Rail guns

Discussions on the fortifications, artillery, & rockets used by the Axis forces.
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rigger_69
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Posts: 2
Joined: 09 Apr 2017, 02:07
Location: Ohio

Rail guns

#1

Post by rigger_69 » 22 Apr 2017, 02:10

I have the Muster roll of Battery B, 52nd Artillery which is 100 years old. The gun was the Betsy Ross and used in several campaigns of WW1. I am looking for any info on this gun. How many guns were in use in WW1. What happened to the guns after the war. Any historic info or links would be appreciated.. Mark

jopaerya
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Joined: 21 Jun 2004, 14:21
Location: middelburg

Re: Rail guns

#2

Post by jopaerya » 22 Apr 2017, 09:22

:welcome:

Found this on internet looks like the same type of 34 cm guns as the B. Plouhharnel in W.W. II ??
http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ance ... Bty_B.html
viewtopic.php?f=70&t=131062&p=2070291&h ... l#p2070291

Regards Jos


ALVF
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Posts: 280
Joined: 22 Oct 2012, 11:37
Location: France

Re: Rail guns

#3

Post by ALVF » 22 Apr 2017, 17:23

Hello,

Jos, your subject depicts Battery B, 53nd Artillery.
Mark had writed Battery B, 52nd Artillery.
This battery was armed with four 32 cm modèle 1870-81 guns on sliding mount Schneider.
A small photograph of "Betsy Ross" in 1918:
32 cm modèle 1870-81 Betsy Ross - Copie.jpg
They were 44 guns of 32 cm on ALVF mounts in french Army: 22 guns modèle 1870-84, 6 guns modèle 1870-93 and 16 guns modèle 1870-81.
The 32 cm modèle 1870-81 were used in french Army from 1916 to 1918. In summer 1918, 12 guns of this model were leased to A.E.F.
In A.E.F, this Battery B, 52nd Artillery was used near Blercourt (Meuse) in september 1918 (35 shells fired), near Genicourt in Saint-Mihiel operation (58 shells fired) and near Recicourt (Meuse) during Argonne-Meuse operation in october 1918 (78 shells fired).
The guns were returned to french Army in december 1918.
They were 16 guns of this model 32 cm modèle 1870-81 in french Army, all these 16 mounts were sligthly modified in 1920 years and the more modern 274 mm modèle 1917 guns were mounted on these mounts and mobilised in french Army in 1939-1940.
Yours sincerely,
Guy François.

jopaerya
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Posts: 19236
Joined: 21 Jun 2004, 14:21
Location: middelburg

Re: Rail guns

#4

Post by jopaerya » 22 Apr 2017, 17:46

Merci Guy :oops:

rigger_69
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Posts: 2
Joined: 09 Apr 2017, 02:07
Location: Ohio

Re: Rail guns

#5

Post by rigger_69 » 24 Apr 2017, 00:34

Muster Roll.jpg
Muster Roll.jpg (96.95 KiB) Viewed 419 times
Guy Francois, Thank you very much for the history. I bought the print of the muster roll in an antique store and had been watching it there for several years. After I bought it I then learned the more important features in the print. It is rather risqué for 1918! Once again thank you very much for your reply and info. Mark

ALVF
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Posts: 280
Joined: 22 Oct 2012, 11:37
Location: France

Re: Rail guns

#6

Post by ALVF » 24 Apr 2017, 09:00

Hello,

Thank you for this fine engraving!
This original "Œuvre d'Art" is signed by an unknown french artillerist and is dated of the year 1916!
This "Modern Art" painting embellish at least two french 32 cm modèle 1870-81 ALVF guns, P 3043 "L'Espérance" et P 3041 "La Bretagne".
32cmLEsperance.jpg
L'Espérance
32cmLaBretagne.jpg
La Bretagne
The french "Poilus" of 1916 get ahead of american "G.I" of 1944 in matter of "Pin Up"! It is "osé" for the year 1916!
The "L'Espérance" and the "La Bretagne" guns are the future "Betsy Ross" and "Liberty" guns leased to A.E.F in 1918.
Perhaps, the two other guns of the Battery have also the same paintings but it is not sure.
Yours sincerely,
Guy François.

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