Granatwerfer 36 Country Germany Type Mortar Manufacturer Rheinmetall Introduction 1934 Specifications Weight 14 kg (31 lb) Barrel length 465 mm (18 in) Crew 2 Shell 0.9 kg (2 lb) TNT filled Caliber 50 mm (1.97 in) Elevation 42° to 90° Traverse 33° 45\' Rate of fire 15-25 rpm Muzzle velocity 75 m/s (246 ft/s) Effective range 50 m (54.7 yd) min 510 m (557.7 yd) max Maximum range 520 m (568.7 yd) Sights Telescopic, later none

The 5cm leichter Granatenwerfer 36 (5 cm leGrW 36) was a light mortar used by Germany during World War II. Development started in 1934 by Rheinmetall-Borsig AG and it was adopted for service in 1936. Its intended role was to engage pockets of resistance that were beyond hand grenade throwing range. Until 1938 it used a complicated telescopic sight. By 1941 the Granatwerfer 36 was seen as too complex for its intended role. It fired too light a bomb and had too short a range. Production was terminated in 1941. It was gradually withdrawn from front line service by 1942, but available mortars remained in use until 1945 with second-line and garrison units until the end of hostilities in 1945. As supplies of the Granatwerfer 36 dwindled during 1944-1945, the Germans often relied on captured French and Russian 50 mm mortars, and in most cases, preferring the captured Russian mortars over the standard German issue. Still, the 50 mm continued to be popular for the remainder of the war, simply by the fact that it was easily transported by two men, and it provided the Infantry with a hitting power and range capability greater than any other weapon readily available at the squad or section level.