The following image depicts German Infantry Soldiers crossing the Soviet Border.

  • SSTF@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    8
    ·
    7 months ago

    You are spot on that those are mortars. You can actually see two tripods in the photo, being held by men near each tube.

    It appears very to be the 8 cm Granatwerfer 34, based on the fact that I can’t find any examples of the 10cm being shoulder carried, or of carrything straps. Whereas, I have found multiple examples of the 8cm being carried and a close up of the carrying strap which matches.

    • Tar_Alcaran@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      7 months ago

      Having lugged around an 81mm mortar, the designation “man portable” is a bit of stretch already. It breaks into 3 sets of 10kg, and each shell is another 4.5kg. and thats post ww2, I don’t think they were lighter in the 40s.

      Carrying an 81mm around on top of all the regular stuff is already dubiously useful for how few shots you get, doing the same with a 100mm is straight up stupid (though not impossible, I’m sure someone somewhere did it).