Paris Gun attacks, the original.

[MG1962]

That's my understanding, that the same maintenance they had post-WWII would continue.

The problem for these ships is the barrel linings for the 16 inch guns, it was the main reason they were pulled in the first place.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The problem for these ships is the barrel linings for the 16 inch guns, it was the main reason they were pulled in the first place.

So they could just go with the honeycomb launcher.

 

[MG1962]

So they could just go with the honeycomb launcher.

I dont know what that is

 

[Rincewind]

Naval Fire played a major role in Normandy in breaking the Fortresses protecting Cherbourg.

They also.in Patton's opinion saved the day at Sicily when is looked as though the German Panzers would be able to throw the American Gela Beachead into the sea.

And at Salerno, IIRC?

 

[Andy_Ross]

Warspite was hit by the glider bomb while providing fire support off Salerno.

Battleship guns are good for about 300 rounds then need re-lining.
They actually get new or re-lined guns and the worn out ones are taken away to be re lined.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I dont know what that is

You know Armored Box Launcher, right? ABLs protect the ordnance inside from attacks by cluster bombs, etc.

Now, imagine that the entire quarterdeck (everything on the flat deck at the aft end of the ship) was devoted to vertical ABLs. That would be room for about 300 ABLs, or enough nuclear weaponry to make it totally unnecessary to carry a torch anywhere in Europe at night.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Warspite was hit by the glider bomb while providing fire support off Salerno.

Battleship guns are good for about 300 rounds then need re-lining.
They actually get new or re-lined guns and the worn out ones are taken away to be re lined.

Have there been enough un-repairable liners to make the supply at risk? Anybody?

 

[Andy_Ross]

Liners are made new they are the inner sleeve of the barrel that carries the rifling. they heat the barrel up and force out the liner then they chill the new liner and force it in to the barrel. Then when the temp returns to normal it is a solid part of the barrel. It's a job for a big forgeworks.

I wouldn't think they have any laid around in a warehouse anywhere

 

[Andy_Ross]

To add. Every time a big gun is fired (we are talking the 15 qand 16 inch jobs) there is wear to the chamber and rifling. Each shell that is rammed in goes a bit further in to the chamber. Eventuasly there is no margin left for wear in the chamber and the rifling has been worn so much that accuracy starts to fall off.
Wear in a big gun isn't the same as in a rifle for example. Shells for big guns have soft metal 'driving bands' that deform when the shell is rammed and form both a seal for the gasses and grip in to the rifling. Charges are in bags that are consumed when the gun is fired.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BL_15_inch_Mk_I_naval_gun

 

[MG1962]

I wouldn't think they have any laid around in a warehouse anywhere

It was reported at the time of the Missouri's recommission that was exactly what did happen. A depot store was found to be holding about 1000 of the sleeves dating back from WW2.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Lol someone fell down there!.
It happens with the RN. As long as a ship is in service they keep a full suite of spares.
There used to be a huge RN Dtores depot on Teesside. It had spares for everything including parts for ships that had long since departed. Complete gun turrets, Radar Sets, Turbines, Boilers etc.It was all disposed of in the 1980s

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It was reported at the time of the Missouri's recommission that was exactly what did happen. A depot store was found to be holding about 1000 of the sleeves dating back from WW2.

Is that the one that had the gun barrels stored outside? If so I would have thought there would be a red flag of some kind.

 

[Rincewind]

I have a dim memory that the Paris Gun was also known as the Long Max.

Is this a misremembrance?

Thanks...

 

[Rincewind]

I just checked Wikipedia...

The Long Max (actually 8 of them) were large WWI German naval guns, on rail mountings.

So - apologies for the "derail"...

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I just checked Wikipedia...

The Long Max (actually 8 of them) were large WWI German naval guns, on rail mountings.

So - apologies for the "derail"...

It was only 8 when guys did the measuring.

 

[Rincewind]

I found this in the Wiki article:

Nicknamed Max, the gun's (supporting) barrel and railway-transportable carriage was used in the famed Paris Gun.

Maybe that explains my memory...

 

[Rincewind]

It was only 8 when guys did the measuring.

And each one was 15"...

 

[Hans]

A lot of big guns in WWII were at Dover and Pas de Calais.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-Channel_guns_in_the_Second_World_War

 

[Craig B]

A lot of big guns in WWII were at Dover and Pas de Calais.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-Channel_guns_in_the_Second_World_War

Yes, but these were not the Super Guns discussed earlier, in relation to the Siege of Sevastopol. In fact, according to your link the Superguns weren't much good in the English Channel artillery exchanges either.

Super-heavy railway guns can only be traversed by moving the entire gun and its carriage along a curved track, or by building a special cross track or turntable. This, combined with their slow rate of fire (measured in rounds per hour or even rounds per day), makes it difficult for them to hit moving targets. Another problem with super-heavy guns is that their barrels (which are difficult to make and expensive to replace) wear out relatively quickly, so they could not be fired often.

 

[Brainache]

Here's the barrel from the Amiens railway gun "Bruno" captured in WWI:

The plaque at the museum where it is now: