Skoda Gun Train

This 6 waggon behemoth is in the central courtyard of the Bucharest Military museum.train 4

It comprises:

380mm barrel on 2 bogie wagon - Barbara

380mm barrel380mm barrel
380mm mount on bogie wagon380mm carriage
ammunition wagon
crane / baseplate wagoncrane carriagecrane carriage
420mm mount on bogie wagon420mm carriage420mm carriage

420 mm barrel on bogie wagon - Gudrun

420mm barrelgun train 1

Each bogie is identical, with electric motors driving the axles individually. The wheels can have road tyres fitted, and there are pictures of the vehicle on the road. All further information would be welcome about this vehicle, especially a translation of the 2 romanian info plates. bogie unitbogie unit closeupbogie unit

gun 2 plate

This plate is for the 380mm "bunker buster" howitzer, on 4 railcars/wagons. The plate reads:

High power rapid fire howitzer Skoda system

Model 1916
Calibre 380mm
Maximum range 14600m
Weight without basement 81700kg
Projectile 740kg

To support the offensive of the Austo-Hungarian Army in May 1916, Skoda Works had built just two examples Md. 1916, named "Barbara" and "Gudrun". The Romanian Army had captured the piece "Gudrun". The howitzer is shown in march, dismantled and mounted on four cars (for barrel, for carriage and for basement). With special tyres to the wheels it can run also on the road.

 

train 6 plate The plate isfor the 420mm howitzer, unique example. Its reads:

High power rapid fire howitzer Skoda system

Model 1916
Calibre 420mm
Maximum range 14600m
Weight without basement 113000kg
Projectile 1000kg

Built by Skoda Works to destroy the high fortified positions. It is shown in march, on two cars(for barrel and for carriage). Used by Austro-Hungarian artillery, the howitzer, unique in the world, had been captured by the Romanian Army during the First World War.