Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

Discussions on the fortifications, artillery, & rockets used by the Axis forces.
ChadG
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Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#1

Post by ChadG » 06 Sep 2008, 09:10

I just read in an Osprey book:

"A significant firepower enhancement in the Omaha Beach area was added on May 9, 1944, when a battery of heavy artillery rockets of Werfer-Regiment 84 was positioned near St. Laurent-sur-Mer in open entrenchments overlooking Omaha Beach."

Werfer-Regiment 84 was near Beauvais on May 18, 1944 according to Zetterling.
Seems like a long way for a single battery to be deployed from it's parent formation!
But of course it is possible...

However there is much confusion out in cyber-land about the actual number of werfer present, the type, and even if they were fired during the invasion...
Can anyone shed some light?

jopaerya
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#2

Post by jopaerya » 06 Sep 2008, 15:33

Hi ChadG

Here some information from this Forum in a topic on Werfers in Normandie 1944

Werfer-Brigade 7
Werfer-Regiment 83
I. Abteilung
1.-3./83 = 6x 15 cm Werfer each
21./83 = 8x 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42
II. Abteilung
4.-6./83 = 6x 15 cm Werfer each
22./83 = 8x 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42
III. (schw.) Abteilung
7.-9./83 = 6x 21 cm Werfer each
Werfer-Regiment 84
I. Abteilung
1.-3./84 = 6x 15 cm Werfer each
21./84 = 8x 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42
II. Abteilung
4.-6./84 = 6x 15 cm Werfer each
22./84 = 8x 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42
III. (schw.) Abteilung
7.-9./84 = 6x 30 cm Werfer each

Werfer-Brigade 8
Werfer-Lehr-Regiment 1
I. Abteilung
1.-3./1 = 6x 15 cm Werfer each
21./1 = 8x 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42
II. (schw.) Abteilung
4.-6./1 = 6x 21 cm Werfer each
III. Abteilung
7.-9./1 = 6x 15 cm Werfer each
23./1 = 8x 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42
Schweres Werfer-Regiment 2
I. (schw.) Abteilung
1.-3./2 = 6x 30 cm Werfer each
II. (schw.) Abteilung
4.-6./2 = 6x 30 cm Werfer each
III. Abteilung
7.-9./2 = 6x 15 cm Werfer each
23./2 = 8x 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42

Werfer-Brigade 9
Schweres Werfer-Regiment 14
I. (schw.) Abteilung
1.-3./14 = 6x 21 cm Werfer each
II. (schw.) Abteilung
4.-6./14 = 6x 21 cm Werfer each
III. Abteilung
7.-9./14 = 6x 15 cm Werfer each
23./14 = 8x 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42
Werfer-Regiment 54
I. Abteilung
1.-3./54 = 6x 15 cm Werfer each
21./54 = 8x 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42
II. Abteilung
4.-6./54 = 6x 15 cm Werfer each
22./54 = 8x 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42
III. (schw.) Abteilung
7.-9./54 = 6x 21 cm Werfer each


RichTO90
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#3

Post by RichTO90 » 06 Sep 2008, 16:09

ChadG wrote:I just read in an Osprey book:

"A significant firepower enhancement in the Omaha Beach area was added on May 9, 1944, when a battery of heavy artillery rockets of Werfer-Regiment 84 was positioned near St. Laurent-sur-Mer in open entrenchments overlooking Omaha Beach."

Werfer-Regiment 84 was near Beauvais on May 18, 1944 according to Zetterling.
Seems like a long way for a single battery to be deployed from it's parent formation!
But of course it is possible...

However there is much confusion out in cyber-land about the actual number of werfer present, the type, and even if they were fired during the invasion...
Can anyone shed some light?
Hi Chad,

Various descriptions after the landings indicate that the Werfer equipment to a number of the beaches. They were evidently present at SWORD, JUNO, GOLD, and OMAHA. But they were not, so far as I can tell, Nebelwerfer, they were rather Wurfrahmen, evidently with four rockets per frame. I suspect then that the batteries of Werfer-Regiment 84 did not deploy there, but rather that personnel contingents were drawn from Werfer-Brigade 7 and sent to the coast as technical advisors to teach the troops there in their maintenance and use. It could even be inferred that 84. provided contingents for 7. Armee and 83. for 15. Armee, but that is speculation.

Rich

Carl Schwamberger
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#4

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 06 Sep 2008, 16:20

Occasionally picking thru the books I run across a remark about "rocket" or "Nebelwerfer" projectiles falling on the beaches, along with the cannon and mortar projectiles. The descriptions dont sound like the massed battery or battalion size concentrations that are usually associated with Nebelwerfer attacks. Rather a few rockets falling occasionally. That fits the 'Wurffrhamen" launcher description.

ChadG
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#5

Post by ChadG » 06 Sep 2008, 22:24

Thanks to all for much valuable information.


Yes, I have seen other sources state WN67 has 40x32cm Wurfrahmen....these must be bodenstandig weapons with no unit designation.
I think I will use this reference.


RichTO90, when will you publish your book so I can use just one easy source for all this time consuming research? :D

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Manuferey
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#6

Post by Manuferey » 06 Sep 2008, 22:44

A post D-Day US intelligence report states for Omaha Beach as a whole:

"38 rocket pits bearing on the beach, 4 32 cm rockets per pit".

Thus, either wooden rack launchers (Wurfgerät 40) (I think it's the most probable) or steel rack launcher (Wurfgerät 41) instead of (motorized) Wurfrahmen 40.

Emmanuel

RichTO90
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#7

Post by RichTO90 » 07 Sep 2008, 16:21

Manuferey wrote:A post D-Day US intelligence report states for Omaha Beach as a whole:

"38 rocket pits bearing on the beach, 4 32 cm rockets per pit".

Thus, either wooden rack launchers (Wurfgerät 40) (I think it's the most probable) or steel rack launcher (Wurfgerät 41) instead of (motorized) Wurfrahmen 40.

Emmanuel
Hi Emmanuel,

Ack, yes, of course, you are correct. I have gotten into the bad habit of using "Wurfrahmen" as a generic term. Thanks for the correction!

Rich

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Manuferey
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#8

Post by Manuferey » 07 Sep 2008, 17:58

No problem Rich. Glad to help !

Are there are any vintage pictures of these launchers at Omaha or relics of these launchers found at Omaha in museums today ?

Emmanuel

RichTO90
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#9

Post by RichTO90 » 07 Sep 2008, 19:58

Manuferey wrote:No problem Rich. Glad to help !

Are there are any vintage pictures of these launchers at Omaha or relics of these launchers found at Omaha in museums today ?

Emmanuel
Not that I have found? Georges Bernage mentions them, as does Balkoski, and AORG Report No. 246, but I have yet to see a photo. The descriptions all to be of a simple concrete pit or trench-type affair, with a nearby control position, but that's about it.

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stril
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#10

Post by stril » 26 Oct 2008, 23:51

Hello
Added something from http://omahabeach.vierville.free.fr/
regards
stril
Image
Image

jopaerya
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#11

Post by jopaerya » 26 May 2009, 21:28

Hello All

Here some fine picture's of Wurfrahmen , I wich I had this Granddad :lol:
http://detection.conceptforum.net/trouv ... -t1783.htm

Regards Jos

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Manuferey
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#12

Post by Manuferey » 24 Oct 2009, 14:47

A picture of one of the 4 rows of Wurfgerät 40 behind Omaha Beach in June 44, from a veteran's album.

Photo ebay.com

Image

Emmanuel

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Manuferey
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#13

Post by Manuferey » 22 Jan 2010, 01:23

Were there any Wurfgerät 40 manned by infantry, not by "werfer" units, behind Gold, Juno or Sword on D-day like at Omaha Beach?

Emmanuel

RichTO90
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#14

Post by RichTO90 » 22 Jan 2010, 02:19

Manuferey wrote:Were there any Wurfgerät 40 manned by infantry, not by "werfer" units, behind Gold, Juno or Sword on D-day like at Omaha Beach?

Emmanuel
Hi Emmanuel,

There were Wurfgerät in position on all the beaches, but I don't honestly know if they were manned by infantry or Nebeltruppen, but I suspect the latter.
Richard Anderson
Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall: the 1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers on D-Day
Stackpole Books, 2009.

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Manuferey
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Re: Nebelwerfers at Omaha Beach

#15

Post by Manuferey » 22 Jan 2010, 04:53

Hi Rich,

There is a reference to "stationary smoke-shell mortars [in the original German text: “bodenständige nebelwerfer"], manned by infantry" near Utah Beach in the debriefing of Lt-Col. Keil, CO of the 919. Gren,-Regt. Keil's text makes it clear that it is different from the I./101 S.Werf.Regt [mistakenly referenced as I./100. S. Werf. Regt. by Keil]:

Image

I also found the following in a US post D-Day intelligence report but it's a little bit confusing:
"Rockets were located several hundred yards behind both beaches [i.e. Omaha & Utah] in hedgerows. They occurred in groups of 38 firing pits with 4 rockets to a pit.
UTAH BEACH: 0 rocket pits, bearing on the beach".

So I'm curious to find out if Wurfgerät 40, manned by infantry, were standard beach defenses or not in Normandy.

Emmanuel

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