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Anzio Annie leaving APG
Seized from Germany after World War II, legendary gun on its way to Fort Lee, Va.

BY KIRSTEN DIZE
Posted 11/19/10

Aberdeen Proving Ground will soon be losing a piece of history — one of the biggest cannons ever built.

The German built K5 long gun that saw service in World War II and later became a major APG attraction was being dismantled this week in preparation for moving it to its future home.

Aberdeen Proving Ground has housed the U.S. Army’s Ordnance School since the 1920s, according to George Mercer, chief of public affairs at APG.

“One of the major missions here, from the 1920s until next year, was to train the Army’s mechanics and maintenance people,” Mercer said. “One of the ways we train those ordnance soldiers is to train them on their heritage.”

Soldiers examined old weapons and learned about how they evolved over the years, Mercer said. Because of that educational role, APG accumulated weapons over the years, and eventually turned the collection into the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum.

The museum became a major Maryland attraction until the post’s security was tightened following the 9/11 terror attacks and public visits were all but ended for several years.

As part of the BRAC relocations, the Ordnance Center and School is moving to Fort Lee, Va. The museum is moving with the school.

“That’s why we’re moving at least part of the collection to Fort Lee,” Mercer said.

Along with the museum goes Anzio Annie, a large railway mounted gun used at the Battle for Anzio Hill in Italy during World War II.

“We captured it and it ended up at the Ordnance Museum,” Mercer said.

With the significant recoil and easy transport in mind, the large guns were mounted on rails.

“It’s probably among the biggest cannons ever built,” Mercer said.

The gun has been dismantled and will soon make the move to Fort Lee.

Mercer said he is not sure the exact date or means with which the heavy piece of equipment will make the trip.

He said the original concept was to move the pieces by truck, but the weight of the pieces may be too much for that option to work. Anzio Annie may have to be moved in separate pieces by rail, he said.

In the meantime the large, historical weapon remains dismantled on post, its parts awaiting their transport south.

"He said the original concept was to move the pieces by truck, but the weight of the pieces may be too much for that option to work. Anzio Annie may have to be moved in separate pieces by rail, he said."

Gee it was already mounted on a rail car that had been hauled onto post originally. Too bad they couldn't refurbish the rail trucks enough to allow it to be hauled intact..

“It’s probably among the biggest cannons ever built,” Mercer said. - He should have said yes it's pretty big but that one (turned around and pointed at the 16" Coast Defense Gun across the field) is much larger

Yea I've known it was coming but it still hurts. I hope it was dismantled properly and that it will be put back together (unlike King Kong, the 240 mm SPH that was taken apart years ago and not reassembled)