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WW1 Rail Gun to Holland

Discussion in 'Military History' started by GRW, Apr 2, 2013.

  1. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

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    "The UK’s largest artillery piece, 1 of 12 surviving wartime railway howitzers in the world, is being moved for exhibition in the Netherlands.
    The 190 ton breech loading 18-inch howitzer, is being sent to the Netherlands to form the centerpiece of an exhibition at the Het Spoorwegmuseum (Dutch Railway Museum) in Utrecht.
    The gun, originally designed for the battlefields of the First World War, weighs around the same as 17 double-decker buses in rush hour.
    Nearly 70 years after its huge barrel was pointed across the Channel to protect our shores during the dark days of the Second World War, it began its journey from the grounds of the Royal Artillery’s headquarters in Wiltshire, where it has sat since 2008.
    The logistical operation to move such a hulk of metal along some of the busiest roads in the south of England has taken weeks of careful planning.
    Specialised heavy equipment moving lorries had to be used to transport the rare howitzer.
    It had to be dismantled into 2 sections before it could be moved, yet the loads were still gargantuan. The barrel alone weighs-in at 86 tonnes; 104 tonnes with the collar and breech.
    The project manager who has masterminded the monster move and been behind the dismantling and restoration of the priceless antique is Lieutenant Colonel John Le Feuvre, Deputy Commander of Larkhill Garrison. He said:

    "I’m delighted to be here to watch the railway howitzer set off on this first step on its long journey. It’s taken a lot of time in preparation, but it’s been worth it."

    John Stocks is one of the team of lorry drivers and logisticians whose job it is to make sure the historical howitzer gets to the Netherlands unharmed:

    "I don’t see any problems moving the gun,” he said. “We’ve moved some pretty unusual things in the past including a fibreglass dinosaur."
    http://www.heritagedaily.com/2013/04/britains-biggest-gun-aims-for-netherlands/?
     
  2. belasar

    belasar Court Jester

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    Another good one!

    I'm just surprised you all haven't gotten around to burying it in some obscure place yet :)
     
  3. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

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    Give us time, old boy!
     
  4. urqh

    urqh Tea drinking surrender monkey

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    Up a pole at tower of London....We have long memories....
     
  5. Skipper

    Skipper Kommodore

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    Good luck to the Museum, it should be quite a display.
     
  6. belasar

    belasar Court Jester

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    You guys aren't getting lazy now are you, or does the Netherlands qualify as obscure? :)
     
  7. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

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    Well, it's not in the UK, so...
     
    belasar likes this.

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