zero_88 wrote:Now let's see Schwerer Gustav.
Now Gustav after getting out of the Essen factory was deployed to Sevastopol, but the gun itself could not go on two tracks the gun actually was transported like a normal train the two half's of the gun were used separately in transportation mod, the gun base turrets or struts (gun holders) were transported on a flatbed, the gun barrel was also transported in the back by two cars and all other devices and special railway were also stored in special wagons. The gun was carried splitted in longitudinal each frame as a separate car for tunnels to traverse. It also carried flat beds for the huge cranes that assembled the gun.
Heavy Artillery Unit (E) 672 was reorganized to support Schwerer Gustav. There were lots of railway cars from personnel carriers: C4ue, Personenwagen C3itr pr 18, to Kartuschwagen, Kesselwagen (Austauschbauart), R Stuttgart, Ommr Linz, SSyms, G München, Munitionszubringerwagen, SSy Köln, and lots of FLAK. And covers like mesh, curtains, wood branches.
Alright , we have "Heavy Artillery Unit (E) 672" for Gustav. Does anyone have any records/sources of the TOO,( Table of organization} or numerical strength of this unit. At the same what unit was assigned to operate "Dora" ? What was its TOO?
All the pictures of various equipment, and records of different barrels being tested, and of sites being prepped at the same time does not quite make two operation guns(IMO). How many "barrels" existed? I am counting 2 regular and a long barrel. Correct? (might be a shorted barrel too, so possibly 4). The 2 regular barrels obviously were "proofed" so one out firing at the Russians , while the other barrel was being "proofed" is plausible, and also that other firing positions for "Gustave/Dora" were being prepared while the unit was firing at Sevastopol. I will note a few things. Somebody help sort this out. Some info from wiki(no sources there), and then other things.
In February 1942, Heavy Artillery Unit (E) 672 reorganised and went on the march, and Schwerer Gustav began its long ride to the Crimea. The train carrying the gun was of 25 cars, a total length of 1.5 kilometres (0.9 mi). The gun reached the Perekop Isthmus in early March 1942, where it was held until early April. The Germans built a special railway spur line to the Simferopol-Sevastopol railway 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north of the target. At the end of the spur, they built four semi-circular tracks especially for the Gustav to traverse. Outer tracks were required for the cranes that assembled Gustav.
The siege of Sevastopol was the gun's first combat test. Installation began in early May, and by 5 June the gun was ready to fire
OK , Gustave was at Sevastopol ti;; July 4 then :
Gustav had fired 48 rounds and worn out its original barrel, which had already fired around 250 rounds during testing and development. The gun was fitted with the spare barrel and the original was sent back to Krupp's factory in Essen for relining.
The gun was then dismantled and moved to the northern part of the eastern front, where an attack was planned on Leningrad. The gun was placed 30 km (18.6 mi) from the city near the railway station of Taizy. The gun was fully operational when the attack was cancelled. The gun then spent the winter of 1942/43 near Leningrad.
Now Dora.
"Dora was the second gun produced. It was deployed briefly against Stalingrad, where the gun arrived at its emplacement 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to the west of the city sometime in mid-August 1942. It was ready to fire on 13 September. It was withdrawn when Soviet encirclement threatened. "
??? , Please note Gustave took from March to June to be prepared to fire at Sevastopol.
Please notice where the Germans were at the time. They reach the outskirts during the last week of August. There is no way a Gustave or Dora position could have been prepared for the gun to be ready to fired by September 13. It took 2 month to prepare the Sevastopol position and then another moth to month and a half to emplace the gun. It is not goingto happen they could do all of this outside Stalingrad in 2-3 weeks (becuase that is when the German got in range to place Gustave) when it took 3-4 months at Sevastopol.
Just give the name of Dora arty unit and it strength at the same time as Gustav and its Heavy Artillery Unit (E) 672