The Germans, visible near the base, prepare to fire the gun
Schwerer Gustav and Dora were the names under which the 80-cm K (E) siege cannon was known. This 800 mm railway gun was built and deployed by Germany in the early days of World War 2.
The numbers of this weapon were impressive: it weighed near 1344 tons, had a bore diameter of 800mm (31.5") and its ammunition weighed more than 5 tons each, depending on the type. It required a large crew (about 1500 men) to escort, deploy, assemble and operate. In the best case the firing rate would be a shot every 15 minutes.
Two types of projectiles were fired using a 150-kg charge of smokeless powder: a 4800 kg High explosive (HE) shell and a 7500 kg. concrete-piercing projectile. Craters from the HE shells measured 10 m wide and 10 m deep while the concrete piercing projectile proved capable of penetrating nearly 90 meters of reinforced concrete before exploding (disputed — see talk page).
Maximum range was 45 km with HE shells and 37 km with concrete piercing projectiles. Muzzle velocity was approximately 891 m/sec.
Three guns were ordered in 1939. Alfried Krupp personally hosted Hitler and Albert Speer (Minister of Armaments) at the Rugenwald Proving Ground during the formal acceptance trails of the Gustav Gun in the spring of 1941.
A self-propelled version of the gun was also planned, codenamed the "P-1500", probably under the example of another heavy weaponry project, the 1000 ton P-1000 superheavy tank.
Schwerer Gustav details (http://www.aopt91.dsl.pipex.com/railgun/Content/Railwayguns/German/Dora%20index.htm) — A page with very extensive info on the Schwerer Gustav
Self-Propelled Dora (http://members.tripod.com/~fingolfen/superheavy/p1500.html) — An article on the self-propelled version of the Dora.
These objects of weaponry are generally large rounds fired by artillery, armored fighting vehicles (including tanks), and warships, such as battleships.
Shells of 105, 120, and 155 mm diameter are common for NATO forces' artillery and tank guns.
Artillery shells of 122 and 152 mm, and tank gun ammunition of 100, 115, or 125 mm calibre remain in use in Eastern Europe and China.
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