« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Now That's a Mortar!  (Read 876 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline John N

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 160
Now That's a Mortar!
« on: July 01, 2005, 10:57:03 AM »
I thought forum readers might enjoy this WWII era mortar on this 4th of July weekend. (Text and images obtained from globalsecurity.org)













The 36-Inch  Little David heavy mortar is the largest gun ever built, beating the German Dora and Karl. The mobile mortar was capable of hurling a 3,650-pound projectile a distance of six miles. The giant mortar had a rifled, 22-foot, muzzle-loading tube which, with its firing mechanism and other parts making up the tube assembly, weighs approximately 80,000 pounds. The mortar's base assembly, on which the tube rests, is constructed like a huge box and weighs 93,000 pounds.

While traveling, the mortar's tube and base assemblies each make up separate tractor loads. A complete "Little David" unit also included a bulldozer and crane with bucket shovel to dig the emplacement. The huge mortar can be emplaced in 12 hours, while the largest (820MM) known German artillery weapons were hauled on 25 railway cars and required three weeks to put in firing position.

Wishing everyone a great 4th of July. Ya'll make some BOOMS, ya hear! :grin:
Logged

Offline Cat Whisperer

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7493
  • Gender: Male
  • Pulaski Coehorn Works
Now That's a Mortar!
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2005, 05:16:27 AM »
Lock and load one ton & a half boolet!

That would do SERIOUS urban redevelopment in a hurry.
Logged
Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
Cat Whisperer
Chief of Smoke, Pulaski Coehorn Works & Winery
U.S.Army Retired
N 37.05224  W 80.78133 (front door +/- 15 feet)

Offline Blaster

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 637
  • Gender: Male
Now That's a Mortar!
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2005, 07:15:24 AM »
Anyone know if "Little David" is on display at the APG Museum??
Logged
Graduate of West Point (West Point, Iowa that is)

Offline John N

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 160
Now That's a Mortar!
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2005, 08:13:16 AM »
Blaster Bob,

Yep, Little David is on display at APG. They also have a shell from the Dora, a German 280mm rail gun, the US M65 280mm "Atomic Cannon", a 16" costal defense gun, a 17 foot tall 44,000 lb bomb that was carried by specially modified B-36s, even a beautiful bronze mountain howitzer inside the museum itself. It's well worth a visit. The museum is free and all you need to gain "day-pass" access to the base is a drivers licence. Definitely worth a visit.
Logged

Offline machinehead

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8
Now That's a Mortar!
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2005, 10:31:07 AM »
my Tech school, air force metals technology, is at aberdeen proving grounds.  They have sent me there 5 times already.  For those that don't know they have an absolutely impressive ordinace museum.  Tanks are all over the base.  they had tank road with tanks all down a divided road but last time i went there they were all moved.  i asked the guard and a girl crossed over the median and hit one.  everywhere you turn on that post there are tanks in all levels of repair and dissrepair.  i like going into museum to like at all the guns and such
Logged

Offline CAV Trooper

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 228
Now That's a Mortar!
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2005, 04:53:13 PM »
That looks like a huge hydraulic recoil cylinder just to the rear of the trunions. Guess it would really need something like that so it wouldn't be driven into the ground.

Gun shop clerk: "You want to buy HOW many pounds of powder?"  :shock:
Logged
“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
Albert Einstein

Offline Double D

  • Trade Count: (3)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12609
  • SAMCC cannon by Brooks-USA
    • South African Miniature Cannon Club
Now That's a Mortar!
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2005, 02:46:15 AM »
Quote from: CAV Trooper

Gun shop clerk: "You want to buy HOW many pounds of powder?"  :shock:


Followed by "and I need a box of 36 inch bullets, you got any in Hornady V-Max?"
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »