Big Bertha and the legend begins

On the outbreak of the First World War, two Big Berthas and several Skoda 30.5 howitzers were erected outside the fortress of Liege in Belgium. The first shells were fired on 12th August at the ring of 12 forts around the city. By the 15th August all the forts had either been destroyed or had surrendered. News of the success of this new weapon at Liege encouraged other countries involved in the conflict to produce large mobile guns.



Big Bertha

Battle of Liege and Alsace

The Legends and Traditions of the Great War: Big Bertha

 

I came across this one the other day. I had'nt ever seen one on tracks.

One35th present the German Heavy Mortar KARL - gerat 040 - History

 

http://www.ww2f.com/weapons-wwii/12617-moser-karl-gerat.html

Yeah that was a massive Gun. I have always been fascinated by these weapons, even though they became obsolete in the waning days...

 

Thanks for the link. I'm with you, have always been fascinated at the monstrocities Germany built just to lob one shell.

 

Bah, the Germans and everybody else. Do a search on railway artillery and see what you get.

Railwaygun, Armoured train & Military railway webmuseum
Trenches on the Web - Photo Archive: Big Guns of the Great War
USN Railway Gun Photos
etc.

Then of course the Germans had to go up on everyone with the 80cm Dora monster, but that's another story.

Dora, the world's largest railway gun

 

Thanks for the links, Za Rodinu