The biggest gun in the world

In 1937, Hitler was given the task of creating a super-powerful cannon to destroy the fortifications. This grand idea embodied in the life and Krupp called "Gustav", in honor of the founder of the company Krupp AG. But the tradition of a gun company had to wear a woman's name. Therefore, it was named "Dora", but it is rarely mentioned. Some sources mention the "Dora" as the twin "Gustov».



When assembled, this design with its railway platform weighed 1,450 tons. height of 4 floors, 50 meters long.



Shooting could carry two kinds of shells: 800 mm explosive weighing 4805 kg and 800 mm armor-piercing weighing 7509 kg.



Prior to the first use of the biggest gun in the world expected to move through numerous places fighting. It was so immobile structure, which often brought her to the place of combat operations when it has completely eliminated the need.



The first shot was from a projectile weighing 7088 kg, two powder charges of 465 kilograms each, liner weighing 920 kilograms. When fired, the service team is hiding in the shelter for several hundred meters. Shot causes the effect of a mini-earthquake. The roar from the combustion of 6 milliseconds over 900 kilograms of gunpowder and pushing 7-ton projectile was just horrible - in the car for 3 kilometers, according to contemporaries, witnesses, jumped posuda.Snaryad "Dora" could pierce armor plating thickness of 1 m or 8-foot reinforced concrete overlap.



Engineering training areas were 1, 5, thousands of workers and a thousand deminers four weeks. Since the equipment "Dora" was delivered in 106 wagons by five trains in the place of deployment of instruments built an entire marshalling yard.
Total staff numbered 4139 officers, soldiers and civilians. Personnel includes: transport battalion, a battalion of guards, a battalion commandant, field bakery, post office and public house ... with 40 collaborators ...



For the first time participated in this combat operation took a weapon during the siege of Sevastopol in 1942 godu.Dovolno fast it destroyed Fort Stalin - 6 rounds, Fort Molotov - 7, Fort Siberia - 5. Fort Maxim Gorky - 5 rounds.



Researchers are silent on the question of how exactly "Dora" was taken from the Crimea. In any case, it is clear that the Germans dismantled all equipment that course, secret, and carefully removed all traces.
After the capture of Sevastopol "Dora" was sent to near Leningrad, in the station area Thais. When the operation is to break the blockade of the city, the Germans hastily evacuated supergun Bavaria. In April 1945, at the approach of the Americans blew up a weapon.



The most accurate estimate of this miracle of military equipment made chief of the General Staff of the Army of Nazi Germany, Colonel-General Franz Halder: "This work of art, but useless».

--img10--

Source: