The Propagandawerfer 41 was a rocket launcher for the associated non-lethal Propagandagranate 41 rocket. The launcher and rocket were a light man-portable system fired by specially-trained propaganda troops during World War II to distribute leaflets.
Description
Launcher
The Propagandawerfer 41 consisted of a light 12.26 kg (27 lb) steel tube framework. The base of the launcher was triangular in shape and had a crossbar through the center with a hinge that connected the base to a circular launch cage. At the tip of the base there was an adjustable arm for elevating the launch cage and in the center of the launch cage was a trough which the Propagandagranate 41 rocket was launched from.[2] The rocket rested at the top of the cage until the crew pulled a lanyard, the rocket then slid down until it hit a firing pin which launched the rocket.[1]
Rocket
The Propagandagranate 41 was constructed of a plastic nose cone which held 200 leaflets weighing .23 kg (8 oz) that were rolled around a coiled spring and a metallic base which held the solid rocket. When the rocket was fired propellant gasses were forced through a steel base plate that had angled venturi drilled in it to impart spin.[2] A delay fuse was also ignited and a bursting charge separated the nose cone from the base at an altitude of 100–150 m (330–490 ft), the spring then uncoiled to scatter the leaflets.[1]