Pas De Calais - Krupp K5 Rail Gun

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun

Following the fall of France in June 1940, the Germans began deploying rail guns to the Pas de Calias to support Operation Sea Lion, the invasion of Britain.  In addition permanent coastal batteries would be built between Calais and Boulogne to control the English Channel. 

English Channel Gun Batteries

 The Germans established five main locations for 280mm Krupp K5 rail guns in the Pas De Calais area.  The batteries consisted of four two gun batteries and a single one gun battery.
Normally only one gun would be firing, the other undergoing maintenance.

Calais Grables                                         (2x Guns)
Sangatte-Cement Factory                      (2x Guns)
Les Alleux                                                (2x Guns)
Hydrequent-Le Carre de Marabee       (1x Guns)
Wimereux-Les Oiles                               (2x Guns)

Pas De Calais - German Rail Gun Locations.

The guns were housed in Dombunkers, reinforced concrete shelters, or in railway tunnels to protect the guns when they were not firing.  The guns would be brought from their shelter, prepared for firing, the mission carried out, then return to their protected shelters.

Krupp K5 Railgun emerging from Dombunker

 Twenty five Krupp K5 Rail Guns were produced, but only two remain today. One of the remaining guns is located at the Atlantic Wall Museum,  Audinghem, 20 km (12 miles) north of Boulogne. 


Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun
Atlantic Wall Museum Audinghem

 The development of the K5 began in 1934 with the first testing following in 1936. Eight guns were available for the invasion of France in 1940.

The K5 had a range 64 km (40 miles) firing a 255 kg (562 pounds) high explosive shell.

 

Krupp K5 Rail Gun

The time taken to prepare for firing and the low rate of fire (15 rounds per hour)  limited the guns to land based targets.  Dover and the South Coast were targeted. 



Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun
Firing on Dover

The guns had a limited traverse consequently to set the bearing required, the gun needed to be rotated on a railway turntable or moved along a curved track. 



Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun

 

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun

 

Krupp K5 Photo Album 

 

The guns were moved to and from the firing position by a WR360C14 diesel shunter locomotive.

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun
Moving using WR360C14 diesel shunter locomotive 

A small gauge railway track was laid from the ammunition storage to the gun in order to move the 255 kg (562 pounds) high explosive shell and cartridges. The shell and cartridges would be lifted by the gun's hoist onto a small ammunition trolley at the rear of the gun.

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun
Ammunition Hoist

  

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun
Cartridges being hoisted onto the gun

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun Atlantic Wall Museum Audinghem
Ammunition and rear of gun

Krupp K5 Atlantic Wall Museum Audinghem
Shell  hoisted on to ammunition trolley

Krupp K5 Atlantic Wall Museum Audinghem
Ammunition loading trolley

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun
Cartridges and Shells

The ammunition trolley moved along rails on the loading platform to position the shell onto the loading tray. The shell and then the cartridges would be loaded into the chamber and the breach closed.

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun
Loading platform

 

Krupp K5 Atlantic Wall Museum Audinghem
Shell on loading tray

 The gun was prepared for firing, then fired by means of a lanyard attached to the firing mechanism.

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun
Ready to fire



Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun
Gun being fired

 

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun
Fire !

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun
Schuss über ...Shot Over

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun
Schuss über ...Shot Over

Once the run had been fired the empty cartridge cases would be removed.

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun
Post firing

Krupp K5 280mm Rail Gun

Krupp K5 Leopold

Krupp K5 Leopold

 

Krupp K5 Leopold
Atlantic Wall Museum Audinghem



Krupp K5 Leopold
Atlantic Wall Museum Audinghem



Two Krupp K5s were sent to Italy to target the Allied bridgehead at Anzio. The guns were nicknamed Leopold and Robert by the German Gunners, to the Allied soldiers under their distinctive fire, they were termed Anzio Annie and Anzio Express. The two guns were abandoned when the Allied forces broke out of the Anzio Beachhead.  



Leopold has been restored and  located at the Atlantic Wall Museum, Audinghem in the Pas de Calais.

Musée du Mur de l'Atlantique