±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 237
Total: 237
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Home
02: Community Forums
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Community Forums
06: Community Forums
07: Community Forums
08: Community Forums
09: Photo Gallery
10: Community Forums
11: Community Forums
12: Community Forums
13: Community Forums
14: News
15: Member Screenshots
16: Member Screenshots
17: Community Forums
18: Home
19: Community Forums
20: Home
21: Community Forums
22: News
23: Community Forums
24: Community Forums
25: Community Forums
26: Home
27: Home
28: Community Forums
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: News
33: Community Forums
34: Community Forums
35: Community Forums
36: Community Forums
37: Downloads
38: Home
39: Downloads
40: Member Screenshots
41: Downloads
42: Community Forums
43: Community Forums
44: Community Forums
45: Community Forums
46: Community Forums
47: LinkToUs
48: Home
49: Home
50: Home
51: Search
52: Home
53: Your Account
54: News
55: Home
56: Community Forums
57: Home
58: Community Forums
59: Community Forums
60: Home
61: Home
62: Community Forums
63: Community Forums
64: Community Forums
65: Home
66: Community Forums
67: Community Forums
68: Community Forums
69: Home
70: Community Forums
71: Community Forums
72: Community Forums
73: Home
74: Community Forums
75: Home
76: Community Forums
77: Community Forums
78: Home
79: Community Forums
80: Community Forums
81: Community Forums
82: Home
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Community Forums
87: Community Forums
88: Community Forums
89: Home
90: Community Forums
91: Community Forums
92: Home
93: Community Forums
94: Community Forums
95: Home
96: Community Forums
97: News
98: Home
99: Community Forums
100: Community Forums
101: Community Forums
102: Community Forums
103: Home
104: News Archive
105: Home
106: Downloads
107: Home
108: Community Forums
109: Home
110: Home
111: News
112: Home
113: Community Forums
114: News Archive
115: Community Forums
116: Community Forums
117: Home
118: Community Forums
119: Community Forums
120: Community Forums
121: Community Forums
122: Community Forums
123: Downloads
124: Community Forums
125: Community Forums
126: Home
127: Community Forums
128: Home
129: Member Screenshots
130: Home
131: Community Forums
132: Home
133: Community Forums
134: Home
135: Home
136: Home
137: Home
138: Community Forums
139: Community Forums
140: Community Forums
141: Community Forums
142: Home
143: Community Forums
144: Community Forums
145: Community Forums
146: Community Forums
147: Home
148: Community Forums
149: Community Forums
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: Home
153: Community Forums
154: Community Forums
155: Home
156: Home
157: Community Forums
158: Home
159: Home
160: News
161: Home
162: Community Forums
163: Home
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Community Forums
167: Community Forums
168: Home
169: Home
170: Home
171: Community Forums
172: Community Forums
173: News
174: Community Forums
175: Community Forums
176: Community Forums
177: Home
178: Community Forums
179: Community Forums
180: Community Forums
181: Community Forums
182: Community Forums
183: Community Forums
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Downloads
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: Community Forums
191: Home
192: Home
193: Downloads
194: Home
195: Community Forums
196: Photo Gallery
197: Community Forums
198: Photo Gallery
199: Home
200: Home
201: Home
202: Community Forums
203: Community Forums
204: Community Forums
205: Home
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Member Screenshots
209: Community Forums
210: Community Forums
211: Community Forums
212: Statistics
213: Community Forums
214: Home
215: Home
216: Home
217: Home
218: Home
219: Community Forums
220: Home
221: Community Forums
222: Downloads
223: News Archive
224: Community Forums
225: Home
226: Community Forums
227: Community Forums
228: Community Forums
229: Community Forums
230: Community Forums
231: Community Forums
232: Community Forums
233: Community Forums
234: Community Forums
235: Community Forums
236: Community Forums
237: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Anzio Annie Dismantled
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 2:58 am
Post subject: Anzio Annie Dismantled

www.exploreharford.com...aving-apg/

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.


Last edited by Neil_Baumgardner on Fri Dec 10, 2010 5:30 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile
Pzkpfw-e
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jul 21, 2010
Posts: 1202

PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:17 am
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

"Anzio Hill", "Probably among the biggest cannons built"
Who wrote this crap?
Why doesn't the PR man know anything about the collection?
Back to top
View user's profile
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:38 am
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

I take it Bob won't be hauling it down in his pickup? Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
VonForhud
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 17, 2010
Posts: 162

PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 12:14 pm
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

I wonder what happened to the other gun, they found? Robert? Leopold is on display and is going to be moved. But what about Robert?

_________________
hvasnakkerduom.blogspo...wagen.html
Back to top
View user's profile
Pzkpfw-e
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jul 21, 2010
Posts: 1202

PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:31 pm
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

There is another K5e displayed at the Batterie Todt, Audinghen, Pas-de-Calais.

www.batterietodt.com/
web.ukonline.co.uk/gaz/bt.html
It notes that parts of the two guns taken to the US were combined to form the one now displayed.
Back to top
View user's profile
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 11:08 pm
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

The only other surviving K5 I am aware of is in France.
Back to top
View user's profile
VonForhud
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 17, 2010
Posts: 162

PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 11:50 am
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

So they just scrapped the rest of Robert/Express when rebuilding Leopold/Annie?

_________________
hvasnakkerduom.blogspo...wagen.html
Back to top
View user's profile
Pzkpfw-e
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jul 21, 2010
Posts: 1202

PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 4:28 pm
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

Looks that way, one (both?) gun was disabled by its crew prior to capture.
The info on the following link suggests this is the case.
web.ukonline.co.uk/gaz/k5.html
Back to top
View user's profile
SteamTank
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Sep 20, 2010
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:48 pm
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

Here is another article on the K5 recent move www.ftleetraveller.com...002e0.html As of yesterday Dec 2 the carriage minus the guntube is visible from the road running in front of Fort Lee
Back to top
View user's profile
VonForhud
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 17, 2010
Posts: 162

PostPosted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:47 pm
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

Okay this MIGHT be a stupid question, but why dont they just put it on a railway? To move it. It is a railway gun after all? Its German engineering a bit of grease and shes a runner.

_________________
hvasnakkerduom.blogspo...wagen.html
Back to top
View user's profile
Pzkpfw-e
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jul 21, 2010
Posts: 1202

PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 5:32 pm
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

Probably the usual problem with a railway, does it go near where you are and where you want to go?
If you've got to dismantle it to get it to and from the railway, you might as well just truck it the whole way.
Back to top
View user's profile
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 6:23 pm
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

At the Aberdeen end Annie sat right next to the branch line into the base. I believe the problem was old age and deterioration of the equipment. I was told that Siemans ((the followon company to the one that built Annie's brake system) looked at it and was considering fixing the brake system so it could be used for the move. I suspect that when they looked at the entire system the rebuild of the brakes, bearings, trucks and support structure, was just to big of a job. There is also the fact that railroads are very reluctant to allow unusual equipment on their tracks because of liability requirements. So it might have been the CSX system (The most logical rail company to move it on) simply told them they could do it or that there had to be a huge payment as well as a pretty broad assumption of liability that made the move prohibitive

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 6:45 pm
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

Way back when, Dr Rainer told me they couldnt move it via rail without lowering the barrel (which raises many of the same issues Bob mentioned) due to the tunnels between APG and Fort Lee. The "original" plan he had was to put it on a boat and sail it up the James river to Fort Lee.

Neil


Last edited by Neil_Baumgardner on Sat Dec 04, 2010 6:46 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile
piney
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 2330
Location: Republic of Southern New Jersey
PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 6:45 pm
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

Might also have been a curve radius issue on the rails between Aberdeen and Ft. Lee

_________________
The only good skwerril is a dead un
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 5:27 am
Post subject: Re: Harford Aegis: Anzio Annie Dismantled

I found some pictures of the move from the APG Newspaper

www.apgnews.apg.army.m...ov2410.pdf

www.apgnews.apg.army.m...ec0210.pdf

Neil

APG bids farewell to Anzio Annie

Story and photo by
YVONNE JOHNSON
APG News
In 1945 President Franklin D. Roosevelt died after 12 years in office, linoleum kitchen rugs were all the rage, and a gallon of gasoline cost 15 cents.

It was also the year Anzio Annie became the star of the Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Annie is the Krupp K5 German heavy railway gun famous for the shelling of Allied Forces at the Anzio beachhead in Italy during World War II.

Hailed as one of the largest land-based cannons ever built, Annie was discovered by Allied troops on a railroad siding outside of Rome in 1944 and was shipped to the Ordnance Museum the following year.

After a 65-year stay at APG, Annie was disassembled during the week of Nov. 15 in preparation for her move to the new home of Ordnance at Fort Lee, Va.

The Meadow Lark Transportation Company and the A&A Rigging Company conducted the dismantling and loading of Annie, under the supervision of museum director Christopher Semancik and logisticians from the Ordnance School’s Base Realignment and Closure Office and the garrison’s Directorate of Logistics.

The job required not only skill but innovation. During the dismantling process, riggers were forced to create a tool to remove rusted bolts that were resisting up to 50,000 pounds of pressure from hydraulic jacks.

It took more than two days to remove the pins from Annie’s undercarriage.

“We knew there’d be hurdles,” said Tom Anhalt, A&A Rigging sales manager. “You always expect them in a job this size.”

A 200-ton and a 130-ton crane were needed to lift Annie’s gun tube. When it was found to weigh more than expected—in excess of 200,000 pounds—it was determined that it would travel to Virginia by railcar.

Contractor Robert Cade, owner of Meadow Lark, said the operation was more material- than time-sensitive. “You can’t rush these things, especially when you’re dealing with one-of-a-kind items like this,” Cade said. “We have to get it right the first time.”

With the relocation of the Ordnance Museum, plans continue for the opening of the APG Museum in 2011.

The new museum will house artifacts and historical items of Aberdeen Proving Ground and the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, which relocated at APG from Fort Monmouth, N.J.
Back to top
View user's profile
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum