Are you certain? Looks to me like the 280mm barrel should be wider, it didnt have a trunion (or whatever that is called) underneath, and the chassis was shorter as well... I tend to think the barrel has broken, albeit rather cleanly... But either barrel should be longer... Or is it possible the barrel is actually unrelated???
Meanwhile, in this photo the left-hand vehicle sports a 280mm mortar (in the middle is a 220mm mortar, on the right the familiar 194):
Of the three, I think the rusted wreck in Germany looks most like the 280. The cradle bears no resemblance to that of the 194, even a 194 with half the barrel broken off. I have some cracking photos at home of the St Chamond with 280, but as I’m currently at work and am going on the lash straight afterwards, I shall be in no state to do any scanning when I return home late tonight…
Ah, thank you... An article on the GPF self-propelled artillery series in the March 2006 issue of Classic Military Vehicle apparently misidentified the 220mm version as the 280mm version - which lead me to believe it didnt have a cradle...
I agree, the 280mm mortar version from your picture looks the closest...
According to the link Roger provided, it is apparently now in the hands of the Dresden Military History Museum. I've e-mailed them to see if they have any more recent pictures.
Fascinating, a rare finding! I agree with Roger because having scratchbuilt the beastie some time ago the craddle looks a bit different to me. Arie Dijkhuis made a superb plan which we should check. Amazing!
Here are some photos of the St Chamond mortier 280:
This one is flipped to orient it in the same direction as the second one below (of course, this means the breech block hinge now appears on the wrong side)...
And the rusting German wreck, for ease of comparison:
Thanks Eduardo, for the high praise, but the drawing was a co-production between me and the unfortunately late John Baumann from MAFVA. Without his info and that of Jim Marshall (former Convoy and BK Models) I would never have been able to draw this vehicle.
Arie, Drawing such quality of plan really deserve praise not only for the skill you both performed autors (and art itself) but also one must applaud the intention of share the results with colleagues. I think in a way, We modellers contribute to the narration of History by recovering significant details otherwise could be lost. As you drawings usually do. Please mail me if you think I can contribute.
Very strongly I apologize. Whether it is possible to publish these drawings in more better quality? Or to send them on my mail box (quetzal26@mail.ru)? I Adore such designs - and the information has not enough. Would be immensely happy!
Well, blush! What can I say... thanks... It is true that modellers are amateur historians. Without our labour a lot of details would be lost to the general public...