Info:
The 15cm railroad gun was on a well base flatcar with four out-riggers, mounted on two six-wheel bogies. In action the out riggers were swung out and jacks took the recoil stress, further jacks locked the spring suspension, four more bore on the surface of the rails, and screw clamps gripped beneath the rails to provide additional security.
The gun mounting revolved on a ball race in the truck well and carried a working platform for the detachment. The gun itself was the 15cm C/30 naval gun.
The 15cm railroad gun was a very efficient design, but 15cm was really too small a calibre to be worth the trouble of a railway mounting. Eight were issued in 1937 and a further 10 in 1938, but with that the design was dropped in favour of heavier weapon.
Specification:
Calibre: 149.3mm (5.88")
Length of Gun: 5960 mm (19.55 ft)
Length of bore: 5571 mm (18.28 ft)
Rifling: 44 grooves, right hand increasing twist, 1/45 to 1/25.5
Breech Mechanism: vertical sliding block, percussion fired
Caliber: 40
Barrel weight: 5800 kg
Elevation: + 10° to + 45°
Axle: 2 x 3
Weight in action: 74 tons
Maximum Range: 22,5 km
Number built: 18
[size=1]Sketch of the gun[/size]
[size=1]Battery in firing position during a maneuver[/size]