The Werfer-Granate 21 rocket launcher, also known as the BR 21 in official Luftwaffe manuals, was a weapon used by the German Luftwaffe during World War II and was the first on-board rocket placed into service by the Luftwaffe, first introduced in mid 1943. Based on the 21 cm Nebelwerfer 42 infantry barrage rocket system's hardware, the weapon was developed by Rheinmetall-Borsig under the leadership of Dipl.-Ing. Rudolf Nebel, who had pioneered German use of wing-mounted offensive rocketry in World War I with the Luftstreitkräfte.
Arming the underwing Werfer-Granate 21 rocket mortar of an Fw 190 A-8/R6 of Stab/JG 26
21 cm Wurfgranate 42.
Details of the BR 21 rocket launch tube's installation on an Fw 190A.
Jagdgeschwader 11 was a fighter wing of the German Luftwaffe during World War II. Its primary role was the defense of Northern Germany against Allied day bomber raids. Formed in April 1943 as a split from Jagdgeschwader 1, the unit primarily used the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190.
Hauptmann Günther Specht (left) with Dr. Kurt Tank beside the tail of his aircraft in July 1944
A Bf 109 Gustav similar to the ones used by JG 11
A Fw 190 A–4 similar to the ones used by JG 11
Loading the underwing WGr 21 rocket