Leuchtpistole 34
A Leuchtpistole 34 from U-505 at the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago, IL.
Type	Flare gun
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
In service	1934-1945
Used by	Germany
Production history
Designer	Walther
Manufacturer	Walther Erma Bernard Berhauss
Specifications
Mass	730 g (1 lb 10 oz)
Length	245 mm (9.6 in)
Barrel length	155 mm (6.1 in)[1]
Cartridge	Flare Smoke Panzerwurfkörper 42 Wurfgranate Patrone 326 Wurfkorper 361
Caliber	26.6 mm (1.05 in)
Action	Break action
Feed system	Single shot[1]

The Leuchtpistole 34 or flare gun in English was introduced into German service before World War II and served throughout World War II.

Design

The Leuchtpistole 34 was a single shot, break action, smoothbore, flare gun designed and produced by Walther that was a successor to the earlier Leuchtpistole 26. The Leuchtpistole 26 was of steel construction, was blued to stop corrosion, and had dyed oak pistol grips. While the Leuchtpistole 34's frame was machined from duralumin, the barrel was machined from steel, was blued to stop corrosion, and had bakelite pistol grips. Due to the use of light alloys, the Leuchtpistole 34 was lighter than its predecessor and the trigger guard was enlarged so the user could fire the gun in cold weather while wearing gloves.^[1]

Successors

• Kampfpistole - The Kampfpistole was a rifled variant of the Leuchtpistole 34 which could fire both lethal and non-lethal rounds.
• Leuchtpistole 42 - The Leuchtpistole 34 was succeeded by the Leuchtpistole 42 which was made from stamped mild steel components, was galvanized to stop corrosion, and used bakelite pistol grips. The focus of the Leuchtpistole 42 was to reduce the consumption of light alloys, reduce reliance on machined components, reduce production time, and reduce production costs. The Leuchtpistole 42 could fire both lethal and non-lethal rounds.^[2]
• Sturmpistole - The Sturmpistole was a conversion of either Leuchtpistole 34's or Leuchtpistole 42's that added a padded buttstock and sights for firing both lethal and non-lethal rounds.

Ammunition

The primary roles for the Leuchtpistole 34 were signaling, illumination, target marking, or concealment with a smoke grenade. Later during World War II, explosive rounds were developed to give German troops a small and lightweight grenade launcher for engaging targets from close range which could not be engaged satisfactorily by infantry weapons or artillery without endangering friendly troops.^[3]

Available projectiles included:

• Multi-Star Signal Cartridge - This was a multi-star signal flare that contained three red and three green stars that could be set for six different color combinations.
• Panzerwurfkörper 42 - This was a HEAT grenade that could be used against enemy armor. It had a range of 69 m (75 yd) and could penetrate 80 mm (3.1 in) of RHA. It was similar in layout to the Wurfkorper 361 and used a rifled cartridge case.
• Wurfgranate Patrone 326 - This was a small, breech loaded, fin stabilized, explosive grenade, with a nose fuze that was designed for short range low angle direct fire missions. It was not recommended for use beyond 180 m (200 yd) due to inaccuracy or less than 46 m (50 yd) due to the risk from shell fragments.^[3]
• Wurfkorper 361 - The Wurfkorper 361 was formed by screwing a bakelite or wooden stem into an Eierhandgranate 39 which allowed it to be fired from a Leuchtpistole. A brass or aluminum shell casing with propellant was first loaded into the breech of the gun. The stem was then slid down the muzzle until it slipped into the shell casing, the breech was then closed and the gun could be fired. The Wurfkorper 361 was used for high angle indirect fire where its shrapnel would be useful. The Wurfkorper 361 was not recommended for use at less than 46 m (50 yd) due to the risk from shrapnel and its maximum range was limited to around 78 m (85 yd) at 45° because the grenade had a 4.5 second time fuze.^[3]

Gallery

• 
  Leuchtpistole 42.
• 
  Schematic of Multi-Star Cartridge components.
• 
  Sturmpistole with Panzerwurfkörper 42.
• 
  Schematic of Wurfgranate Patrone 326 components.
• 
  Schematic of Wurfkorper 361 components.
• 
  Flare gun with holster and cartridges in leather case displayed at a World War II reenactment event in 2011