer weapons (about 6.9km as stated at 1:45) was not superior to traditional artillery but rather inferior. German WW2 howitzers came with a range of 9.1 - 13.3km, so no "new" technology for identifying & aiming at targets was required.

[@Valks-22]

There was a video/doc unrelated but where sources (WM vets) mentioned Katyushas as not really that terribly effective. And beyond the initial shock that men got used to them and they were far easier to 'survive' in dugouts, bunkers, tanks, and trenches than common medium/heavy artillery strikes.

[@michaelmichael4132]

The video cites "8,000 tons of rockets" fired by "about a dozen" Nebelwerfers at Canadian and British positions on Hill 122 in Normandy. Each rocket weighed ~70 lbs., so that's well over 200,000 rockets.

[@zxbzxbzxb1]

Hmm, that seems unlikely! Maybe it was 8000kg

[@elykeom1]

@@zxbzxbzxb1 seems very likely in a war dominated by industry and mass production , hell those are rookie numbers compared to the Soviets.

[@schroedingersdog7965]

4:25 I was wondering about this; 8,000 tons = 8 kilotons, which is equivalent to a "tactical" nuclear weapon (although that's not the weight of the rocket's explosive payload, of course). Whatever the actual tonnage, being on the receiving end of such an assault must have been most unpleasant.

[@michaelmichael4132]

The explosive charge was 5.25 pounds in the HE version.

[@schroedingersdog7965]

@@michaelmichael4132 Thank you!

[@krisfrederick5001]

Stalin had his organs, Hitler had his harps.

[@scottmccloud9029]

Now they're both begging for a glass of ice water.

[@richardm3023]

@@scottmccloud9029 While waiting for Putin to join them so they can shove pineapples up his rear!

[@bak-mariterry5180]

@@scottmccloud9029 Tea time over. Back on your head . Not a put down. Just a old joke.

[@krisfrederick5001]

@@scottmccloud9029 To wet the whistles

[@tootlingturtle7254]

@@bak-mariterry5180 What’s the joke?

[@todddavis2041]

I don't think its possible to be bored hearing about a topic if its by Mark. He just knows how to present things in an interesting way.

[@PT-rg2vo]

Great video. Also the Germans had Wurfrahmen 40, a Sd.Kfz. 251 half track with 6 rocket launchers strapped to the sides.

[@nigelo92]

The Stuka zu Fuss!

[@gergelyhangodi9008]

Also known as the Walking Stuka.

[@Caysari]

@@gergelyhangodi9008 in german also called "Stuka zu Fuß"

[@dieterrahm4044]

Mein Großvater war Batterieführer der Raketenartillerie. Sie verwendeten den Stuka zu Fuß. Davon hat er mir mal erzählt. Vor dem Krieg wurden sie an Minenwerfern ausgebildet. Am Anfang des Krieges in Frankreich dann das leichte Infanteriegeschütz und später, nach Stalingrad dann die Stuka zu Fuß. Beeindruckt hat ihn dabei die Wirkung der schweren Raketen. Die hatten nicht so sehr Splitterwirkung. Aber durch den Explosiondruck muß es dem Gegner die Lungen zerstört haben. Jedenfalls in einem engeren Umkreis. Lustigerweise bin ich in den 80ern ebenfalls zur Raketenartillerie (LARS 110mm) gekommen. Wir haben damit Nebel, Splitter und Minen verschossen. 36 Rohre pro Werfer.

[@1DoctorMoo]

Ha! I just posted a comment on this also 😊.

[@Hascienda27]

It still encapsulates me that WW2 began with: Horses, Carts, tractor like tanks built under duress, uboats still built like its ww1, piston engine planes sometimes bi planes and bolt action rifles yet ended with jets and actual rockets, the main battle tank concept, the electric uboat, the gas powered assault rifle, rocket launchers and improved flame throwers, radar/ the first computers and beyond. It really was a technical war throughout and without it the world today would be drastically different from what we know.

[@tobiwan001]

I would not translate "Panzerwerfer" with "armoured mortar" but with "armoured launcher". A mortar is referred to as Mörser in German, while Werfer is the general term for any kind of launcher. Thanks for the video!

[@MothaLuva]

Flammenwerfer…Flame launcher..?!?

[@curseditem8354]

*t a n k l a u n c h e r*

[@5peciesunkn0wn]

Zis ish mein panzerwerfer! It werfen panzer! *PzIVs fly on V2s through the air with the grace of a brautwurst in a bun*

[@markkir193]

Tankthrower!😉😂😂😂

[@richardm3023]

@@5peciesunkn0wn mmmm...bratwurst....

[@martintsonev3257]

Congrats on the recent award! Greatest to ever do it!

[@keithlegge6848]

The Wehrmacht also used the SD. KFZ. 251 as an improvised rocket launcher. It could launch four rockets from open crate style racks attached to the side.

[@oskar6661]

Yep, the colloquial 'Stuke zu Fuss' - or 'Walking Stuka', etc.

[@noelblack8159]

ye, i love that version : )

[@blackdontcrack1962]

Best vehicle in men of war 2

[@Athrun82]

There was also a conversion of french halftracks with the Rahmenwerfer 40 (I believe it was) that were created by the Baukommando Becker to defend France from an invasion. Though all of those improvised vehicles were lost during said invasion

[@keithlegge6848]

@@Athrun82 thanks for this. I have recently seen film of a French Hotchkiss H35/39 tank turret mounted on a German bunker in Normandy. Also a similar tank towing a trailer can be seen in film showing the liberation of Paris.

[@tomjustis7237]

Congratulations on your induction into the Royal Historical Society! The honor couldn't have been bestowed on a more deserving person!

[@gregoryemmanuel9168]

I can’t imagine being on the receiving end of one of these… Thank you Mark 🙏🏼

[@rogersmith7396]

Military History Visualized say they are mainly an anti morale weapon. They can't hit the broad side of a barn. When they set them off you go into your foxhole then when finished you carry on.

[@wheelerzg76]

@@rogersmith7396 ''They can't hit the broad side of a barn. '' from an inside :D cheers!

[@greebo6549]

@@rogersmith7396 they weren’t designed for accuracy… it’s for plastering an area en mass in a very short time period… the concussion is as much a killer as the actual explosion

[@peterscrafton5212]

@@rogersmith7396 My late father, who was at Hill 112 (among other places) spoke of the Moaning Minnies and their ability to relocate, rapidly. They were indeed an area weapon, though it was inadvisable to ignore the sound of their being launched. Thank you, Dr Felton, for "covering" the Nebelwerfer - as indeed for all of your work

[@rogersmith7396]

@@peterscrafton5212 My understanding is the modern versions have guided missles which can in fact hit the broad side of a barn. They can also give air bursts which send shrapnel over a large area. I saw a vid on a WWII Bazooka being fired. They hit a 4 X 4 target at around 300 feet and poked a hole in 2 inch armor plate. I was surprised the weapon was so effective.

[@stephenduffy5406]

Members of the US 30th ID were pinned down in a mansion north of Mortain, France in August, 1944, by so many of these rockets, that they dubbed the house, “Chateaux Nebelwerfer”.

[@wyattosullivanandalucia2667]

A belated congratulations on being made a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Society of Arts, Mark. You are indeed becoming, as I read recently, the David Attenborough of War History. Be proud and revel in your achievements. You deserve these honours.

[@CUTECATSTUDIOS]

this was an intriguing one. not only were these built in short numbers but didn't reach their potential. great work as always

[@DimBeam1]

Well done on just repeating what was said in the video. Your attempts to come across as big brain have failed.

[@MrDino1953]

their potential

[@CUTECATSTUDIOS]

@@MrDino1953 thank you for the grammar correction. Appreciate it!

[@topcat4759]

Great rare footage I have not seen in any other documentary on WW2.

[@robertphillips6296]

Just when I thought I seen every German Weapons System from the war Mark comes up with a new one

[@dr.barrycohn5461]

Thanks for this excellent segment. From a psychological perspective, the noise the rockets made could have been done on purpose like whistling sound of the stuka. It was a misused of empathy understanding the noises struck terror in the hearts of the enemy.

[@winfieldjohnson125]

The earliest instances I've heard of where sound makers were used to panic enemies would be a noise maker the romans used in combat that looked sort of like a tuba crossed with a dragon, and the bagpipes. Yes bagpipes were a weapon of war, lol.

[@snakeplissken2148]

The psychological effect of noise from the rockets or stukas often is a little bit exaggerated. After a while, the soldiers got used to it. And the noise even can be used to estimate where the shell will hit. A silent, unpredictable impact would be more terrifying. For example the mrsi capability of modern artillery.

[@wojo44frompl]

I have one nitpick: Wurfgranate (rockets for Nebelwerfers) where stabilized by rotation, not fins - they had series of small exhausts that were angled. Gases from rocket's engine both pushed and rotated projectile.

[@guydespatie6881]

Good eye... You beat at the finish line on that one! I was a bout to comment but decided to scrool at existing comments to see if that had already been mentionned... and voilà !

[@wojo44frompl]

@@guydespatie6881 It's not big deal - it's just matter of reading some literature...

[@fatcomrade5046]

Wait... fin stabilized? I thought German rocket artillery was generally stabilized by spin induced by vents that allowed some thrust to be diverted to the effort of spinning.

[@guydespatie6881]

Good eye... You beat at the finish line on that one! I was a bout to comment but decided to scrool at existing comments to see if that had already been mentionned... and voilà !

[@TankerBricks]

Mark. Thanks for providing my Wednesday night entertainment!

[@rickcheyne]

Great video! I really appreciate seeing this old rocketry footage and photos. I can't remember if you mentioned it but "Maultier" is German for "Mule".

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

The advantage of rocket launchers mounted on armored vehicles or vehicles in general is tactical mobility. Not only can they move to wherever you need them, but they can move to avoid counter battery fire

[@buckstarchaser2376]

Sounds like amused penguins socializing. What a cute little machine.

[@Roller_Ghoster]

I think the uniforms for these units are very rare. Thanks for another WW2 video Mark Felton. Much appreciated.

[@bigpapadrew]

that is indeed a terrifying sound that would haunt the enemy

[@SonGoku-mj5pq]

*I never heard of this rocket launcher, Thanks again Dr. Felton!!!*

[@badbotchdown9845]

You're alone

[@FRFFW]

What the "2:07"?! you never know?

[@Arbiter099]

Military History Visualized is a great channel with more detailed Nebelwerfer coverage and a lot of good WW2 content

[@Its_Me_Romano]

Know it as a overpriced prem in WT

[@FRFFW]

@@Its_Me_Romano well that's good because i don't like auto load kv2

[@samuraifool912]

Great Video as Always. My Old Dad (Ex Royal Marine) said those 'Bloody Moaning Mini's were Terrifying.!' Coming in With What he Called a 'Stonk' as in A Stonking Great Thud..! The only Thing you could do was, 'Get Low, Hang on to your Hat ( Helmet ) and Pray to God it didn't land on You..!' He didn't say much about his Service. But what I did get told, was even a Church of England Lad ( As he was and therefore not a Religious type..!). He did an Awful lot of Praying when those things Came Over..! Thanks to All who Served and Thanks for Producing this Video. Cheers All, Kim in Oz. 😎

[@andraslibal]

The Nebelwerfer was a big success on the Eastern Front in 41 but once the Russians started fielding the Katyushas in large numbers they outclassed the Germans not just in mobility but also their rocket propellant material was just better and their salvos went farther and were larger. Not to mention that with Land-Lease they could mount it not just on a Gaz truck but an American built Studebaker truck. The switch to the mobile Nebelwerfer was late and the number produced was small - by 43 the Germans had supply problems and their main effort was not to have a good offensive weapon against infantry and soft targets but to have defense against massed armor in the East and air power in the West. So I guess this was the effort level they could put into rocket troops from their limited resources.

[@Gallagherfreak100]

The German soldiers were stunned by the appearance of the large amounts of Katyushas, as well as the T34 and KV1 tanks in the summer of 1941. They had been well propagandized that they were facing hordes of ignorant peasants armed with obsolete weapons.

[@Keckegenkai]

@@Gallagherfreak100 Source? They had respect for those but they learned how to deal with them, when they had the right caliber to do so at their disposal.

[@Erik_Arnqvist]

Felton daddy

[@bidbidnanakowski2522]

I love these short clips. Perfect for aspiring historians with low attention spans lol

[@pottersmiles7238]

That noise is both frightening and incredible all at the same time

[@Balthorium]

The American one was called the “Calliope” and the Soviet one was “Stalin’s Organ.” Some of the coolest sounding weapons ever.

[@jwenting]

the name Stalin Organ was afaik never officially adopted by the Soviets, but coined later by the Americans when the North Koreans used them during the Korean war.

[@jayjayson9613]

@@jwenting I always thought it was the Germans that came up with that. Good to learn the source

[@damianousley8833]

Unfortunately they were not aimed with the accuracy of conventional artillary and all the visible rocket exhaust made them targetable by counter artillery battery fire and ground attack aircraft.Only good for a very rapid fire pulse to try and stall or overwhelm enemy positions and then the slow process of reloading and relocating the rocket batteries. They were very good at laying down a rapid smoke screen, which was their foretay.

[@PanzerBuyer]

I believe the explosive was at the very end of the rocket in an attempt to keep the blast from being buried on impact. The exhaust flight gas exited through perforations in the sides.

[@milosjovicevic6083]

It is not strange that you Westerns support Nazi Ukraina...

[@davidr2802]

"Unfortunately"? interesting choice of word.

[@nodarkthings]

@@davidr2802 Not at all.

[@snakeplissken2148]

The smokegrenade didnt work with the exhaust smoke. They were designed to deliver toxic Gas with "special" grenades. The Nebel in the nebelwerfer or nebeltruppe was a disguise.

[@FarrellMcGovern]

I like how you worked 42, the answer to live, the universe and everything, into your video for Towel Day!

[@johncostello2948]

In watching Mark Felton's videos, I have come to love any machine that ends in "werfer".

[@7Starslayer7]

aaaah a good feeling seeing Mr. Felton finally struggle with the pronounciation of a german word. Thank you Maultier!

[@MrCommodoreAtari]

German military design in the Second World War was simply sexy.

[@alejandromolina5645]

I love german WW2 technology. They look so sophisticated and futuristic at the time. They were so backward in manufacturing technology in mass production.

[@josephtenney8426]

The German rockets sound absolutely terrifying. Insane.

[@kbilsky]

1:50 Nebelwerfer rockets (all types) were not "fin stabilized" but SPIN STABILIZED. Rocket engine nozzles were at angle and that causes rotation of rocket. It provides significantly better accuracy than fin stabilized russian, british or american rockets.

[@rodchallis8031]

My father served with the Ist RCR through Sicily, Italy and Holland. I remember hearing the phrase "Moaning Minnie" and asked him about it. I never got the sense he was particularly intimidated by it. It could well be he was never on or near the receiving end, or because he was an enthusiastic slit trench digger in any spare time. I always got the sense that he was more intimidated by German infantry counter attacks more than any particular piece of German equipment.

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

The spade, often overlooked but a very important defensive weapon.

[@yolakin8210]

Another weapon that was given little mention in history, until Mark Felton makes a video about it. Thanks Mark!

[@matthewbaxter8558]

That's a frightening sound, coming off those armored rocket launchers.

[@linkieloos]

The British had their own equivalent known as the Land Matress. But they were deployed much later compared to their Soviet and German counterparts. They most notably were used to support allied forces crossing the Rhine and Scheldt rivers. At the Scheldt, over a thousand rockets were fired in six hours.

[@jpmtlhead39]

Oh yes, like The Piat... Awsome weapons.

[@bradforddean1]

A book I read about Stalingrad, a first person account was made on the effect of the Nebelwerfer on the enemy. They found corpses without a mark on them. The blasts of high explosives compressed the air of them and they died from suffocation

[@mattilatvala4164]

So like modern Russian TOS with gas explosions. 🤔

[@thedausthed]

If you believe that, you will believe anything!

[@darrellwhittington4645]

Sir,,,again ! you continue to impress me ! I'm 72 years old,,,I've never heard or seen this weapon before. My father was a tank unit commander with Patton's 3rd army,,,so I try to absorb as much WWII info as I can,,,, please continue your outstanding work and knowledge!

[@WildBillCox13]

The Howling Cow, indeed. "Thank you for your service!" "Eh? What? Can't hear a word!"

[@simonacuthbert1]

That sound is truly terrifying. Great documentary, Mark and thanks as ever for its excellent educational content.

[@ditzydoo4378]

What I thought was unreal about the Nebelwerfer, is when they mounted then to Type VII-C submarines, and successfully launched them while submerged in a hoover mode.

[@nicktozie6685]

Never heard of that one

[@ditzydoo4378]

@@nicktozie6685 it was a weird one.

[@NexityCreative]

Christ, WWII even SOUNDED terrifying.

[@Wolfen443]

The sound of those rockets and the way they appear at those targeted is just terrifying. Now, they are even deadlier, better aimed and got longer range too.

[@forbeshutton5487]

It wasn't just counter-battery that put them at risk, by the late war the Allies had air superiority and the huge clouds of dust and smoke they threw up could easily be seen from the air from far away, ringing a dinner bell for any ground attack planes in the area.

[@nodarkthings]

What we all wanna know: did any of these puppies survive?

[@MrRobster1234]

My Father was in the Canadian army. He had a great respect for what he called "The Moaning Minmie". For a time he was a batman to an officer in Italy. One time he was detailed to accompany this officer on leave. The officer made my Father pitch a pup tent outside the castle he was billeted in. That night a "Moaning Minnie" blew the castle off the face of the Earth.

[@mitchmatthews6713]

I appreciate that you find new topics to cover each time, Mark!

[@HamanKarn567]

It's always been one of my favorite vehicles from WW2.

[@maciejniedzielski7496]

2:02 By the Polish resistants in Warsaw 1944 Uprising that German weapon was called "KROWA 🐄" a cow due to sound

[@igorgregoryvedeltomaszewsk1148]

Yes - My Father who was in Krybar remembered them and especially the trajectory sound of the Karl mortar which indicated how long time you would have to take cover.

[@hansulrichboning8551]

The germans themselves nicknamed the nebelwerfer heulende Kuh(howling cow).

[@maciejniedzielski7496]

@@hansulrichboning8551 didn't know that. I sometimes think what the soldiers of nebelwerfer units thought bombarding Warsaw with lot's of civilians in buildings cellars...

[@jerryjeromehawkins1712]

The Germans called their rocket teams "Smoke Troops" prior to WW2 to throw off Treaty of Versailles watchers.

[@Kronosaur0s]

“VASSILY, destroy that panzerwerfer!!!”

[@firstcynic92]

4:25 8000 tonnes of rockets out of 24 vehicles in 1 battle? That's dubious. Each rocket was 45kg total mass. 8000 tonnes = 8,000,000 kg. That's 177,000 rockets. About 7400 per launcher. With an effective rate of fire of 4 rounds per minute, firing constantly, that would take 30 hours. Without interruption.

[@heimdalshorn]

..your math is wrong: 7.400 per launcher is ok. Each launcher has 10 barrels and firing this 10 rounds in 10 sec. So firing constantly (in theory) it is 3.600 rounds per hour per launcher. So it would be 2 hours sustained firing to launch 7.400 rockets per launcher. It is practically absolutey no problem to fire this number of rockets in one or two days in one battle.....

[@firstcynic92]

@@heimdalshorn 4 rounds per minute is the regular 6 barrel Nebelwerfer rate of fire. That includes reloading time. Obviously just shooting is much faster. I see no reason why loading 10 rounds wouldn't take longer than loading 6. 24 launchers with 10 rounds each can only fire 240 rockets before reloading. Now do that until you've fired 177,000 rockets. Then add in time for relocating, maintenance, sleep, food... This isn't going to be 2 days, it'll end up way over a week. And then there's the 120 box cars needed to haul all those rockets...

[@Vogelweyhde]

As a point of interest regarding the name: "Nebel" in "Nebelwerfer" relates to the name of the developer or inventor of this weapon, engineer Dr.Rudolf Nebel. It is only incidental that the rockets would have established a dense smoke screen or fog (- Nebel in German).

[@igorgregoryvedeltomaszewsk1148]

Thank you for solving the origin of this word-enigma which has left me wondering for years, as there is little logic in linking fog with the launcher.

[@alfredttarski4521]

Your claim is most likely wrong. There is no evidence that Rudolf Nebel, who prior to his politically motivated removal from any sensitive work had been instrumental in the development of ballistic missiles, ever played any role whatsoever in the development of any of the many variants of the Nebelwerfer. His research was exclusively related to liquid-propellant engines for long-range ballistic missiles, which bear only a fleeting resemblance to the technology used in the various variants of the Nebelwerfer, which all were solid-fuel propelled. The Nebelwerfer was first deployed by the German _Nebeltruppe,_ units initially intended for chemical warfare but actually never deployed in that role, which may explain the name of this type of weapon. The matter is muddied by Nebel's use of the same term to refer to a simple air-to-air rocket which he claimed to have invented and used against enemy aircraft whilst serving with the Flying Troops of the Imperial Germany Army in WWI.

[@evilchaosboy]

That "howling" effect would be enough to deflate the morale of the toughest army!!! \m/

[@RAYADOS-it3cu]

I’m convinced Mark Felton plays enlisted. His videos just coincidentally align with the updates they announce.

[@13thBear]

Imagine if the Germans had built some thousands of these weapons instead of only 300! What a mess that would have been.

[@GibsonReview]

Mark, you are a content-creating machine! The Germans sure created a lot of firsts. It must have been all that Pervatin (Methamphetamine-Hydrochloride) they were taking.

[@meixo9083]

or their ingenuity

[@OldEastGermany]

Can you explain everything with Pervitin to cover up that the Americans and British were second-rate.

[@dutchschultz3076]

First I would like to congratulate you Dr Felton for your induction into the historical society. And I would like to thank you as always for bringing us the content to sharpen the minds of all. Salute from Detroit USA

[@josephwilliams7995]

I can't imagine how terrible it must have been to be on the front lines during WW2.

[@irishcherokee8884]

Could you tell the story of a U.S. Destroyer that entered a French harbor and got in a shootout with two German tanks that were on the beach.

[@wilmermendez3930]

Mark, please make a video about the U Boat sank by Cuban Navy, I think is a very interesting story, even Hemingway was involved in it. I understand Cuba was one of the few nations that sank an Axis submarine in Latin América if not the only one.

[@mr.dudeman3694]

The katyusha launching its rockets sounds spooky as hell

[@mr.niceguy1812]

There's 2 sounds that have terrified me since early childhood, 1 is the air raid siren & the other are those rockets. I'm 47 & they still give me the willies!

[@douglasjones2570]

Wow. They sure do sound scary! Yikes!

[@hanzup4117]

This vehicle is too expensive on War Thunder. All premium rocket vehicles are too expensive.

[@cliffthelightning]

Yup, its also pretty useless

[@hanzup4117]

@@cliffthelightning Yeah, but the noise the rockets make is cool lol.

[@shirleybalinski4535]

My Dad talked of the " moaning Minnies" from WW2. I do not remember if it was 1st hand knowledge or not. I'm 70yo. He talked about these when I was a kid so, my memory has faded. He mentioned the sound & how the troops didn't like them( scared the troops) because one never really knew where they would land.

[@boarder721]

The sound those rockets make are truly terrifying.

[@nickvincent9645]

The sound of the nebelwefer firing is extremely similar to some Star Wars sound effects to my ear.

[@craigw.scribner6490]

I agree; sort of like Tie Fighters flying by...

[@eurocrusader1724]

Alarms on the death star ..

[@evanray8413]

Or a T-Rex.

[@TroyTempest0]

Great and interesting video Mark. I'd never heard of this. By the way : Maultier = mule and is pronounced something like "mowl-tear".

[@rileyernst9086]

I love the old recordings of rocket fire. Sounds like a brawl of enraged elephants.

[@armanhadi777]

I remember playing the Company of Heroes campaign and hearing this weapon in action. Absolutely demoralising to hear an incoming barrage. Great content as usual.

[@aerlial360]

Just finished the over 500-page "Inside The Third Reich, Memoirs of Albert Speer." It was shocking reading of the sheer stupidity of Hitler constantly ignoring facts that would've won Germany the war, especially when it came to armaments and hamstringing Speer's ability to produce effective weapons and especially, spare parts.

[@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music]

give me some bullet points please

[@noahwail2444]

It was not finn-stabilised, but spinn-stabilised. The russian rockets was finnstabilised.

[@arya9585]

So i though i was off when i heard him say it but yes. Using Venturies.

[@lysanderkrieg5474]

They weren't fin stabilsed Mark. The 15cm Wgr. 14 Spr. had 26 venturi angled at 14 degrees from vertical. The 14 degree angle of the nozzles imparted a spin stabilsation as the propellant burned and the gas vented through the venturi. The fuel was in the form of a seven cylinder power pack (forward section of the rocket, warhead rear) of either Diglycol or black powder, the latter becoming more prevalent towards the end of the war as material shortages occured.

[@H3llBaron]

Otto Carius in his book remembers a mistaken attack of nebelwerfer on his position. The fire was so powerful to destroy armored doors of panzers, who was out of tanks has been vaporized.

[@MrVonBastard]

I remember seeing one (the 6 tube trailer one seen first) of these in the parking lot of Interarms in Alexandria Virginia. Damn, I loved that place. 7 warehouses of awesomeness.

[@kaptainkaos1202]

I’d just wander thru that place years ago and try to listen for stories to come from the equipment they had. How many items were the last thing someone ever held?

[@MrVonBastard]

@@kaptainkaos1202 I remember a huge wooden box by the check out counter full of loss rifle cartridge's. Some of them had rusted together. Sad it's all gone now. They turned the whole place into a shopping center. Great Japanese Steakhouse there so can't complain.

[@MrVonBastard]

@@kaptainkaos1202 Of course, this was all back in the early 80's.

[@sebastianstefanski3380]

Hitlers katyusha

[@stonedtowel]

Definitely one of my favorite German support weapons systems of the Second World War. Oddly amusing the slight similarity between the Junkers JU 87 dive screech and the rocket’s screech.

[@mainiac4pats]

I was going to ask if you’d ever heard of “Screaming Mimi’s”! 2:14 my grandfather told me of these when I was young, he was in US Field Artillery. Never mind! So many things he spoke of have been brought to life for me.

[@FrankTheThinkTank]

2:51 if you say "Mowl-tier" in english, than it sounds more like the German word "Maultier" 😉 German "aul" sounds like the english word "owl" (the bird)

[@destruktor_7301]

Now we know were george lucas got the at at sounds from

[@jayernster7869]

Yet another chapter in the annals given from Professor Felton, who has become the Greatest authority on all things World War II we will ever have the pleasure to learn from.

[@phyrr2]

Need an expansion pack for C&C with these things.

[@Jeff--vq4zb]

Bruh. Hover MLRS is better than these.

[@markushesse3970]

Looking for details every now and then, and if so, very often I end up finding the most substantiated answers here, on this channel. Time to subscribe, I‘d say.