At the end of WW I ,following the armistice, right wing underground activity led to hiding naval gun barrels from the allies. Those barrels were used in these defensive guns. My granddad was enlisted in '43, then 39 years old, and trained as a gunner. In spring '43 he was sent to Knogge in Belgium and became a member of a gun crew that served one of these monsters. They ran on a circle of rail track, towed by two small diesel locos, for rough aiming, were then carefully aimed by cranking.
@Jeansschwimmer One of Granddad jobs was tightening clamps that held the gun firmly on the rails because of the huge recoil. Once the gun captain forgot that he was still there under the barrel when he gave orders to fire. The partial vacuum behind the shell was so huge that Granddad "followed" it for some 60feet, so did his spanner. He remained deaf for some days.
In one of his letters home he wrote of something like "giving the allies a hot welcome", shortly before D-day.
@Jeansschwimmer When the allied forces drew nearer, they fired more or less until the last shell- or at least as long as it made sense. The shell was propelled by three sacks of gunpowder to be loaded one by one.
The last ammunition they used to blow the locos and the gun itself. Granddad told me, the steel amost screamed like an animal when it was ripped apart. That was the end of the "Westwall" at Knogge.
@Jeansschwimmer Granddad' unit was then on the run through Belgium and the Netherlands. They passed airfields with German planes, grounded by the lack of petrol.
Back home in Germany they were regrouped as field artillery,were given 4 inch field guns and sent back to the front, this time at the Eifel region, south of Belgium. Granddad was wounded there and that was the end of the war for him.
@Bunkerfreaks Tijdens WO ll stonden er vier zulke spoorwegkanonnen op zwenkbeddingen tussen Zeebrugge en Lissewege (Westvlaanderen, België). Het waren harde knallen als deze afgevuurd werden... gelukkig werden zij weggevoerd door de Duitsers ( augustus '44) omdat zij vreesden dat ze in handen zouden vallen van de oprukkende Canadezen.
I believe the gun nick-named "Anzio Annie" is in great condition and can be viewed
publicly at the Aberdeen proving grounds in Maryland, U.S.A.
They have one of every US tank ever made, and a LOT of others,plus an 18 inch
battleship gun mounted as a shore emplacment. The battle damage to the foreign tanks is visible, although some of it is patched. Inside the museum is gun-nut heaven, with stuff I never even knew existed. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in firearms.
No, this isnt Leopold. Leopold is in America, where it was taken along with a second gun called Robert - they are at some proving ground in Maryland. I dont know if the gun in this video had a name.
@wertwolfi it's one of 25 of the K5e Railroad guns built, so yes, it's the same type of gun as "Leopold". Sadly, this one has not been preserved as well as Leopold has.
Two others were captured, one badly damaged and one slightly damaged, they were shipped all the way to America. I dont know where this one was captured, but it probably wasnt where it is now.
Please read my postings in their chronologically right order
Jeansschwimmer 3 months ago
At the end of WW I ,following the armistice, right wing underground activity led to hiding naval gun barrels from the allies. Those barrels were used in these defensive guns. My granddad was enlisted in '43, then 39 years old, and trained as a gunner. In spring '43 he was sent to Knogge in Belgium and became a member of a gun crew that served one of these monsters. They ran on a circle of rail track, towed by two small diesel locos, for rough aiming, were then carefully aimed by cranking.
Jeansschwimmer 3 months ago
@Jeansschwimmer One of Granddad jobs was tightening clamps that held the gun firmly on the rails because of the huge recoil. Once the gun captain forgot that he was still there under the barrel when he gave orders to fire. The partial vacuum behind the shell was so huge that Granddad "followed" it for some 60feet, so did his spanner. He remained deaf for some days.
In one of his letters home he wrote of something like "giving the allies a hot welcome", shortly before D-day.
Jeansschwimmer 3 months ago
@Jeansschwimmer When the allied forces drew nearer, they fired more or less until the last shell- or at least as long as it made sense. The shell was propelled by three sacks of gunpowder to be loaded one by one.
The last ammunition they used to blow the locos and the gun itself. Granddad told me, the steel amost screamed like an animal when it was ripped apart. That was the end of the "Westwall" at Knogge.
Jeansschwimmer 3 months ago
@Jeansschwimmer Granddad' unit was then on the run through Belgium and the Netherlands. They passed airfields with German planes, grounded by the lack of petrol.
Back home in Germany they were regrouped as field artillery,were given 4 inch field guns and sent back to the front, this time at the Eifel region, south of Belgium. Granddad was wounded there and that was the end of the war for him.
Jeansschwimmer 3 months ago
That this is a beast! how do you aim it?
Pooshooter5k 3 months ago
@Bunkerfreaks Tijdens WO ll stonden er vier zulke spoorwegkanonnen op zwenkbeddingen tussen Zeebrugge en Lissewege (Westvlaanderen, België). Het waren harde knallen als deze afgevuurd werden... gelukkig werden zij weggevoerd door de Duitsers ( augustus '44) omdat zij vreesden dat ze in handen zouden vallen van de oprukkende Canadezen.
Victor20376 4 months ago
I believe the gun nick-named "Anzio Annie" is in great condition and can be viewed
publicly at the Aberdeen proving grounds in Maryland, U.S.A.
They have one of every US tank ever made, and a LOT of others,plus an 18 inch
battleship gun mounted as a shore emplacment. The battle damage to the foreign tanks is visible, although some of it is patched. Inside the museum is gun-nut heaven, with stuff I never even knew existed. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in firearms.
1Fangio 6 months ago
Heb je geen fotos getrokken nu hij geschilderd is?
cleenwerck78 11 months ago
nice's !!!
ANHBUNKERTEAM 1 year ago
die lassen das alels vergammel,saubande !
BazillusWolfenstein 1 year ago
Why havent it been preserved better?
gladio4ever 1 year ago
It's the stepsister of Leopold then, lol.
Delveaux 1 year ago
Great video. Didn't know any of these weapons had survived. Thanks for posting.
stuthorn 1 year ago
It's the 280 mm "Leopold"
wertwolfi 2 years ago
No, this isnt Leopold. Leopold is in America, where it was taken along with a second gun called Robert - they are at some proving ground in Maryland. I dont know if the gun in this video had a name.
Hanglands 2 years ago
Okay, but a sister-gun from "Leopold".
wertwolfi 2 years ago
@wertwolfi it's one of 25 of the K5e Railroad guns built, so yes, it's the same type of gun as "Leopold". Sadly, this one has not been preserved as well as Leopold has.
Soundwave3591 1 year ago
so is that where they captured it at? And they were like this thing is WAY to expensive to move lets justleave it here lol
Sodiumreactor 2 years ago
Two others were captured, one badly damaged and one slightly damaged, they were shipped all the way to America. I dont know where this one was captured, but it probably wasnt where it is now.
Hanglands 2 years ago
WOW,it's a K5...I think...
tea789456123 2 years ago
the gun is posted along 1 of 4 bunkers of batterie todt along the french opal coast
kotor299 2 years ago
this is a leopold railroadgun
kotor299 2 years ago 2
that looks like the dora
x
x
x
x
canbow12 2 years ago
too small
slavuBOG 2 years ago
what dum commenrts why dont u paint it,
paulhunter123 2 years ago
Why is it so rusty !!! It is shame!!
M55q 2 years ago 22
its old?
Kapelannew 2 years ago
Well couldn't they at least give it a paint job??
M55q 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
because they hate nazis.
That why they dont give a paint on all nazis weapons
JulesCesar27 2 years ago
Hmm that is just plain stupid...
M55q 2 years ago
@M55q
It's in France, what did you expect?
tedman0674 1 year ago
@M55q IT MUST BE RESTORED ONLY FEW WAS PRODUCED BY KRUPP OF K5 280mm
MrHEILDEMFUHRER1 3 months ago
Where in germany is this?
Peder024a 3 years ago
Its in France!
mtotheatthis 2 years ago
This is the German 310mm Leupold?
aaKonda 3 years ago
i visited last summer: its huge and amazing. also lot of big bunkers around it:
google: batterie todt
gabos002 3 years ago 5
How far could it fire a shell, and what size.
michaelwright999 3 years ago
shit a dora!!!
hetsar 3 years ago
where is this rail gun located? They need to put inside keep it out of weather rusting away
jctopgun 4 years ago
it's located at Audinghen - Cap gris nez, near the channel, near Calais.
Emiliecath 3 years ago