A detailed analysis of the Schwerer Gustav, the largest cannon in history

World War II saw great innovations in weaponry, but also great absurdities.

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One of the most remarkable was the enormous German Schwerer Gustav cannon, built in 1941, of which only two were ever completed. This artillery piece, the largest ever built, was designed in 1937 by the German company Krupp, with a long tradition and extensive experience in cannon construction. Initially intended for the Battle of France, to destroy the Maginot Line fortifications, these cannons were not ready by then and were ultimately used in the German invasion of the USSR in 1941. The first Schwerer Gustav was used in 1942 in the siege of Sevastopol (Crimea), against fortified targets. The second cannon, named Dora, was deployed in the Battle of Stalingrad.

The deployment of these cannons was very complex due to their colossal size: the assembly measured 47.3 meters long by 7.1 meters wide and 11.6 meters high, and weighed 1,350 tons. The cannon barrel was 32.5 meters long and had a caliber of 80 cm, capable of firing armor-piercing or high-explosive projectiles. Under normal conditions, the cannon had a rate of fire of one shot every 30 minutes, but in reality, the highest number of shots fired in a single day was 16.

Although the forecasts were optimistic, the gun barrel had a lifespan of only 100 shots, due to the enormous wear and tear it endured from the detonation of the propellant charges needed to fire its large projectiles. The first Schwerer Gustav only fired 47 shots. The second was never used in action, being stored in March 1943. Both its deployment and operation were very cumbersome and complex. It was a very expensive weapon, already obsolete in aviation, which complicated its use, as its size made it an easy target. Today, none of these guns survive intact.

Last Sunday, Blue Paw Print published an excellent video showing in detail what the Schwerer Gustav looked like and how it worked. The video is of high quality and shows the entire complex firing process of these colossal artillery pieces:

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Main image: Blue Paw Print.