42 cm kurze Marinekanone L / 16 - 420-mm German super heavy mortar "Gamma"
420mm Mortar Gamma Mörser was developed and built by Krupp before the start of the PRC as a heavyweight siege howitzer. During the WWI, siege howitzers were used during the capture of the Kovno fortress. After the end of the WWI, all the siege howitzers, except one, were dismantled. During the Second World War 420mm mortars used during the siege of Sevastopol in 1942 year.
History create
Long before the First World War, Krupp’s factories began the development of a whole series of super-heavy weapons for the siege of heavily fortified fortresses. The development of the Gamma Mörser mortar was the third project in this series and was essentially an enhanced 30.5 cm Beta-Gerät. Krupp engineers already had good experience building superheavy guns - four “40 cm L / 35 guns” were delivered to Italy for their installation in the coastal twin towers in Taranto and La Spezia.
The beginning of the development - the decision of the Prussian General Staff, it was decided to equip the army with large tools for the siege of enemy fortresses. In April, the prototype mortar 1909 was ready for testing at the Krupp site. The tests showed the promise of the gun and in 1911, the mortar was delivered for artillery military trials. The tests were successful.
The General Staff developed a plan of attack on France (French fortresses Namur and Liege), with a simultaneous attack on Belgium. This would require eight 420mm mortars “Gamma Mörser” and 16 30.5 cm Beta-Gerät. In 1913-1914, four more 420mm mortars were built. Before the start of the WWI, 5 mortars “Gamma Mörser” were built, another 5 were built during the war. Planned to build about 18 more instances. The only surviving mortar that participated in the Second World War was hidden by the Germans at the Krupp training ground in Meppen. It was used in the 30-ies for testing the properties of concrete.
Device and construction
Mortar belongs to the class "Bettungsgeschütz" - installation on a foundation of concrete. To install mortars required a lifting rail crane. Mortar was served by 250 people, transportation to the place of use was carried out by rail - on ten platforms. We collected and installed mortar for 4-x days, it was necessary to wait for the concrete foundation to solidify. Horizontal pointing angles 23 degrees, vertical pointing angles to 75 degrees. The breech system "Welin" screw type. The recoil mechanism consisted of two hydraulic brakes (the upper part of the trunk) and a hydropneumatic nakatnik (lower part of the trunk).
Ammunition
During the initial 420 mortar, the mortar used two types of ammunition (concrete and high-explosive) weighing 886 kilogram (initial speed 370.m / s) and 760 kilogram. During the Second World War, a concrete shell weighing 1003 kilograms was used. Loading a separate type, used powder charges with a total weight of up to 77.8 kilogram. The number of powder charges - from 1-th to 4-x units.
Before the Second World War in Germany create an artillery reserve of the main command of the SV. The only 420mm mortar “Gamma Mörser” is placed at its disposal, in the division of superheavy guns. In the 1942 year, as part of the 459, a separate battery, the mortar participated in an artillery battle for Sevastopol. It was used in battles on the Maginot Line, the suppression of the uprising in Warsaw.
The main characteristics of 42 cm kurze Marinekanone L / 16:
- caliber - 420mm;
- combat weight - 140 tons;
- barrel length - 6.72 meter;
- pointing horizon / vertical angles - 23 / 43-75 degrees;
- projectile speed (1003 kg) - 452 m / s;
- firing speed - one shot in 8 minutes;
- range of damage to 14.2 kilometer;
- rotation angle - 46 degrees.
Information sources:
http://asww.org/content/view/55/48/
http://www.fungi.gnorimiesgiasex.com/p-42_cm_Gamma_M%C3%B6rser
History create
Long before the First World War, Krupp’s factories began the development of a whole series of super-heavy weapons for the siege of heavily fortified fortresses. The development of the Gamma Mörser mortar was the third project in this series and was essentially an enhanced 30.5 cm Beta-Gerät. Krupp engineers already had good experience building superheavy guns - four “40 cm L / 35 guns” were delivered to Italy for their installation in the coastal twin towers in Taranto and La Spezia.
The beginning of the development - the decision of the Prussian General Staff, it was decided to equip the army with large tools for the siege of enemy fortresses. In April, the prototype mortar 1909 was ready for testing at the Krupp site. The tests showed the promise of the gun and in 1911, the mortar was delivered for artillery military trials. The tests were successful.
The General Staff developed a plan of attack on France (French fortresses Namur and Liege), with a simultaneous attack on Belgium. This would require eight 420mm mortars “Gamma Mörser” and 16 30.5 cm Beta-Gerät. In 1913-1914, four more 420mm mortars were built. Before the start of the WWI, 5 mortars “Gamma Mörser” were built, another 5 were built during the war. Planned to build about 18 more instances. The only surviving mortar that participated in the Second World War was hidden by the Germans at the Krupp training ground in Meppen. It was used in the 30-ies for testing the properties of concrete.
Device and construction
Mortar belongs to the class "Bettungsgeschütz" - installation on a foundation of concrete. To install mortars required a lifting rail crane. Mortar was served by 250 people, transportation to the place of use was carried out by rail - on ten platforms. We collected and installed mortar for 4-x days, it was necessary to wait for the concrete foundation to solidify. Horizontal pointing angles 23 degrees, vertical pointing angles to 75 degrees. The breech system "Welin" screw type. The recoil mechanism consisted of two hydraulic brakes (the upper part of the trunk) and a hydropneumatic nakatnik (lower part of the trunk).
Ammunition
During the initial 420 mortar, the mortar used two types of ammunition (concrete and high-explosive) weighing 886 kilogram (initial speed 370.m / s) and 760 kilogram. During the Second World War, a concrete shell weighing 1003 kilograms was used. Loading a separate type, used powder charges with a total weight of up to 77.8 kilogram. The number of powder charges - from 1-th to 4-x units.
Before the Second World War in Germany create an artillery reserve of the main command of the SV. The only 420mm mortar “Gamma Mörser” is placed at its disposal, in the division of superheavy guns. In the 1942 year, as part of the 459, a separate battery, the mortar participated in an artillery battle for Sevastopol. It was used in battles on the Maginot Line, the suppression of the uprising in Warsaw.
The main characteristics of 42 cm kurze Marinekanone L / 16:
- caliber - 420mm;
- combat weight - 140 tons;
- barrel length - 6.72 meter;
- pointing horizon / vertical angles - 23 / 43-75 degrees;
- projectile speed (1003 kg) - 452 m / s;
- firing speed - one shot in 8 minutes;
- range of damage to 14.2 kilometer;
- rotation angle - 46 degrees.
Information sources:
http://asww.org/content/view/55/48/
http://www.fungi.gnorimiesgiasex.com/p-42_cm_Gamma_M%C3%B6rser
Information