Vasco Da Gama
Well-Known Member
Well some things do still turn up, pictured is a case from the German WW1 30.5cm M97 Beta Gerat Kurstenmorser. The case is 457mm long with a rim diameter of 340mm and dated 1911. Pictured alongside a standard 21cm morser case for comparison. My understanding is that this gun was always intended to be used by the Army as a heavy siege mortar but was developed under a cover story of being a Naval weapon for coast defence. The Army usage is indicated by the lack of Marine M and the June manufacture vice the naval VI. Only 9 were built between 1899 and 1906 with a further 2 Beta 09 Gerat being added later. These guns were used to attack the Belgian fortresses at the start of WW1. I would be interested to know if many other examples of this case have turned up!
