Little David

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Not to be confused with the Davidka ("Little David"), a homemade Israeli mortar used in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
For other uses, see Little David (disambiguation).
Little David
Little-david an US siege mortar world war II.jpg
Little David at the Aberdeen Proving Ground
TypeHeavy Mortar
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In serviceTesting only
Used byUnited States
WarsWorld War II
Specifications
Mass173,000 pounds (77 long tons; 87 short tons)
Barrel length22 feet (6.7 m)
Shell3,650 pounds (1,656 kg)
Caliber36 inches (914 mm)
Barrels1
Muzzle velocity1250 ft/s (381 m/s)
Maximum firing range6 miles (9.7 km)
Feed systemMuzzle loading

Little David was the nickname of an American 36-inch (914 mm) caliber mortar designed to breach the Siegfried Line and then used for test-firing aerial bombs during World War II. With the same calibre as the British Mallet's Mortar, constructed in May 1857, it is one of the largest-calibre guns ever built, having a larger calibre than both of Germany's Schwerer Gustav and Dora which were 31.5-inch (800 mm) railway guns.[1]

History[]

The mortar was developed as a extension of a previous proposal to destroy heavy concrete fortifications such as the Siegfried Line via massive plastic explosive charges delivered by rocket or bomb. During a discussion between representatives of the Ballistic Research Laboratory and the Office of the Chief of Ordnance it was suggested that instead of dropping such a charge from a airplane, it could be fired from a mortar. Development began of a 914mm siege mortar firing a 3,600-lb. shell. The mortar's base was a large steel box that was placed below ground, with its top flush with the surrounding surface, allowing the mortar's muzzle to be lowered horizontal for loading at ground level.[1]

"Little David" 36 inch (914 mm) mortar emplacement at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

After the Siegfried Line was breached with conventional forces, Little David was instead considered for use against the extremely strong fortifications during the expected invasion of Japan. The decision was made to test shells incendiary filler for this purpose, but the end of the war also removed all need for Little David to be deployed against the Japanese. The mortar was able to be transported as a two-piece mobile unit, consisting of the 80,000-pound (36,000 kg) barrel and the 93,000-pound (42,000 kg) base transported by two M25 tractors. In addition to the two main loads, the Little David unit would also include a bulldozer and crane with bucket to dig the emplacement for the mortar's base.[2]

The huge mortar could be ready to fire in 12 hours. The largest (800 mm) known German artillery weapons were hauled on 25 railway cars and required three weeks to put in firing position, but had a longer range of 47 km (29 mi) compared to the 9.7 km (6.0 mi) of Little David.[2]

Little David was one of the largest artillery pieces ever produced by calibre, although Dora fired a heavier shell. Little David's overall effectiveness would have been questionable because of its limited range and accuracy. When Japan surrendered, the invasion became unnecessary, and Little David (still in its trial phase) never saw combat.

With the closure of the Aberdeen Proving Ground Ordnance Museum and relocation to Fort Lee,[3] the status of Little David is currently unknown as only restored pieces made the transfer.[4]

July 1945 film footage of mortar setup and firing.
Shell at the United States Army Ordnance Museum, Maryland

See also[]

References[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ a b "The Militaryfactory web site". www.militaryfactory.com. retrieved 22 February 2013
  2. ^ a b "Little David at Global Security". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 14 February 2012
  3. ^ "Army Ordnance Museum". www.ordmusfound.org. retrieved 29 October 2021
  4. ^ "Ordnance Museum looks to future". www.army.mil. retrieved 29 October 2021
  • Sketches of the Ordnance Research and Development Center in World War II. 1945.

Sources[]

External links[]

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