GERMANY'S BIG GUNS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2359, 15 January 1915, Page 6

GERMANY'S BIG GUNS

EMPLACEMENTS FOR 42CM. HOWITZERS. Early accounts stated that the German 42cm. howitzers required a platform of reinforced concrete, in which were embedded special fittings for mounting the_ carnage; and the timo necessary for its preparation was stated to be about three weeks. The "Engineer" of November 20 gives more authentic information, from which it appears that' the howitzer 1b permanently mounted on a railway truck of special construction, from which it is fired. This truck is 59 feet in length over the buffers, and is carried on two bogies. When the gun is brought into action tho weight is supported on hydraulic jacks placed under the central portion of the truck, tho bogies being thus relieved of all load. In addition to tho guntruck the train comprises an ammunition ivagon, a carriage for the gun crew, and .a wagon containing .a petrol engine which drives various auxiliarieshydraulic pumps, a dynamo, etc. The shell, which is supposed to weigh about three-quarters of a ton, is manipulated by a revolving crane, mounted on tho gun-truck. _ ' It is evident from these particulars that the_ howitzer can be brought into action with fair rapidity when it is posaible'_ to transport it to the required position by means of an existing railway. Should.no railway bo available within range of the position to bo attacked, it-would probably bo impossible to bring the howitzer .into action at all, as a line • of normal gauge is indispensable and would take a prohibitive time to construct. The German field railway, owing to its narrow gauge, (about 23* inches), would bo useless oven if it possessed the requisite stability. . ■ The German heavy artillery and the siege train are equipped with 15cm. and 21om. howitzers. The former fires a high explosive shell weighing, approximately, 901b. The shell of the latter weighs about 2801b.,_ and scemß a sufficiently formidable missile. It may be that known among the men as the "coalbox" or "Black Maria." The maximum range of both pieces is about tho same —approximately 8000 yards. No information is available concerning the 28cm. howitzer, but there can be little doubt that it is dependent on 1 good roads and motor-traction for transport. It is also probable that it travels in two parts— gun and carriage separately. In fact, it seems likely, in view of . the description of 'the 42cm. - given 'by the "Engineer," that is has been generally mistaken for the latter. It appears from narratives received that two moro new guns have recently appeared on the scene. One is the trench mortar, which is fired from a pit in the trench. Its effective range, is said to bo about.6oo yards. The other, only just reported, is the "silent gun." The only available information about. this piece is implied in its name.