Some of you might find this interesting. I was surprised to locate this many photos on this beast and some information. Not much is covered on this little know variant of the SdKfz 4/1 Panzerwerfer 42...
8 cm Vielvachwerfer Maultier 40
Produced sometime between 1943 and 1944, this Katusha like rail fired rocket launcher was mounted on the Panzerwerfer 42.
Close up of the rail system
In an obvious attempt to copy the Katusha system, two rows of twelve rails were installed which was capable of elevating and traversing. Each rail was 186 cm in length and each fitted with 2 8cm or 80 mm rockets.
Preparing to fire
This gave the vehicle the capability of firing as many as 48 rockets from a single loading, then moving quickly to another location before enemy artillery could pin point where the smoke trails originated from.
German 8 cm Vielvachwerfer Maultier 40 either destroyed in battle or by its crew prior to capture
It appears that these vehicles were issued only to Waffen SS units on the Eastern Front and the exact number built is unknown.