The Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung (abbreviated N.K.A.V.) was a rear mounted grenade dispenser used to disperse the Schnellnebelkerze 39 smoke grenade. It was typically found on German tanks from 1939 through 1942.[1]
Operation
The device carried five smoke grenades, each grenade being held in position by spring loaded catches. The vehicle commander released the grenades one at a time[1] by wire control which operated a ratchet coupled to a camshaft.
Each pull of the control wire rotated the camshaft one fifth of a turn, releasing a smoke grenade, the pin of which was drawn out by a fixed chain, and the ratchet was returned to its original position by a second spring. Five pulls on the control wire would release all five smoke grenades in succession, enabling the vehicle to reverse out of sight into its own smoke screen[2] with the grenades discharging smoke for about 100 to 200 seconds.[3] Later examples of the Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung were fully enclosed in an armored box (N.K.A.V. mit Schutzmantel).[4] The Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung was discontinued beginning in April 1942 because it had not proven to be effective,[3] the main disadvantage being that the resulting smoke screen built up behind the vehicle.[5] It was succeeded by the turret mounted Nebelwurfgerät launcher.
Gallery
Panzer I tank equipped with the N.K.A.V.
Panzer II tank equipped with the N.K.A.V._und_Infanterie.jpg.webp)
Panzer 38(t) tank with an armored N.K.A.V. mounted below the muffler and painted with a Balkenkreuz.
Panzer III tank equipped with the N.K.A.V.
Panzer III tank equipped with the N.K.A.V.
Panzer III tank with an N.K.A.V. mounted above the right muffler.
Panzer III with an armored N.K.A.V.
Panzer IV tank with an N.K.A.V. mounted above the muffler.
Panzer IV tank with an N.K.A.V. mounted above the muffler.
A destroyed Panzer IV with an armored N.K.A.V. painted with a Balkenkreuz.
See also
Notes
- 1 2 Jentz 2006, p. 60.
- ↑ Perrett 1999, p. 17.
- 1 2 Zaloga 2016, p. 32.
- ↑ Jentz 2007, p. 74.
- ↑ Panther 1944 Der Mittlere Panzerkampfwagen - SD.KFZ. 171 Archived 2019-08-14 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved: 20 February 2019.
References
- Jentz, Thomas (2006). Panzer Tracts 3-1: Panzerkampfwagen III - Ausf. A, B, C, und D. Boyds, MD: Panzer Tracts. ISBN 0977164349.
- Jentz, Thomas (2007). Panzer Tracts 3-2: Panzerkampfwagen III - Ausf. E, F, G, und H. Boyds, MD: Panzer Tracts. ISBN 9780977164394.
- Perrett, Bryan (1999). Panzerkampfwagen III Medium Tank 1936–44. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781855328457.
- Zaloga, Steven (2016). Bazooka vs Panzer Battle of the Bulge 1944. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781472812490.