K5 Reichsbahn Series numbers

[rpk4]

Was wondering if anyone had thoughts on this list of K5 serials?

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread. ... t2240505">

8-06-2012, 03:04 AM
The Anzio Annie Saga, Part 6 by KH

02 The Guns K-5 and the Units

02 01 Factory

The K5 was the result of a crash program launched in the 1930s to develop a force of railway guns to support the Wehrmacht. The K 5 was developed and built in 1934 by Krupp in Essen, with first testing following in 1936 at the Firing Test Range Rügenwalde-Bad (Schießplatz Rügenwalde-Bad, today Darlowo in Poland) in Farther Pomerania at the South coast of the Baltic Sea. From 1937 the guns were produced in cooperation with Hanomag in Hanover. By February 1940 eight were built and a total of 24 K 5 until 1945, with the Deutsche Reichsbahn Series numbers

919 201, 919 210, 919 211, 919 212 (“Bruno”), 919 213, 919 214, 919 215, 919 216 (“Robert“), 919 217, 919 218, 919 219 (“Leopold"), 919 220, 919 354, 919 356, 919 396, 919 397, 919 398, 919 399, 919 400, 919 443, 919 444, 919 445, 919 446 and 919 683.

The guns were marked with “Dessart“ (Deutsche schwerste Artillerie = German heaviest artillery) “Berlin W35”, plus “Deutsche Reichsbahn”. Heimatbahnhof (depotstation) of all K-5 guns was the Bahnhof (Railway Station) Wustermark Vbf.

JB

[Manuferey]

JB,

I believe that the original source of the list is Greg Heuer's website (http://www.one35th.com/model/k5/k5_hist03.htm).

There is a total of 24 numbers. However, the most common number of K5 actually built across various sources (e.g. Guy François, Wijnblok) is 22.

The list mentions in particular No. 919354. But according to Guy François' book, this number was actually assigned to one of the three 28 cm "neue Bruno" K(E) built (No. 919352/353/354).

In addition, the nickname "Bruno" for 919212 given to a 28 cm K5 is surprising since several railway gun models included "Bruno" in their names:
28 cm neue Bruno
28 cm lange Bruno
28 cm schwere Bruno
28 cm kurze Bruno
24 cm Theodor Bruno

Guy François lists the numbers of all the above guns except for the 28 cm schwere Bruno (2 built). 919212 is not part of them. If it actually was the number of a 28 cm schwere Bruno, then we would be down to ... 22 K5 built.

Emmanuel

[rpk4]

Much better, I will remove those two, thanks!

JB

[Manuferey]

In addition, the nickname "Bruno" for 919212 given to a 28 cm K5 is surprising since several railway gun models included "Bruno" in their names:
28 cm neue Bruno
28 cm lange Bruno
28 cm schwere Bruno
28 cm kurze Bruno
24 cm Theodor Bruno
[...]
Emmanuel

Well, it appears that it is not that surprising : Guy François in Eisenbahnartillerie indicates the names of the three 28 cm lange Bruno K(E): Alex, Bruno and Caesar".

Bruno and Caesar were typical nicknames for the 2nd and 3rd guns in German batteries incl. Flak. See the German phonetic alphabet in WW2:http://www.feldgrau.com/alphabet.html

Emmanuel

[rpk4]

Well, it appears that it is not that surprising : Guy François in Eisenbahnartillerie indicates the names of the three 28 cm lange Bruno K(E): Alex, Bruno and Caesar".

Bruno and Caesar were typical nicknames for the 2nd and 3rd guns in German batteries incl. Flak. See the German phonetic alphabet in WW2:http://www.feldgrau.com/alphabet.html

I had seen a discussion somewhere about the phonetic alphabet and the question as to why Alex was used instead of Anton. Overthinking as always, why not use Leopold instead of Ludwig for the 12th gun produced, Robert instead of Richard for the 18th, Margaret instead of Martha for the 11th, etc.? That would be too convenient.

JB

[rpk4]

In doing some reorganizing of K5 photos I thought this image was of importance.

179.jpg (22.23 KiB) Viewed 3023 times

The news caption (in English) for this press release of 30 April 1940:

554310
Nazi “Big Berthas”

Germany - Gigantic German guns, mounted on railway cars, poised for firing into enemy positions across from the highly-touted Nazi Westwall.
Credit Line (ACME) 4-30-40

There are 3 different K5's in the photo - Ausf. C, Ausf. B and 2x Ausf. A. If the info published concerning only 2 Ausf. A and 1 Ausf. B being produced, as well as Emmanuel's discovery from http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 0&t=224390:

919217 can be seen on page 41 of Wijnstock's book. There is a series of pictures (from ECPAD - the French Army's picture archive website) of the gun in an article in the French magazine 39-45 and No. 919217 is clearly visible next to the aiming stand. It looks like this gun had provisions for a Sprengwerk and had the circular hatch on the front left unlike the first two guns. This would make it the 3rd built gun and an Ausf. B, wouldn't it?

This and the other propaganda photos of 1940 contain (maybe?), the first four K5's produced - 919201(?), 919210, 919217 and the first Ausf. C?

161.jpg (22.24 KiB) Viewed 3023 times

011.jpg (25.75 KiB) Viewed 3023 times

012.jpg (28.96 KiB) Viewed 3023 times

006.jpg (24.25 KiB) Viewed 3023 times

JB

[Manuferey]

In doing some reorganizing of K5 photos I thought this image was of importance.

179.jpg

JB

Interesting and unique camouflage for the 3rd gun the left.

Emmanuel

[Manuferey]

I had seen a discussion somewhere about the phonetic alphabet and the question as to why Alex was used instead of Anton. Overthinking as always, why not use Leopold instead of Ludwig for the 12th gun produced, Robert instead of Richard for the 18th, Margaret instead of Martha for the 11th, etc.? That would be too convenient.
JB

Interesting hypothesis. Why not?

In the meantime, and according to the caption of this ebay picture, here is Agathe in Nakly (Pologne) in June 1941 ( opening days of Barbarossa or training before June 22?). A for Agathe but it is not one of the first 3 guns (no provisions for Sprengwerk).

28cmK5Agathe.jpg (108.14 KiB) Viewed 3010 times

Emmanuel

[Andrzej Ditrich]

In doing some reorganizing of K5 photos I thought this image was of importance.

179.jpg

JB

Interesting and unique camouflage for the 3rd gun the left.

Emmanuel

Could it be that camouflage was painted by censors?

[Andrzej Ditrich]

Nakły position for K5 still exists on it's place.
I'm not sure about exact condition but it looks that earth work survived the war.
source: geoportal.gov.pl

[Manuferey]

In doing some reorganizing of K5 photos I thought this image was of importance.
179.jpg
JB

Interesting and unique camouflage for the 3rd gun the left.
Emmanuel

Could it be that camouflage was painted by censors?

Why would they go to such a trouble?

Nakły position for K5 still exists on it's place.
I'm not sure about exact condition but it looks that earth work survived the war.
source: geoportal.gov.pl

Thanks, Andrzej.

Emmanuel

[Andrzej Ditrich]

In doing some reorganizing of K5 photos I thought this image was of importance.
179.jpg
JB

Interesting and unique camouflage for the 3rd gun the left.
Emmanuel

Could it be that camouflage was painted by censors?

Why would they go to such a trouble?

Nakły position for K5 still exists on it's place.
I'm not sure about exact condition but it looks that earth work survived the war.
source: geoportal.gov.pl

Thanks, Andrzej.

Emmanuel

Well itcould not be a trouble just typical propaganda work to make photos looking more "sexy"

[rpk4]

I would have to argue that the strange lines are particularly close to locations where ID numbers are located. Also the day seems to be rather overcast which could explain a sucker hole of sun coming through and highlighting only the first two guns in the photo making them appear brighter as ell as show off cleaning residue(?) around the newer paint.

JB

[Andrzej Ditrich]

Mayby it's because of sun & shadows play.
I can remind that this scene with guns elevating barrels were filmed in one of many popular newsreels which could be much better quality then our photos. (Photos might be stills exctracted from film tape)
I must dig deeper when I saw it...

[rpk4]

Any luck finding the newsreel?

JB