RECON CORNER -News from the front by the Iron Cross team - REPORT 5

Rocket Launchers
the fire storm!
By Antonio Marcelo
antonmarcelo@gmail.com

Introduction Russian Katyusha or Stalin Organs

It consisted of 16 launch tubes (they were adapted
During World War II, both Germans and Russians train tracks!) That fire in 10 seconds a round of
used rocket launchers in combat extensively. The projectiles of calibers of 82 mm (BM-8), 132
Russian Katyushas batteries, known as the organs mm (BM-13 is the most used) in a distance of up
of Stalin and the German Nebelwerfer, were a to 6 km, taking 7 to 10 minutes to be remitted.
terrible combat tool, which caused losses on both
sides and also rampant terror. The tactic of using the Katyushas consisted of
a saturation fire in a restricted area, causing a
We now bring to the Iron Cross, these two psychological demoralization in the enemy and
artillery elements for our battles and to create an massive material destruction.
atmosphere of realism in many battles, especially
those on the Russian front like Stalingrad. The Katyushas were used in several battles, from
Stalingrad to Berlin, with devastating results. The
The Russian Katyushas name Katyusha is the affectionate diminutive of
Ekaterina (Catarina), the name of a popular song
In 1928 two Soviet scientists Artomiev and in wartime.
Tikomirov, designed a kind of 82 mm caliber
missile capable of reaching targets up to 6
kilometers away.

These missiles were embryonic so that the

construction of the so-called “Boeivaia Mashina,”
BM fighting machine, known as “Reaction-
propelled launchers,” began to be called
Katyushas or Stalin organs.

Mounted on Soviet Zis or Gaz trucks, or American

Studebakers, the Katyushas have become a terrible https://russkiymir.ru/en/publications/140051/
and highly demoralizing weapon for enemies.
Russian Katyushas Firing
German Nebelwerfer
In the event of an error, the rules used are those
The German answer to the Katyushas was of the Core Rules, except that the deviation is
Nebelwerfer, a 1931 project the Nebelwerfer calculated at 180 mm from the original target.
consisted of 6 tubes that fired projectiles from 160Upon reaching the target, a special splatter
mm up to 7 kilometers away. The ammunition marker is placed (contained in these rules on
could be explosive or smoke. Usually, the paper or for 3D printing), showing the area
Nebelwefer were transported for combat by reached.
6-wheeled Krupps and then positioned. They were
able to fire their entire charge in 1 minute and be All targets hit are subjected to cannon types
recharged in up to 3 minutes. Nebelwerfers were according to the table below:
also mounted on a ten-tube Opel Maultier truck
chassis, known as the Panzerwerfer 42. Type Gun Range *
Nebelwerfer 150 mm Game Table
The German Panzerwerfer refers to either of Panzerwerfer 42 150 mm Game Table
two different types of half-tracked multiple
Katyusha 82 mm Game Table
rocket launchers employed by Nazi Germany
during the Second World War. The two self- Katyusa 132 mm Game Table
propelled artillery vehicles are the 15 cm
Panzerwerfer 42 auf Selbstfahrlafette Sd.Kfz.4/1 * All game scales (see Recon Corner 4)
(based on the Opel Maultier, or “mule”, half-
track) and 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42 auf Schwerer The rocket launchers have a crew according to
Wehrmachtsschlepper (or Panzerwerfer auf nationality:
SWS).
Nebelwerfer was used in several campaigns, such 1/300 or 1/72
Type
as Russia, Italy, Normandy, and Berlin, and had 10mm 15mm
terrible firepower and caused great damage to the Nebelwerfer 1 base 2 bases
enemy. Panzerwerfer 42 1 base 2 bases
Katyusha 1 base 2 bases
https://bit.ly/2xZaMRD
Note: in 28 mm scale we use two miniatures

Special Splatter Marker

When a rocket launcher hits the target, the

special marker as shown below is placed:

German Nebelwerfer

Rocket Launchers in Iron Cross

The rules of rocket launchers are similar to the

mechanics of off-table artillery described in our
core book. However, the hit dice roll numbers are
as follows:
All units under the marker are hit.
Germany - 3+
Russia - 4+
 Hit Deviation

In case of error, the deviation is made from the first marker circle.

Transport and Handling:

STOP NOW!
Katyushas and Panzerwerfer can move according
to their ability to move on unit cards, and Our team hopes you enjoyed the article! Be
however if they move, they will only be able to sure to play the exclusive “Hill 35” scenario
shoot the next turn. In the case of Nebelwerfer, now using the Nebelwerfes on the Poland
the movement rate is given by the vehicle that against Russians! This scenario is available
pulls it. along with our article.
A truck can pull a Nebelwerfer, and in the
movement phase, it can position or retract this
unit. If he does this, the truck does not move at
that moment.

Exclusive Miniature!

Attached toto this

thisarticle
article
is anis exclusive
an exclusive
min-
iature in the
miniature in 6mm
the 6mmscalescale
of a of
Tachanca
a Nebelwerfer
for 3D
printing.
for 3D printing.
It can beIt can
printed
be printed
on FDM on FDM
and SLA
and Get Iron Cross here:
printers.
SLA printers.
HaveHave
fun! fun!
https://bit.ly/2JJoMSt