
Specifications
Year: 1918
Manufacturer(s): Krupp - Imperial Germany
Production: 2
Capabilities: Fire Support/Assault/Breaching; Support/Special Purpose;
Manufacturer(s): Krupp - Imperial Germany
Production: 2
Capabilities: Fire Support/Assault/Breaching; Support/Special Purpose;
Crew: 80
Length: 111.55 ft (34 m)
Weight: 256 tons (232,239 kg); 511,999 lb
Length: 111.55 ft (34 m)
Weight: 256 tons (232,239 kg); 511,999 lb
Power: None. This is a towed artillery piece.
Range: 81 miles (130 km)
Operators: Imperial Germany
As its name suggested, the weapon was developed with the sole intent to engage Paris at long range, proving to its citizens that they were not immune to the fighting along the Western Front. In this way, the gun proved a success as a psychological terror weapon but was largely inaccurate, prone to technical issues, and required many resources which then produced limited results. In this way, the Paris Gun was something of a failure as a true battlefield artillery piece.
The Paris Gun made use of a hefty 234lb projectile and held a range out to 81 miles. Within German-held territory in France, the weapon was able to target Paris which lay some 75 miles away. It opened up in anger against the city on March 21st, 1918 and continued its terror campaign into August of that year, withdrawn amidst the advancing Allied forces. During its operational tenure, it managed to fire at least 320 shells, kill 250 Perisians, and injure a further 620 citizens while accounting for considerable damage from the 210 shells. The weapon typically operated alongside a battery of standard German guns to help shield its position from wandering Allied reconnaissance aircraft and ground scouts. As such, its true location alluded the Allies for some time. Initially, its projectiles were thought to have been derived from a passing German bomber or Zeppelin until fragments were studied more closely and shown the true artillery origins.
Krupp manufactured seven 210mm barrels for the Paris Gun program as fracturing and wear were constant issues when dealing with such forces at play. The retreating Germans then elected to have the weapon completely destroyed lest it fall into enemy hands - not even its design plans survived the fighting.
Such ended the reign of terror on Paris brought through the German "Paris Gun".
Armament
ORIGINAL
1 x 211mm gun barrel
LATER:
1 x 238mm gun barrel
Ammunition:
Dependent upon ammunition carrier.
Variants / Models
• Paris Gun - General Weapon Name
• Paris-Geschutz - German Translation
• Kaiser Wilhelm Geschutz - Alternative German Name