The heaviest gun ever built, Schwerer Gustav, weighed an astonishing 1,350 tonnes.
Understanding the Heaviest Gun: Schwerer Gustav
Schwerer Gustav was a massive German 80 cm (31.5 in) railway gun developed in the late 1930s by Krupp in Essen for the purpose of destroying heavily fortified targets. It remains the heaviest artillery piece ever constructed by weight, and the largest-calibre rifled weapon in the history of artillery.
Key Specifications of Schwerer Gustav
To truly grasp the immense scale of this weapon, here are its primary specifications:
| Specification | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1,350 tonnes (1,490 short tons; 1,330 long tons) |
| Overall Length | 47.3 metres (155 ft 2 in) |
| Barrel Length | 32.5 metres (106 ft 8 in) |
This gargantuan gun was so large that it required a crew of approximately 2,500 men, along with a support staff of similar size, to operate and maintain it. It also needed a dedicated railway line for transport and firing.
Historical Context
Developed during World War II, Schwerer Gustav was designed to be used against the Maginot Line's fortifications. However, it was not ready in time for the Battle of France. Its only operational deployment was during the Siege of Sevastopol in 1942, where it successfully engaged and destroyed several key targets, including ammunition dumps and coastal defense batteries. Despite its destructive power, its immense size and logistical requirements made it impractical for widespread use.
