History of Weapons: Top 5 Biggest Artillery Guns Of All Time!

Published on May 26, 2022
Duration: 4:03

This video explores the top five largest artillery guns ever created, detailing their historical context, technical specifications, and operational challenges. It highlights the evolution of siege weaponry from the 16th century to World War II, emphasizing the immense scale and power of these historical behemoths.

Quick Summary

The Tsar Cannon, built in Russia in 1586, fires an 890mm cannonball and weighs 39 tons. The German Karl-Gerät was a 600mm siege mortar in WWII. Mallet's Mortar was a 914mm mortar from 1857. The Schwerer Gustav was the largest rifled weapon at 800mm, and Little David was the largest caliber gun at 914mm.

Chapters

  1. 00:22Introduction to Artillery
  2. 00:48Number 1: The Tsar Cannon
  3. 01:26Number 2: The Karl-Gerät
  4. 02:10Number 3: Mallet's Mortar
  5. 02:34Number 4: The Schwerer Gustav
  6. 03:08Number 5: Little David
  7. 03:38Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Tsar Cannon and what are its specifications?

The Tsar Cannon is a bronze cast cannon built in Russia in 1586. It fires an 890 millimeter cannonball and its barrel weighs 39 tons and is 17.5 feet long. It was largely symbolic, as firing it often damaged its carriage.

What was the Karl-Gerät and its role in World War II?

The Karl-Gerät was a German-built 600mm (later 540mm) siege mortar used during World War II. Seven were produced, requiring a 21-man crew and capable of firing heavy concrete-piercing shells with a range of 5,000-7,000 yards.

Which artillery piece is considered the largest rifled weapon ever made?

The Schwerer Gustav, a German 800mm rifled siege artillery piece designed in 1937 and produced in 1941, holds the distinction of being the largest rifled weapon ever manufactured.

What made Little David significant among artillery guns?

Little David, a US-built mortar from World War II, weighed 173,000 pounds with an 80,000-pound barrel. Its 914 millimeter caliber made it the largest caliber gun ever built, capable of firing a 3,650-pound shell up to six miles.

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