Bolt Action: German Heer 120mm Heavy Mortar

Developed in 1941, the 12 cm (about 4.7 in) GrW 42 was an attempt to give German infantry units a close support weapon with a heavier performance than the mortars used in general service at the time. The weapon was a copy of the mortar used by Soviet forces on the Eastern Front. The Soviet version that was copied, the PM 38 120 mm mortar, was used by German soldiers after capturing one of them. These Soviet versions were defined 12 cm Granatwerfer 378 (r).