Geschutzwagen Tiger für 17cm K72 (Sf), fur 21cm Mrs 18/1 (Sf) und fur 30.5cm GrW Sf 1-606/9

The Geschutzwagen Tiger für 17cm K72 (Sf), fur 21cm Mrs 18/1 (Sf) und fur 30.5cm GrW Sf 1-606/9 was designed to carry a range of different very heavy guns into battle.

One of the problems with the heaviest artillery pieces was the amount of time required to get them into action as they moved around the battlefield. The Geschutzwagen Tiger was produced in an attempt to solve that problem. It used the chassis of a Tiger II , but with the rear of the vehicle redesigned to provide a space for the large guns. A massive superstructure was built onto the back of the tank, with an open top, open rear and a large slot in the front to make space for the gun barrel. There was a groove in the centre this compartment into which the gun would be slotted.

The gun could be fired from within the vehicle, and four hydraulic jacks were provided to improve stability when using the very largest of the guns. However this greatly restricted the range of traverse available. Two solutions to this were considered. The first was to provide a separate turntable that the entire vehicle could drive onto. The gun would be aimed by rotating this turntable and with it the entire gun.

This idea was abandoned in favour of a less cumbersome scheme, in which a rotating platform was carried on the rear of the vehicle and a winch was added to move the gun. The platform would be lowered into place, and the gun winched on top.

Several guns were to be used with the new vehicle. These included a 17cm gun and a 21cm mortar, both based on existing weapons. Skoda also produced a heavy smooth bore mortar for the vehicle, capable of firing 30.5cm fin-stabilized projectile. This was ordered in January 1945 and the prototype was completed by April. An even larger 42cm GrW mortar was also being designed at the end of the war.

The first prototype reached Sennelager for testing before the end of the war, but this was as far as the project got.

Names
Gerät 809 (17cm gun)
Gerät 810 (21cm mortar)
Gerät 817 (30.5cm mortar)
Grille

Stats
Production: 1 prototype
Length: 13m (11m with 21cm Mrs18/1)
Hull Width: 3.27m
Height: 3.15m
Crew: 7
Weight: 58 tons
Engine: Maybach HL230P30
Max Speed: 35 km/hr
Max Range: 200 km
Main Armament: 17cm K72(Sf) L/50 or 21cm Mrs18/1 (Sf) L/31 or 30.5cm GrW (L/16)
Secondary Armament: Two 7.92mm MG34 and one loose 7.92mm MG42
Armour:

Armour

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