The 211mm projectiles used separate-loading cased charges. The gun fired at a muzzle velocity of up to 5,400 feet per second with an effective range out to 49,120 yards. Maximum range was stated as high as 125,765 yards. Each shell weighed 237lbs so a special crane wagon was attached to the train. Due to the breech's location near the ground when the gun barrel was raised for firing, reloading was only possible by lowering the gun, giving the appropriate access to the breech.
In practice, the first received gun proved the concept sound though the Army did not appreciate the length of prep work required of the gun between firing actions. Hydropneumatic balance presses were developed by Krupp to remedy the problem and this produced the second weapon system under the designation of "K12N(E)". With its arrival, the first example became known under the "K12V(E)" designation.
The guns managed a certain level of limited service during World War 2 but weapons like this were generally limited by the established railway network of European countries and this quality and reach varied across the different players falling under German conquest. The weapons could rely on a special turntable emplacement if to be featured as a static defense gun. Regardless, they proved tactically inflexible and ended their days as static fixtures overlooking the English Channel at the French coast. Ultimately, the weapons proved useless once the Allies had made headway into France and German positions were overrun.
Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.