The Big Bang Theory #7: 42cm M-Gerät Big Bertha Casing

Tony without Kaiser

Tony without Kaiser

Departed
Staff member
During the early evening of 12 August 1914 exactly 97 years ago this evening, an unknown Kanonier of Kurze Marine-Kanone Bt. 3 (KMK Batterie 3 = Short Navy Cannon Battery 3) pulled the lanyard, and 820 kg of armour piercing high explosive was on its way to the Belgium fort of Liège.

I am delighted to present to you all one of the most historically important Imperial German cartridge casings; the legendary....

42cm M-Gerät Big Bertha

Click HERE for full details and photographs.

cc16.jpg
 
The carrier for it is way cool, that has to be rarer than the casing.
Best
Gus
 
Hey Tony, I have only now had a chance to go through you article, it is great, the photos of the assembly of the weapon are fantastic. The amount of work getting one of these ready for battle was immense. To be honest, I would rather be one of the boys on the hoist, working my guts out than be down where you cound lose a finger (or a bigger body part) between the heavy bits of this enormous weapon.
best
gus
 
Good Gawd what a fantastic casing and the wicker basket carrying case!! I was wondering when we would get to this casing and I was not disappointed. Just the size of the spade is fantastic, what recoil! Dick
 
Fantastic article and what a find - wow! I remember reading that the assembly of the gun took only 4 hours, but I forget how many crunched fingers this amounted to.
 
badener said:
I concur with Gus! Never seen a carrier before. =D>
Click to expand...

Have you seen a casing before? A 42cm M-Gerät L/12 Dicke Bertha cartridge casing is the "Holy Grail" for most Imperial German cartridge casing collectors. For me, however, the ultimate chunk of brass is a 38cm SK L/45 Max. It is pretty cool though....

Gus, having had my middle finger on my right hand amputated (and reattached) by a Leopard 1A4 loaders hatch, I appreciate the advantages of being on the hand cranks up top. However, I still would rather be one of the APK NCOs barking out encouragement and direction :thumb up:
 
Hey Tony,
Normally I would not bother getting a finger reattached, but the middle finger on the right hand is the most important. Come to think of it, I had the thumb on my right hand sewn back on, but then it was only half cut off.
Best
Gus
 
Tony- that is simply one fo the coolest things I have ever seen!

You should be very proud of that find

All the best

James
 
Hey Tony , I cant recall if the Liberty Memorial has that casing or not. I do know that they dont have a carrier! Kudos. :D
 
badener said:
Hey Tony , I cant recall if the Liberty Memorial has that casing or not. I do know that they dont have a carrier! Kudos. :D
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the National WWI Museum does not have one of these (for sure not the basket). Over the years I have seen all sizes and shapes of large cartridge cases called "Big Bertha" cases. Seeing this one, I don't think any of them fit the bill.

Chip
 
Tony; I'm wondering who assembled these kanones?? On a lot of these photos I'm not seeing Foot Artillerie uniforms or am I just missing something?? Even in some of the photos from the field they don't seem to be wearing Foot Artillerie clothing [cuffs don't seem to be right]. Great work!!! Dick
 
dick roback said:
Tony; I'm wondering who assembled these kanones?? On a lot of these photos I'm not seeing Foot Artillerie uniforms or am I just missing something?? Even in some of the photos from the field they don't seem to be wearing Foot Artillerie clothing [cuffs don't seem to be right]. Great work!!! Dick
Click to expand...

Hmm.. by all accounts it was soldiers from the Artillerie Prüfungs-Kommission in the 2. Garde-Fußartillerie -Regt. who manned the 42cm M-Gerät L/12 Dicke Bertha. I squinted as best I could at the photos, I think I can make out Brandenburg cuffs? Not unusual to see photos of visitors to cannon/howitzer positions, supply, local infantry protection etc. Everyone wants to have their photo taken beside a cannon.
 
Tony; I see Brandenburg cuffs on some but I also see what I think are Swedish cuffs. Probably too hard to make out for a positive ID. You are right I'm sure every one wanted to get in the picture! Dick
 
August 15th 1914: a 42 cm shell pierced the concrete of the Loncin Fortress, Liège, Belgium,
hitting the ammunition/powder store. 350 soldiers died ! The fortress still is the resting place for 250 men and is an important monument.

Now; some 20 rare Imperial German helmets/headdress (from the Brussels Army Museum).are on display in the fortress.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I hope to visit soon.
Stay tuned !

I probably make it a two day trip:
Saturday: Brussels Army Museum
Sunday: Eben-Emael and Loncin fortresses.
( :greentank: I have to tell the Missus...)

Stay tuned: I'll mail the pics !
Rgds,
Francis
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top