Pre - 1800s
1800s - 1900s
1900s - Modern
Manufacture: March 1936 Rheinmetall (German automotive and defense company) made a proposal for a howitzer to assemble on site, but prep led to the decision to make it a self-propelled weapon in January 1937. Driving tests took place in 1938 and 1939 using the first new vehicle tank prototype and a scale model to research the extremely high ground pressure and steering of such a huge vehicle. Firing tests took place in June 1939. The full-scale driving trials took place at Unterlüss in May 1940. 7 Karl-Gerät howitzers were made.The 1st 6 were nicknamed Adam, Eva, Thor, Odin, Loki, and Ziu; the last one did have a name (Versuchs-Gerät).In February 1941, discussions were about if they should increase the range of it, and in May 1942, 54 cm barrels were ordered for the six vehicles. Only 3 of the 54 cm barrels were actually completed. Later on they were modified with a capability of carrying 4 shells that replaced the turret and outfitted with a crane as ammunition tractor ammunition transporters/loaders. 2 or 3 of these ammunition tractors were assigned to each weapon.
Design: Since Rheinmetall was also an automotive company this cannon was a 124 ton vehicle. The 124 ton vehicle was propelled by a Daimler-Benz MB 503. A 12-cylinder liquid-cooled gasoline engine, but this was mainly used for aiming (the mount had only 4 degrees of traverse on each side) as the engines provided a speed of only 6.2 miles per hour. The Karl-Gerät proved to have no problems moving over normal soil, but under no circumstances was it allowed to make turns on soft soil lest it throw a track. The chassis had to be backed into position to fire, which expedited movement to a new position, but the firing position had to be precisely leveled and the approach route prepared ahead of time to fill in soft spots and any ditches, etc. It could only be loaded at 0 elevation, so it had to be re-aimed between every shot.
Ammunition: The original heavy 60 cm concrete-piercing shells made a crater up to 49 ft wide and 16 ft deep. More range was desired and the light concrete-piercing shell 040 was introduced in 1942. The original 60 cm heavy shell had no designation other than the name. The unit number was added for the newer shells.
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