Com-Central.net

For the first time in 20+ years, the Ordnance Museum's T92 240mm Howitzer Mortar Carriage, aka "King Kong," is now out from "behind the fence." Its SN 1 as I found on the tow lug (see below) - one of just two survivors (the other is at TACOM in Warren MI). 216 T92s were ordered for the invasion of Japan, but just five were built...

According to Paul Andrews, Charlie One, The Last Cannon: A Wartime Experiment , 1941-1945 (TACOM History Office Publication, 1996), two T92s were shipped to Fort Sill and were used in firepower demonstrations into the early 1950s, both nicknamed "King Kong." Not sure if this is one of those - I suspect it never left APG...

This T92 was originally on the Maryland Avenue "Mile of Tanks," but was moved behind the fence & dismantled in 1986 in preparation for restoration according to Andrews. The March 1994 issue of Museum Ordnance magazine said the same thing - that it was taken behind the fence for re-painting and was dismantled... Although I heard another story of something to do with a lawsuit...

The museum also supposedly has a T93, the 8-inch version, behind the fence...











All this being said, it appears to still be missing much of its superstructure... I wonder/hope its still behind the fence - compare to the TACOM example...



Neil