Gigantic German What ?

[christerd]

Got this Photo recently, but do it show ?

Is it one of the gigantic mobile Howitzers ? Or is it some super mortar ??

Nothing written on the back

Christer

[muckaroon1960]

Hi, this looks like a Krups Big Bertha super heavy Howitzer.

[Richarddwh]

Great photo, a real beast of an artillery piece!

[kapten_windu]

i ever see this kind before in a military magazine, it used in eastern front, near sevastopol, it's a kind of mortar..

but i'm sorry, my memory on it can't be re-called...:speechless:

[christerd]

Could it a KARL Mortar ? I can´t find any good pics from the front of that one .....

KARL was made in 60 cm and 54 cm if my info is right ?

I looks really awsome

Christer

[IrishGunner]

I haven't seen this yet - but I'm not a WW2 Wehrmacht artillery expert. But it definitely looks to be about 42cm, which might make the Krups Big Bertha a suspect - however, those were developed at the beginning of WW1 and I don't believe they made it to the Second War. It also doesn't appear like the Big Bertha's I've seen in photos. Of course, it could be a modified version of a 42cm super howitzer developed later.

Edited November 19, 2010 by IrishGunner

[IrishGunner]

I am sure it is not the 60cm KARL. Here is that beast.

[IrishGunner]

This looks like the Eastern Front; what about a captured Soviet heavy mortar?

[christerd]

Hmm, strange one this, I´ve looked for Soviet ones but the biggest Mortar was 240 mm and it dosnt look a bit like the pic

But I agree that it seems to be at the Eastern front , but what in heavens name is it

I found another candidate ! 38 cm schwerer Ladungswerfer This gun does not exist today what I can find and I haven´t found any pic of it yet ....

maybe ?

Christer

Edited November 19, 2010 by christerd

[IrishGunner]

I found another candidate ! 38 cm schwerer Ladungswerfer This gun does not exist today what I can find and I haven´t found any pic of it yet ....

maybe ?

I wondered about this one too... Isn't this an engineer weapon? Can anyone ID if the uniforms are gunners or pioneers?

My spider-senses are saying though that this is something Soviet...

[kapten_windu]

one more, it's looks like a stationary weapon..

[The Prussian]

Maybe it could be a french mortar, 279mm, M14. This was was built for Russia. In 1939 France had stil 135 guns. Maybe some of them were sent to Russia in wwI?

I copied this picture from Franz Kosar´s book "Artillerie im 20. Jahrhundert"

[The Prussian]

Another choice.

42cm Mörser (Gamma). This one was built with parts of the Gamma-Mörser from the first world war. It was placed in Meppen

[christerd]

Thanks Andy ! That was two new candidates

best regards christer

Edited December 11, 2010 by christerd

[IrishGunner]

Thanks Andy ! That was two new candidates

best regards christer

Andy's suggestion of a 42cm in Post #13 is actually a second vote for my guess in Post #6 of a 42cm; and after seeing Andy's pictures from WW2, I'm now even more convinced this is a modified version of the 42cm Gamma.

[The Prussian]

Andy's suggestion of a 42cm in Post #13 is actually a second vote for my guess in Post #6 of a 42cm; and after seeing Andy's pictures from WW2, I'm now even more convinced this is a modified version of the 42cm Gamma.

I agree with you, but in the book I read, I´ve found, that the only one gun was placed in Meppen. Not sure, if there were built more than one, and if yes, if they were sent to the eastern front

[IrishGunner]

I agree with you, but in the book I read, I´ve found, that the only one gun was placed in Meppen. Not sure, if there were built more than one, and if yes, if they were sent to the eastern front

Given the proclivity to re-cycle old war material and improvise by the Germans, it makes logical sense for there to be more than just one. But like many improvisations, they might not have been well documented. Chris's photo could be the only evidence of this "other" gun.

Great discussion though - detective missions are always fun! And in the search, other things are always learned.

[The Prussian]

Well, to make it more confusely, I read, the germans had another foreign gun in use. The austrian "42cm M16 Autohaubitze".

This was was built 1916 and 1917, but stil in use by german troops in 39-45!

Photo taken from Franz Kosar (Artillerie im 20. Jahrhundert)

Edited December 12, 2010 by The Prussian

[IrishGunner]

Franz Kosar (Artillerie im 20. Jahrhundert)

Another book for my Christmas wish list. Santa Claus better get "her" butt on Amazon.com in a hurry! :P

[The Prussian]

Oh yes, it´s a nice book! at ebay you can buy it for 10€. Low price for high quality!

[speedytop]

Hi,

I agree with The Prussian, see Post 12.

I think, that it is the French Mortar 28cm 601 (f)

Please see here:

http://forum.axishis...p?f=70&t=147066

and here:

http://de.wikipedia....rser_601%28f%29

and here, see "Used by":

http://en.wikipedia...._1914_Schneider

Uwe

[christerd]

:cheers:

Thats it !

Thank you all, it´s good when you find the answer at the end

A French 28 cm Schneider , maybe used on the Leningrad front 1941-42 ?

I this forum

Best regards

Christer

[The Prussian]

I agree with loving this forum!

Greetings from good old Prussia!!!!

:beer: