1945 Krupp 8.8-cm Raketenwerfer 43 Portable Trailer Gun - Demilitarized | The National Military History Center | RM Sotheby's

Lot 134

The National Military History Center

1945 Krupp 8.8-cm Raketenwerfer 43 Portable Trailer Gun - Demilitarized

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$13,000 USD | Sold

United States | Auburn, Indiana

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Identification No.
RW3818
Addendum: All military vehicles and artifacts offered in this sale are sold "As Is" and "For collector purposes only". These military vehicles and artifacts should never be loaded and/or fired with any ammunition. We make no warranty and/or representations as to the suitability or fitness of these items for use. By purchasing military vehicles and artifacts you hereby and irrevocably waive any and all claims against Auctions America by RM, Inc. and agree to indemnify and hold harmless Auctions America by RM, Inc. from any injuries or death associated with these military vehicles and artifacts. Please note, there may be an associated licensing fee based on the location of licensing, and bidder must satisfy himself as to all licensing and import requirements in his home state or country.

Please Note: Information regarding these museum display vehicles was provided by the National Military History Center and has not been independently verified by Auctions America by RM ("AA"). As such, AA does not verify, warrant or guarantee any of this information. Prior inspection and research by the buyer is highly encouraged and recommended.

ATTENTION: Buyers are responsible for securing transportation and moving/loading of lots. Lot may be left on display indefinitely in the museum free of charge with a signed loan agreement form. Lots are sold as is, where is.

Please note this is being sold on "Bill of Sale" only.

Manufacturer: Krupp / Rheinmetall

Production Years: 1944-1945

Caliber: 88-mm (3.46-inches)

Length Overall: 9-feet, 10-inches

Width: 3-feet, 3-inches

Height: 3-feet, 3-inches (to top of shield)

Weight: 325-pounds

Maximum Range: 700-yards

Traverse: 60-degrees

Elevation: -18-degrees to +15-degrees

Warhead Weight: 1-pound, 8-ounces

Complete Weight of Rocket: 5-pounds, 13-ounces

Markings: Camouflage represents late war (post 1942) sand base paint

Demilitarized

The German 8.8-cm Raketenwerfer was designed to address the maximum range limitations of the RP43 and RP54 Panzerschrecks (bazookas). In 1943, an American 2.36-inch, M1 bazooka was captured in Tunisia and sent to Germany for evaluation. Soon afterwards, the 8.8-cm Panzerschreck 43 entered production, utilizing the same principles of the American bazooka, but featuring a larger 8.8-cm warhead. The Raketenwerfer 43 incorporated a longer and heavier rocket tube, as well as a modification of the Panzershreck RP43 and RP54 rocket grenades. These changes resulted in an increase of range from 160-220-yards to 700-yards. The total weight of the weapon, however, went from 20-pounds to 325-pounds! The rocket was loaded through a sliding breech block, and aiming was carried out without the aid of control wheels since the barrel was mounted on a free-moving pivot. Firing instructions were printed on the gun shield. The wheels could be removed, leaving ski-type sledges for lowering the profile of the weapon, as well to ease towing across snow. The complexity and cost of the Raketenwerfer 43 limited it to a supplementary role of the Panzerschreck RP43/54.

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