|
Germany - Karl Gerat |
The company Rheinmetall developed a mortar with a calibre of 60cm as breech loader. The barrel had a length of 5108mm (L/8.44). The high explosive round filled with 348kg explosives had a weight of 2180kg and a length of 2511mm. With the propelling charge of 32kg there was a V0 of 220m/s and a firing range of 4300m. The concrete round with 280kg explosives had a weight of 1700kg and a length of 1991mm. The propelling charge of 36kg gave a V0 of 285m/s to the round and a range of 6700m.
To get a better firing range, there was a new barrel developed with a calibre of 54cm and a length of 6240mm (L11.5). A 1580kg heavy and 2810mm long round should achieve a V0 of 380m/s with a propelling charge of 57kg and could be fired up to 10000m. There was also a high explosive round developed which carried 460kg explosives with a total weight of 1250kg. In June 1943 the first barrels were delivered. Photos show that at least 3 "Karl" were fitted with the 54cm barrels, which were Thor, Ziu and another vehicle. If they got into action at the front or if they were only tested on a testing ground is unknown.
The 60cm barrels on self propelled gun were called "Karl"-Gerät. The first was delivered in November 1940 and got the name Adam. The next three vehicles were delivered until May 1941 and got the names Eva, Thor and Odin. These four vehicles were sent to russia with the 833. schwere Artillerie Abteilung (heavy artillery detachment) on 22 June 1941. Adam and Eva were positioned near to Brest-Litovsk, where Adam fired 16 rounds! Eva's first shot got stuck in the barrel and the whole vehicle had to be sent back to Germany. Thor and Odin were positioned near Lemberg, and Odin was disabled because of a broken track. Thor fired four rounds.
In June 1942 Thor and Odin were stationed in front of Sevastopol and fired 197 shots.
Two more vehicles were delivered by the end of August 1941 were named Loki and Ziu. Ziu was brought into action with the battery 638 and in August 1944 against the rebels in Warsaw.
One vehicle was on its way to bombard Paris and was blown up by its crew when the transport train was hit by allied bombers. Loki was lost in Hungary, Odin was disabled due to a burst barrel. Two more vehicles were captured by US-troops. A reserve Karl-Gerät with the name Fenrir (son of Loki) was used for tests with the 54cm barrels and was found after end of the war in Hillersleben on a testing range.
The rounds for the "Karl"-Geräte was carried by an ammunition carrier which were based on Panzer IV chassis and could carry 2 rounds. A special railroad transporter was developed for transprting "Karl" over longer distances. On this transporter "Karl" was set between two wagons with 5 axles each.
To get a better firing range, there was a new barrel developed with a calibre of 54cm and a length of 6240mm (L11.5). A 1580kg heavy and 2810mm long round should achieve a V0 of 380m/s with a propelling charge of 57kg and could be fired up to 10000m. There was also a high explosive round developed which carried 460kg explosives with a total weight of 1250kg. In June 1943 the first barrels were delivered. Photos show that at least 3 "Karl" were fitted with the 54cm barrels, which were Thor, Ziu and another vehicle. If they got into action at the front or if they were only tested on a testing ground is unknown.
The 60cm barrels on self propelled gun were called "Karl"-Gerät. The first was delivered in November 1940 and got the name Adam. The next three vehicles were delivered until May 1941 and got the names Eva, Thor and Odin. These four vehicles were sent to russia with the 833. schwere Artillerie Abteilung (heavy artillery detachment) on 22 June 1941. Adam and Eva were positioned near to Brest-Litovsk, where Adam fired 16 rounds! Eva's first shot got stuck in the barrel and the whole vehicle had to be sent back to Germany. Thor and Odin were positioned near Lemberg, and Odin was disabled because of a broken track. Thor fired four rounds.
In June 1942 Thor and Odin were stationed in front of Sevastopol and fired 197 shots.
Two more vehicles were delivered by the end of August 1941 were named Loki and Ziu. Ziu was brought into action with the battery 638 and in August 1944 against the rebels in Warsaw.
One vehicle was on its way to bombard Paris and was blown up by its crew when the transport train was hit by allied bombers. Loki was lost in Hungary, Odin was disabled due to a burst barrel. Two more vehicles were captured by US-troops. A reserve Karl-Gerät with the name Fenrir (son of Loki) was used for tests with the 54cm barrels and was found after end of the war in Hillersleben on a testing range.
The rounds for the "Karl"-Geräte was carried by an ammunition carrier which were based on Panzer IV chassis and could carry 2 rounds. A special railroad transporter was developed for transprting "Karl" over longer distances. On this transporter "Karl" was set between two wagons with 5 axles each.
Variants
- Gerät 040: original model, armed with a short 60 centimetres (24 in) calibre barrel;
- Gerät 041: later model, armed with a long (L/11.55) 54 centimetres (21 in) calibre barrel.
In total, seven Karl-Geräte howitzers were manufactured. The first six had the nicknames
Prototype
Karl 040
Karl 041
Rail Transportation
Road Transportation
Amunition
There were 4 types of shell
Heavy concrete-piercing shell (schwere Betongranate)
Light concrete-piercing shell (leichte Betongranate) 040
Light concrete-piercing shell (leichte Betongranate) 041
High-explosive shell (Sprenggranate) 041
Heavy concrete-piercing shell (schwere Betongranate)
Light concrete-piercing shell (leichte Betongranate) 040
Light concrete-piercing shell (leichte Betongranate) 041
High-explosive shell (Sprenggranate) 041
Loading the Karl
Camouflaged Karl
Munitionspanzer
Karl Entwurf
Miscellaneous Pictures
|
Hasegawa Karl 040 Rail Transport |
|
Hasegawa Karl 040 with Munitionspanzer IV |