Landships II

Sturm78 · Lieutenant-Colonel

Question about 30.5cm Skoda M11 Morser trailers

28juni14 · Hero

Hello,

The pic illustrates the Bettungswagen as it appeared in battery.�� This is the wagon that carried the firing platform.��The platform��was in three hinged�pieces, and "folded" over the two squared pedestals you see behind the pompous seated crew member.�� The wagon also carried a dismounted crane that was installed for handling the propellents.
After the piece's set-up, this wagon was positioned so as to allow the crane to traverse to ammunition lorries, and unload the rounds.�� It then lifted each round onto the railed hand cart for manual movement to the piece.

Sturm78 · Lieutenant-Colonel

Thank you very much for your information, 28juni14. smile

I think you're right

I have the book "Skoda Heavy Guns" of Michal Prasil. This book contains two photos of the Bettungswagen�trailer of 30.5cm Skoda M11 morser, but none of them I can see the crane anywhere. hmm

�

What's the thing at the top of the two squared pedestals? Trunks??

This has confused me.

Regards Sturm78.

28juni14 · Hero

They appear to be cut timbers.�� As you will note,� it's a winter scene and much of the�ground seems to be turning a bit mushy.� The crews have laid boards to keep their ammunition clean, and the timbers were likely to assist traversing ditches or uneven terrain.

Sturm78 · Lieutenant-Colonel

Hi 28juni14,

I have achieved today another photo of a 30.5cm Skoda M11 base box trailer with a crane mounted. smile

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Just another question: the crane was transported in the same base box trailer disassembled or it was transported in another vehicle / trailer and then mounted on the base box trailer in position??

Regards Sturm78.

28juni14 · Hero

The crane,� the heavy jacks, wheel guides,� recuperator pump, �propellant cart,� gunner's aiming tools, �and various other accoutrement's,� were all carried separately in the towing vehicles.� Those vehicles ,� purposely designed for the M11 morser,� were Austro-Daimler M12 zugmaschinen.

Sturm78 · Lieutenant-Colonel

Hi 28juni14,

Thank you very much for your informations!! smile

Regards Sturm78.

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Sturm78 · Lieutenant-Colonel

Hi all,

I found this image of a 30.5cm Skoda M11 barrel trailer. I've never seen that the�barrel�was transported with the cradle. It's very strange

Regards Sturm78

28juni14 · Hero

Indeed this is strange.�� You will note the rohr, still in iit's cradle, �is carried upside down, suspended between the axle carriers.�� One would have to assume it is a field expedient .�� Thanks for sharing.