RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

Discussions on the fortifications, artillery, & rockets used by the Axis forces.
JABIER
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RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#1

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:20

Aerial Reconnaissance: The 10th Photo Recon Group in World War II:

"The Germans had taken advantage of the bad flying weather during October and had employed harrassing fire from 280mm railroad guns against various headquarters behind the lines of Third Army including XX Corps at Conflans"

Map
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x33 ... wukw9x.png

The front lines:

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA ... e-XXII.jpg

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA ... e-XLII.jpg

JABIER
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Posts: 162
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RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#2

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:22

21 September 44

404th FG UNIT HISTORY - P-47

With weather still bad to the north on the 21st, TAC switched group operations far to the south east over Luxembourg and the German Saar. Eight squadron missions were dispatched, ranging as far as Trier-due east of our position at Juvincourt-in support of the Fifth Armored Division. They strafed enemy personnel, tanks and trucks, and dive-bombed concealed artillery positions marked by U. S. smoke shells, railroad tracks, and rolling stock. Twice the 507th went after a railroad tunnel where ground control reported a heavy railway gun was taking shelter between shots. The squadron closed one end of the tunnel on the first mission, and came back on the second with 16 ships, each carrying a full load of three bombs apiece, to close the other end, near Echternach.


JABIER
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RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#3

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:23

1 0ctober 1944, Sunday

33rd Signal Construction Battalion

Battalion Headquarters and one platoon of Company A moved to Pont-a Mousson on October 1. During this time Pont-a-Mousson was under fire from the enemy 280mm guns.

JABIER
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RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#4

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:23

3 0ctober 1944, Tuesday

Combat History of the 137th Infantry Regiment WWII
http://www.coulthart.com/134/137-uh.txt

The enemy continued to shell the area intermittently during October 3, 4 and 5, particularly in Pettincourt and Gremecey, where 105 and 150mm artillery was reported. On the 5th, adjacent units reported shelling of heavy caliber, presumably from German railway guns. Rain which had been threatening for several days began to fall during the morning of the 5th, and continued through the day.

JABIER
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Posts: 162
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RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#5

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:24

5 0ctober 1944, Thursday

Patton's Forward Observers: History of the 7th Field Artillery Observation Battalion

The rail gun first made its presence known on October 5 at 3:00 A.M. In what sounded like a freight train descending from the sky, six of the gigantic shells hit near the XX Corps artillery command post at Jarny.

JABIER
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Posts: 162
Joined: 27 May 2008, 08:46

RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#6

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:24

6 0ctober 1944, Friday

Battle Diary: The Story Of The 243rd Field Artillery Battalion In Combat

- A large German gun, believed to be a 280 mm railroad mounted gun and firing from ranges estimated at 30,000 to 40,000 yards, lobbed shells at XX Corps headquarters this morning. No casualties were reported. We received an order from the 203rd FAGp directing that one gun be dispatched to the Corps (near Jarny) for the purpose of counter-battery fire on the railroad gun. Accordingly the second section of Battery "A," under Lt. Peterson, was moved into a position at Rombas, 3,000 yards from the front line, for the mission.

JABIER
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RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#7

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:26

7 0ctober 1944, Saturday

Patton's Forward Observers: History of the 7th Field Artillery Observation Battalion

When it fired again on October 7, the 7th FAOB was able to direct some heavy caliber lire missions in return. It is uncertain whether these counterstrikes hit their mark, but the rail gun was silent for the next two weeks.


Battle Diary: The Story Of The 243rd Field Artillery Battalion In Combat

During the morning our detached gun fired a mission by high performance aircraft on a tunnel that was believed to be housing the 280 mm gun. The tunnel was reported smashed and Lt. Peterson was ordered to close station and return the gun to its battery. Corps evidently believed that the Boche gun was done for. The Second Section had hardly rolled back into the battalion area when it was told that it would go to a new position. The 280 had fired again from a new position. Lt. Peterson prepared to start, but another change in orders moved him back to Rombas.

JABIER
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RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#8

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:26

8 0ctober 1944, Sunday

Battle Diary: The Story Of The 243rd Field Artillery Battalion In Combat

SUNDAY, 8 0ctober 1944. — More fire on the Corps Headquarters from the 280, and the remainder of Battery "A" was moved to Rombas, dropping off Lt. Russell's section at Batailly.

JABIER
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RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#9

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:27

9 0ctober 1944, Monday

654th Tank Destroyer Battalion World War II Daily Reports
https://654thblog.wordpress.com/october-1944/

Six rounds of heavy artillery, estimated to be 280mm fell in the vicinity of Brin during the night.
It is believed that the heavy artillery railway guns which are firing into our lines are located in the vicinity of Arraincourt.

JABIER
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RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#10

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:30

10 0ctober 1944, Tuesday

VIII Corps AAR
XIX Corps. One heavy railroad gun was located in the vK9669 grid square.

Combat History of the 137th Infantry Regiment WWII
http://www.coulthart.com/134/137-uh.txt

The situation was not relieved until the following morning, when Company K and Company L, together with Company A of the 134th, again drove the Germans from the main part of the town. At 1130 the enemy was holding out only in the northeast corner of Fossieux, and one tank remained in position to the northeast of the town. Company C of the 737th Tank Battalion was brought in to assist in cleaning out the last resistance. By 1745 Fossieux was again cleared of Germans, and bridges on roads leading north and northwest of the town were reported to have been blown up by our Engineers.

During the German counterattack and the recapture of Fossieux our 3rd Battalion lost 67 men. On October 9, four were killed, ten wounded, and eight missing. On October 10 there were eight killed, 23 wounded, and 14 missing. Only one prisoner was taken by the Battalion on the 9th, but in retaking the town on the 10th, 45 were captured.

The remainder of the 137th Infantry continued in Division reserve at Attilloncourt and Gremecey during this time. Intermittent shelling was received in their area with little damage. Early on the morning of October 10 the Attilloncourt area received four rounds of heavy artillery, in the vicinity of the Regimental and the 1st Battalion Command Posts. Shell fragments recovered were over two inches wide by one and one-half inches thick and up to fourteen inches long, and indicated that the shells were from 280mm railway guns.


654th Tank Destroyer Battalion World War II Daily Reports

Five rounds of heavy artillery, thought to be 280mm fell in the vicinity of St. Max, on the outskirts of Nancy during the night. Intermittent light artillery harassed all forward positions during the period. Four rounds of heavy artillery, 280mm fell in Brin during the night.
Two more of the 7 tanks reported in Fossieux were destroyed on 9 Oct. Enemy casualties 150 – 42 prisoners.
No change in battalion CP. A few rounds of heavy artillery, estimated to be 280mm fell around the CP during the night. The 240mm guns in position in the area answered immediately with counter battery fire.


Battle Diary: The Story Of The 243rd Field Artillery Battalion In Combat

Orders came from group originating at Third Army Headquarters, to detach another of our batteries to the XII Corps, at Nancy, 40 miles south. You guessed it, the fugitive railroad gun had opened up on General Eddy's headquarters and he was calling for protection. "Is there another corps in the Third Army?" asked the Colonel. "They'll be kicking because they haven't an 8-inch gun too." The staff members looked at each other uneasily. We had only one battery left.

JABIER
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RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#11

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:31

11 0ctober 1944, Wednesday

Presenting the 35th Infantry Division in World War II
http://www.coulthart.com/134/35chapter_7.htm

Other than continuous patrolling and improvement of defense lines, there was little activity in the 35th sector for the next few days. Artillery and aircraft continuously harassed the woods southwest of Lemoncourt, where the enemy was trying to regroup his forces. The 35th sector was intermittently shelled by the enemy, especially with a railroad gun which the Germans shuttled up and down the area. On the night of 11 October, friendly aircraft destroyed one such gun.


654th Tank Destroyer Battalion World War II Daily Reports

The enemy continues to prepare defensive positions and harass forward elements with artillery fire. Nine rounds of heavy artillery, estimated to be 280mm, fell in the city of Nancy between 0200 and 0400 hours, two rounds demolishing two different buildings adjoining the division rear echelon and our personnel section. W.O. Woodruff and his personnel section spent the night in the cellar. Artillery thought to be fired from heavy railroad artillery gun in the vicinity of Adaincourt, coord Q0545. Enemy planes were over the area at 1830 hours, and were over Nancy immediately following bombardment. One of our artillery observation planes was attacked by a ME 109 in the vicinity of Jallaucourt and the 134th Inf sector was strafed by six others.

Enemy 280mm artillery is concentrating upon XII and XX Corps Headquarter miles to the rear.


Patton's Forward Observers: History of the 7th Field Artillery Observation Battalion

Reaching out from XX Corps resources, Slessman was able to coordinate with the XIX Combat Air Command who dedicated some P-51 fighter bombers for the task. Based on the 7th FAOB analysis, the Air Corps commanders could predict when the cannon was in the tunnel and launched their attack accordingly. Using great skill, the P-51 pilots were able to skip-bomb their ordnance directly into the enclosure. From that point on the rail gun was silenced. Many weeks later when the Germans were retreating. Lieutenant Slessman was able to go by the tunnel and confirm that A Battery´s direction-finding was responsible for knocking the gun out.


563rd SIGNAL AIR WARNING BATTALION IN COMBAT IN THE ETO WW II
http://www.geocities.ws/m29003/n563a.html

The MEW has often been called upon to direct fighters to a pin-point target. Such was the case when, before the fall of Metz, the Germans were using a 280 mm railway gun to shell Nancy and Pont-a-Musson. It was suspected that the gun was being concealed during the daylight hours in a certain railway tunnel. It was urgent, therefore, to close this tunnel. "Scooner" squadron of the 405th Fighter Group, lead by Col. Jackson, took off on the mission. Lt. A. K. Appleby, at MEW, vectored the squadron to the target area, but the planes could not find the right tunnel. Then Appleby went on the air:
"Okay Schooner, take a port 095 degrees, Ripsaw 5, over" And five seconds later,
Schooner leader, you're 6 miles from target, 12 o,clock"
Then
"Schooner leader, Ripsaw 5 here, look for target under your port wing".
"Roger. Rip 5, Scooner here. I see that tunnel under my left wing. Out"
"Okay Scooner squadron, arm your babies"

For some mysterious reason, the nights around Nancy became very peaceful and quiet after that.
Last edited by JABIER on 24 Mar 2017, 00:08, edited 1 time in total.

JABIER
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Posts: 162
Joined: 27 May 2008, 08:46

RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#12

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:32

12 0ctober 1944, Thursday

110th Quartermaster History, from Nancy Woodside

Q.M. moved to new area within the town of St Max. German railroad gun fired shells into Nancy and St. Max from tunnel on two consecutive nights before being located on the third.

JABIER
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RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#13

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:34

14 0ctober 1944, Saturday

35th Infantry Division AAR
http://www.coulthart.com/134/35-aa-44-oct.htm

Only activity on 14 October was the reconnaissance of the 134th Infantry MLR by the 137th Infantry for its forthcoming relief of the 134th; and the landing of heavy enemy shells, apparently from railroad guns, in the division area. The woods southwest of Lemoncourt was hit again by fighter-bombers and the railroad at Benestroff was also bombed.


654th Tank Destroyer Battalion World War II Daily Reports

Light, harassing artillery fire continued in sector. Fourteen rounds of delayed action, 280mm artillery fire about 0200 hours at coord 920205.
Company “B” no change during the period. A few rounds of heavy artillery, 280mm fell around the CP during the night. Enemy planes were over the area but dropped no bombs.


Combat History of the 137th Infantry Regiment WWII
http://www.coulthart.com/134/137-uh.txt

The Regiment remained in Division reserve until October 15. During this period the 35th Division continued its defense of the sector. To the south the 26th Division, now operating in the XII Corps, took over part of the 4th Armored Division sector. The 80th Division remained on the left of the 35th, and was in the process of regrouping its forces. Despite overcast skies and intermittent showers during the period, our aircraft remained active, bombing and strafing the woods west of Lemoncourt on the 12th, 13th, and 14th. To the north and east, the rail junction of Benestroff was hit, and a railroad gun believed blown up west of Han - sur - Nied. From October 12 to 15 the 2nd Battalion continued to report intermittent shelling at Gremecey, but damage was negligible. The only casualties in the Regiment during this period occurred on October 13, when one man was killed and one wounded.

JABIER
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RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#14

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:35

17 0ctober 1944, Tuesday

Patton's Forward Observers: History of the 7th Field Artillery Observation Battalion

On October 17, the rail gun again reappeared, firing at least twenty shells into Jarny, as well as into XX Corps and Third Army Headquarters and XII Corps sectors.

JABIER
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Joined: 27 May 2008, 08:46

RR Guns - Nancy Gun / Ghost Gun

#15

Post by JABIER » 23 Mar 2017, 23:37

18 0ctober 1944, Wednesday

The American Press correspondent with the American 3rd Army says: "The censorship ban has been lifted on the news of the big German railway gun described as the great grandchild of last war's Big Bertha.

It is operating between Nancy and Metz and lobbing 70c-lb shells over a wide area. The gun fires a range of 30 miles, but is inaccurate. It is useful for harassing fire against big targets."


The Bee from Danville, Virginia - 19 Oct 44

WITH THE U. S. THIRD ARMY IN FRANCE, Oct. 18 - A big German railway gun has been tossing 700-pound shells loosely over a wide area of the U. S. Third Army front for some weeks. Playing hide and seek in the area from Metz to Nancy, it fires a few hours in one area and a few hours in another. Until today there has been censorship on mention of the weapon. Reports this morning said shells were landing in the area of Pont-a-Mousson, midway between Nancy and Metz. The Germans moved up the gun, which may date from the First World war, when the front was stablized. Firing at a range of more than 30 miles, the gun is extremely inaccurate and the crew is lucky if it hits within a mile of where it is aimed. Therefore it is useful only in harassing fire against big targets such as cities. (Fifty words cut by censor).


The Times from San Mateo, California - 18 Oct 44

The Germans also had unlimbered their heavy artillery on the Third army front and a front dispatch said a big enemy railway gun had been shelling the Pont A Mousson area 14 miles south southwest of Metz continuously since last midnight

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