5 cm Granatwerfer 36

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	Weapon: 5 cm Granatwerfer 36 Type: Mortar Country of Origin: Germany Year Adopted: 1936 Overall Length (mm): 1040.0 Overall Length (in): 40.94 Weight (kg): 10.00 Weight (pounds): 22.05

The 5 cm Granatwerfer 36 was a light infantry mortar designed and produced by Nazi Germany in the 1930s. It was intended to provide platoons with a portable indirect fire weapon for use in short-range engagements. The weapon featured a relatively compact design with a smoothbore barrel and a bipod mount, allowing it to be quickly deployed in the field. The Granatwerfer 36 fired 50 mm high-explosive fragmentation rounds, which were effective against personnel and light fortifications. However, its effective range of 520 meters was considered limited compared to heavier mortars.

Production of the Granatwerfer 36 began in 1936 and continued into the early years of World War II, with tens of thousands manufactured. Initially, it was widely issued to German infantry units, but its operational effectiveness was quickly called into question. The weapon's low explosive payload and limited range led to criticism from troops, who often found it less effective than the heavier 8 cm Granatwerfer 34. By the mid-war years, the Granatwerfer 36 was largely phased out of front-line service, though it remained in use with some second-line and garrison units.

The 5 cm Granatwerfer 36 is notable for its role in the early stages of the war, where it provided infantry with a degree of fire support in mobile operations. Despite its shortcomings, the mortar was appreciated for its portability and ease of use in situations where heavier artillery was unavailable. Today, the weapon is primarily remembered as a transitional design that highlighted the evolving needs of modern infantry warfare. Examples of the Granatwerfer 36 can be found in military museums, where they serve as a reminder of the challenges and innovations of wartime weapon development.