Panzerwerfer 42

Overview
The Panzerwerfer 42 was a MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) devised by Nazi Germany during WWII. It was a truly bizarre looking vehicle, with a narrow half-tracked chassis below an odd armored box, in turn below an interesting 10-barreled 150 mm Nebelwerfer 41. The chassis originally belonged to the Maultier supply half-track.

Design
The first Panzerwerfer 42s were produced in 1943, with production running till 1945. In 1942, Hitler approved the design, and production started the next year. Opel manufactured most of the vehicle's components, including the powerplant, suspension, and body. A total of 300 were produced, along with 289 of a variant, known as Munitionskraftwagen.

Action
The Panzerwerfer 42 was not made for precision-placement artillery fire. Instead it was of the strategy of mass bombardment. Multiple units were arranged to bring down an immense weight of munitions over a wide area. There was also an amount of fear associated with the odd vehicle. The smoke, explosions, and debris were formidable. The vehicle was used extensively on the Eastern Front before its introduction to the Western Front during the Normandy Landings.

On the Western Front, the allies were not prepared for mobile artillery units. The British and Canadians were the first exposed to the Panzerwerfer 42. Throughout the war, the British were most heavily shelled by the vehicle.

During the Ardennes offensive, the half-tracks were used in massive bombardments of American forces. They were also used in the defense of Berlin, where they fired on Soviet forces. Some such vehicles received MG-34/MG-42 machine guns, for anti-infantry defense.