More Gunner's Zen, Large German Cannon edition.

By The Armorer on February 12, 2007 | | Comments (7)

German 38cm gun going into position. This gun shelled Verdun and Dunkirk.

German 38cm gun going into position. This gun shelled Verdun and Dunkirk. It's a naval gun, one a railway carriage, which was railed into position and then emplaced in a circular pit, where it could pivot to fire on different targets.

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7 Comments

By AFSister on February 12, 2007 8:17 AM
Jeepers... that is one big a$$ gun....
 
By Trias on February 12, 2007 11:10 AM
Have you got one in your basement yet? I wonder how long it took to turn.
 
By John S. on February 12, 2007 11:50 AM
That's a nice gun! As big as it seems, it was dwarfed by the Kraut's later 80cm "Dora" guns. Interesting thread with some photos and links at http://cartridgecollectors.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=800
 
By Casey Tompkins on February 12, 2007 3:24 PM
Possibly silly question from the arty-illiterate guy in the back; what are those two things that look like very thick doors, projecting vertically from the barrel? They look like they're centered over the pivot point. Are they there to provide balance?
 
By John of Argghhh! on February 12, 2007 4:05 PM
Casey - that's a counter-weight. You are correct. Trias - dunno. My father has those books. Though we do have a commenter who has the books, too, so he might catch the question and answer it.
 
By BillT on February 12, 2007 9:19 PM
It shelled Verdun *and* Dunkirk? Rocket-assisted projos came along earlier than I thought...
 
By John of Argghhh! on February 12, 2007 9:34 PM
No one said from the same position at the same time. Sheesh. I'm just going with the caption.