My history teacher talked about these once. Said they were very effective as a weapon but were even more useful as a moral breaking weapon because when they were fired, enemy soldiers could hear the shell coming the entire way there.
@bo2web Yet was routinely used quite effectivly time and time again through out the war. These cannons had little threats directly to themselves unless aircraft happened to find them out in the open, which few actually where caught that way.
My granddad was called up in 43, being an "old man" of 39 years he came to Belgium where he served as a gunner. They had railway artillery there, the barrels had come from WW I warships, 20cm calibre. Two diesel locos pulled the gun on a ring of track to aim them roughly. One of his jobs was to tighten the clamps which held the gun stable on the tracks against the recoil. Once they "forgot" he was still under the barrel and fired. He flew 60ft after the shell towards the Channel.
at about 1:31 is the railway gun aligned perpendicular to the railroad tracks? It appears to be on some kind of bed-is this how they pivoted guns to target? I'm wondering if its a separate flatcar or what? It appears so briefly.
@vllmer I'm not certain. Robert and Leopold were captured by the allies in Italy, both were damaged, I think they were scuttled by the Germans. They were put on a Liberty ship and ended up in Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, they used both guns to make one they put on display, I've seen it. I'm not certain, but I would guess this vid just makes it "look" like the gun is perpendicular to the rails, I'd almost bet there were rails beneath that gun, the barrel doesn't pivot that I know of.
To track targets needing greater traverse either a curved length of railway was used with the gun shunted backwards or forwards to aim; a cross-track was laid with the front bogie turned perpendicular to the rest of the gun and moved up and down the cross-track or for 360 degree traverse, the so-called "Vögele Turntable" could be constructed, consisting of a raised rail section carrying the gun, running on a circular track with a central jack to raise the gun and to take some of the weight.
He must be all "Oh, I just can't hear you over how awesome I am right now; Nah, actually the gun pretty much fucked up my ear drums and i loved 'Lily Marlene' so much... What the hell; it was worth it =)"
The Germans really had some cool technology. I just don't know why they never produced a semiautomatic standard issue battle rifle. Most troops used the bolt action mauser which doesn't have near the fire power of the garand.
@mindeloman They had something much better, the STG-44, it was the first automatic rifle(the russians then copied it and made the AK-47). The STG-44 was far superior to any rifles at the time, as it was fully automatic. The americans then tried to make their own automatic rifle by transforming their Carbine into an automatic rifle, the result was first shot was good, second shot was over your head, third shot way over your head, 4th shot it became an anti-aircraft gun.
@mindeloman It was issued as well as they could have done at the time, with all the bombings of german cities that wiped out both the factories and the people working in them and the relatives of the people working in them.
my father watched war films, he used to laugh. he was at monte casino, waited in the cold winter for 6 weeks, for the yanks to take rome My father was jewish, but liked everyone, not like the twats waving the jewish flag today.
"Robert" and "Leopold" were the names the Germans gave the two guns.
Together, they composed "Anzio Annie." When the Allies broke out of the Anzio Beachhead, the guns were moved to Civitavecchia, located just north of Rome.There "Robert" and "Leopold" were spiked with explosives and blown in place. Leopold was the less damaged piece and was moved to Naples and embarked aboard the liberty ship Robert R. Livingston and shipped to APG.
Which one then? The Huckepack Projekt? That project was under development for a grand total of two weeks, and considering that projects like the P1000 and P1500 lasted at least three months, you can see how high priority it had.
Also, in 1942 Heisenberg told Albert Speer that he would need at least two years to develop a bomb, yet research was abandoned before that deadline.
It was an Airplane that could carry bombs smiliar to Fritz bombs, but these werent Fritz's. But maybe you re right and this one was just a fiction, i dunno know. I can show you the report(if ill find it again-.-) about the Abomb and the proofs in 1996 and 2002, but its in german. Even if these proofs arent real(but the report looked very proffesionally), could it be possible that Nazis could build the weapon if the saw the employment?I dont know much about the atoms so i ask it^^
Many ppl say that the test is a myth, but there are some stories about ppl who have seen it, i was looking for their names, but i think its impossible to find them in internet. I found one name but i have no idea about this guy so its not really important.
I saw this gun today at the Aberdeen proving grounds in Maryland. You have to see this monster to get the idea of how huge this is. The barrel alone was 75 feet. It is in really good condition and looks like it could still fire.
BUt they required so many men to serve the gun, they were of a marginal value during the war. Hitler loved the huge things but they were way to complicated, as were most German arms of WW II
I agree,but even members of the German Infantry will tell you that a lot of the arms the soldiers had were too complicated, eg the machine gun. I cannot remember a single other item.
But yes I do agree with you. Just like that dope Stalin purging all of his generals just before WW II.
The machinegun? What? The good old MG42 isn't exactly a complicated piece of equipment, Hell, it was the best GPMG of the entire war and is still in use today with over a dozen armies, including the german one, as the MG3.
Einstein was a theoretical physicist so he would have been of rather limited help when it came to develop a working bomb. (Note: He wasn't a part of the Manhattan Project.)
No, the did not have any kind of nuclear bomb at all. There's rumours about them using a so-called dirty bomb on the east front, but no evidence to be found.
Heisenberg, the lead physicist on the Nazi Nuclear program, had an entirely flawed concept of what it took to build a nuclear bomb.
SO far as i know some proofs were found in 1996 and 2002.Its possible that heiseberg was ordered to write in his book that Germany hadnt any abomb, the cold war was at the door and russians would think that american knowledge about the abombs is too high. Its just an option but many ppl and even historians say itThe other question is why did germans develop airplanes that could flight over long distance and could carry only 1 bomb.
Actually, Heisenberg wrote that in the late thirties, so no ordering was involved. Also, evidence discovered in the nineties showed that he was indeed working on developing a bomb based on that principle. The site also revealed that work had been abandoned sometime between early 1943 and late 1944.
Also, the plane in question, the Ju 390, could carry quite a bit more than just one bomb. Look up Amerika Bomber for more details.
Ok then, i didnt read this book, so i dont know.I dont believe the stories about america bomber, it was a part of propaganda in my opinion. There were found some proofs in 1996 and 2002, so far as i know they could even find some people who saw it, i do believe on it.
Thanks for the correction and accurate info. I couldn't find any curators while I was at Aberdeen. I highly recommand the museum for any military/big gun/ artillery fans. They have smallest pistol to atomic cannon on display.
Actually, according to Dr. Atwater of the Aberdeen Ordnance Museum, the gun painted as "Leopold" and on display at Aberdeen was 'assembled' from several of the original guns. Thus, the example at Aberdeen is not a wholly intact original example.
The one known as Anzi Annie has been at the US Army Ordnance Center and School at The Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, it was brought to the US after it's capture during WWII, it now sits on the Rail Road Tracks on this Base.
My history teacher talked about these once. Said they were very effective as a weapon but were even more useful as a moral breaking weapon because when they were fired, enemy soldiers could hear the shell coming the entire way there.
Hedlum 2 months ago
I'd hate to be anywhere near the wrong end of that gun
jackzero99 4 months ago
fires five shots* ok guys time to replace the barrel.
PhalanxSystem 5 months ago
Its interesting how they portray the ground fight vs american propaganda
Keinlicht 5 months ago
a technology from 1914-18 obsolet during the WWII
bo2web 7 months ago
@bo2web Yet was routinely used quite effectivly time and time again through out the war. These cannons had little threats directly to themselves unless aircraft happened to find them out in the open, which few actually where caught that way.
roaklin 7 months ago
This video confirms the monochrome color of the Leopold. Just Dark Yellow or dunkel gelb.
HomarLeonardo 9 months ago
great vid!!!
Woodstock187 10 months ago
thanks for the replies!
vllmer 11 months ago
My granddad was called up in 43, being an "old man" of 39 years he came to Belgium where he served as a gunner. They had railway artillery there, the barrels had come from WW I warships, 20cm calibre. Two diesel locos pulled the gun on a ring of track to aim them roughly. One of his jobs was to tighten the clamps which held the gun stable on the tracks against the recoil. Once they "forgot" he was still under the barrel and fired. He flew 60ft after the shell towards the Channel.
Jeansschwimmer 11 months ago
1:20 best job ever haha I would love to "shoot" one of these
huswsimonbla 11 months ago
at about 1:31 is the railway gun aligned perpendicular to the railroad tracks? It appears to be on some kind of bed-is this how they pivoted guns to target? I'm wondering if its a separate flatcar or what? It appears so briefly.
vllmer 1 year ago
@vllmer I'm not certain. Robert and Leopold were captured by the allies in Italy, both were damaged, I think they were scuttled by the Germans. They were put on a Liberty ship and ended up in Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, they used both guns to make one they put on display, I've seen it. I'm not certain, but I would guess this vid just makes it "look" like the gun is perpendicular to the rails, I'd almost bet there were rails beneath that gun, the barrel doesn't pivot that I know of.
clintonearlwalker 11 months ago
To track targets needing greater traverse either a curved length of railway was used with the gun shunted backwards or forwards to aim; a cross-track was laid with the front bogie turned perpendicular to the rest of the gun and moved up and down the cross-track or for 360 degree traverse, the so-called "Vögele Turntable" could be constructed, consisting of a raised rail section carrying the gun, running on a circular track with a central jack to raise the gun and to take some of the weight.
clintonearlwalker 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
★★★★★
petrwarry72 1 year ago
Nice!
And the guy at 1:21 seems so happy...
He must be all "Oh, I just can't hear you over how awesome I am right now; Nah, actually the gun pretty much fucked up my ear drums and i loved 'Lily Marlene' so much... What the hell; it was worth it =)"
Orthodoxcrusader 1 year ago
haha the guy pulling the fireing rope is smiling
Pigdogmeat 1 year ago
@Pigdogmeat He looks happy and a little bit deaf.
FelchBelcher 1 year ago
that thing could wake up people anytime
ikmal017 1 year ago
the guys pulling the strings look happy:D
krullithehero 1 year ago
The Germans really had some cool technology. I just don't know why they never produced a semiautomatic standard issue battle rifle. Most troops used the bolt action mauser which doesn't have near the fire power of the garand.
mindeloman 1 year ago
@mindeloman
ohh we had the Schmeisser automatic storm gun
Pnoerre 1 year ago
@Pnoerre yeah, but how many were issued?
mindeloman 1 year ago
@mindeloman Number built: 425,977
wildhippy 1 year ago
@mindeloman They had something much better, the STG-44, it was the first automatic rifle(the russians then copied it and made the AK-47). The STG-44 was far superior to any rifles at the time, as it was fully automatic. The americans then tried to make their own automatic rifle by transforming their Carbine into an automatic rifle, the result was first shot was good, second shot was over your head, third shot way over your head, 4th shot it became an anti-aircraft gun.
terminator847 1 year ago
@terminator847 but the STG-44 still was not issued in mass.
mindeloman 1 year ago
@mindeloman It was issued as well as they could have done at the time, with all the bombings of german cities that wiped out both the factories and the people working in them and the relatives of the people working in them.
terminator847 1 year ago
were they having a tea break, just like the english.
jonathankitchener 1 year ago
my father watched war films, he used to laugh. he was at monte casino, waited in the cold winter for 6 weeks, for the yanks to take rome My father was jewish, but liked everyone, not like the twats waving the jewish flag today.
jonathankitchener 1 year ago
Indiscriminate lobbing of shells. Not really a military success.
yiblon 2 years ago
It's "Italy" not "Itary" in the description.
TheBelva85 2 years ago
"Robert" and "Leopold" were the names the Germans gave the two guns.
Together, they composed "Anzio Annie." When the Allies broke out of the Anzio Beachhead, the guns were moved to Civitavecchia, located just north of Rome.There "Robert" and "Leopold" were spiked with explosives and blown in place. Leopold was the less damaged piece and was moved to Naples and embarked aboard the liberty ship Robert R. Livingston and shipped to APG.
clintonearlwalker 2 years ago 2
I didnt mean Ju 390
Ixtzalit 2 years ago
Which one then? The Huckepack Projekt? That project was under development for a grand total of two weeks, and considering that projects like the P1000 and P1500 lasted at least three months, you can see how high priority it had.
Also, in 1942 Heisenberg told Albert Speer that he would need at least two years to develop a bomb, yet research was abandoned before that deadline.
chrthiel 2 years ago
It was an Airplane that could carry bombs smiliar to Fritz bombs, but these werent Fritz's. But maybe you re right and this one was just a fiction, i dunno know. I can show you the report(if ill find it again-.-) about the Abomb and the proofs in 1996 and 2002, but its in german. Even if these proofs arent real(but the report looked very proffesionally), could it be possible that Nazis could build the weapon if the saw the employment?I dont know much about the atoms so i ask it^^
Ixtzalit 2 years ago
Many ppl say that the test is a myth, but there are some stories about ppl who have seen it, i was looking for their names, but i think its impossible to find them in internet. I found one name but i have no idea about this guy so its not really important.
Ixtzalit 2 years ago
this was ww2 . sounds like a nazi narration video
exploringtv 2 years ago
I saw this gun today at the Aberdeen proving grounds in Maryland. You have to see this monster to get the idea of how huge this is. The barrel alone was 75 feet. It is in really good condition and looks like it could still fire.
tron2102 2 years ago
i'd hate to be @ the other end of that m/fkr
kra23mer 2 years ago 3
That's what my dick does when I jerk off.
TrunkMonkay 2 years ago
daymn :)
420tenke420 3 years ago
:O nice
zlorfik87 3 years ago
How would you like to be on the recieveing end of those?
mark6panzer 3 years ago
Gebts eana den Hundn!
sdkfz162kingtiger 3 years ago 2
Jesus christ...poor amis
FightersOfGod 3 years ago 2
BUt they required so many men to serve the gun, they were of a marginal value during the war. Hitler loved the huge things but they were way to complicated, as were most German arms of WW II
beatnavy2005 3 years ago
complicated? no, they were to heavy en costed to much steel and man power. they were also to big en to heavy to transport normally.
the big mistake hitler made was the holocaust. without it einstein would be on his side. wich meant a whole diferent way for the war.
5seba56 3 years ago
I agree,but even members of the German Infantry will tell you that a lot of the arms the soldiers had were too complicated, eg the machine gun. I cannot remember a single other item.
But yes I do agree with you. Just like that dope Stalin purging all of his generals just before WW II.
Happy New Year bud!!!
beatnavy2005 3 years ago
The machinegun? What? The good old MG42 isn't exactly a complicated piece of equipment, Hell, it was the best GPMG of the entire war and is still in use today with over a dozen armies, including the german one, as the MG3.
Magni56 2 years ago 2
Einstein was a theoretical physicist so he would have been of rather limited help when it came to develop a working bomb. (Note: He wasn't a part of the Manhattan Project.)
chrthiel 2 years ago
Germans had the bomb too,
Ixtzalit 2 years ago
No, the did not have any kind of nuclear bomb at all. There's rumours about them using a so-called dirty bomb on the east front, but no evidence to be found.
Heisenberg, the lead physicist on the Nazi Nuclear program, had an entirely flawed concept of what it took to build a nuclear bomb.
chrthiel 2 years ago
SO far as i know some proofs were found in 1996 and 2002.Its possible that heiseberg was ordered to write in his book that Germany hadnt any abomb, the cold war was at the door and russians would think that american knowledge about the abombs is too high. Its just an option but many ppl and even historians say itThe other question is why did germans develop airplanes that could flight over long distance and could carry only 1 bomb.
Ixtzalit 2 years ago
Actually, Heisenberg wrote that in the late thirties, so no ordering was involved. Also, evidence discovered in the nineties showed that he was indeed working on developing a bomb based on that principle. The site also revealed that work had been abandoned sometime between early 1943 and late 1944.
Also, the plane in question, the Ju 390, could carry quite a bit more than just one bomb. Look up Amerika Bomber for more details.
chrthiel 2 years ago
Ok then, i didnt read this book, so i dont know.I dont believe the stories about america bomber, it was a part of propaganda in my opinion. There were found some proofs in 1996 and 2002, so far as i know they could even find some people who saw it, i do believe on it.
Ixtzalit 2 years ago
I love German technolgy...what they do
has excellent quality..these guns are a nice example
Klottelitsch 3 years ago 25
@Klottelitsch
Unfortunately they have problems finding fair use of their surplus technology.
krbosak 1 year ago
@Klottelitsch You love weapons of war built to kill people? Fucked up.
YanksDontKnowFooty 8 months ago
Let me say it with the words of Dirty Harry
in German:
Das eine 280er Magnum, die bläst Dir den Kopf weg :)
Klottelitsch 3 years ago
those railway guns where just fucking exelent in assault and suport for the infantry
atatyrknumber1 3 years ago
what did you say ??? Can´t hear you ....
CapitanoGUC 3 years ago
eso te da en una ciudad y la hace mierda xD
ladel 4 years ago
Now they make kitchen ware, go figure.
crazykong1967 4 years ago
railway guns are awesome!
ylnen 4 years ago 25
@ylnen i totally agree there the best weapons they had i think
TheSultan79 10 months ago
not good for the ears then...
agentolshki 4 years ago 2
Thanks for the correction and accurate info. I couldn't find any curators while I was at Aberdeen. I highly recommand the museum for any military/big gun/ artillery fans. They have smallest pistol to atomic cannon on display.
Marksman74 4 years ago
Imagine that thing back firing?
Spyplane2005 4 years ago
Actually, according to Dr. Atwater of the Aberdeen Ordnance Museum, the gun painted as "Leopold" and on display at Aberdeen was 'assembled' from several of the original guns. Thus, the example at Aberdeen is not a wholly intact original example.
owners12 4 years ago
i saw that gun, along with a 68 ton hunting tigerII at aberdeen... both were frightenly impressive...
flapperhead 4 years ago 4
The one known as Anzi Annie has been at the US Army Ordnance Center and School at The Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, it was brought to the US after it's capture during WWII, it now sits on the Rail Road Tracks on this Base.
apike6 4 years ago
The Leopold Gun is on display at US Army Ordanance Museum.
Marksman74 4 years ago