| The M11 was the most sophisticated and modern mobile howitzers of the Austrian army. It was a weapon first used to destroy Belgian forts, little noticed or ignored by the Italian high command. The M11�s range was over 11 km and it could fire a 305 mm 384 kg shell with deadly precision. It consisted of three major components and could be assembled in only 50 minutes! Austrians were fanatical about topography and already had the Italian positions precisely located. In June 1915 Austrian volunteers could hear the roar of Skoda Daimler tractors transporting the heavy guns. A triple HURRAY greeted the arrival of �Schlanke Emma� (tall Emma). There was no short supply of troops helping put the guns into position and unloading heavy shells and powder cans. June 1915 was the beginning of the end for Italian forts and artillery positions. The advantage had shifted back to the Austrians������.. |
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| M11 Secret Weapon |
| In the early stages of WW1 the Austro-Hungarian 30.5cm M.11 M�rser was probably the most feared weapon fielded by any Army, and it was used with telling effect both on the Western Front as well in the East, both in the Balkans as well against Italy. The design of the M.11 M�rser started in 1905, when the Austro-Hungarian General Staff ordered the construction of a mortar heavy enough to penetrate and eliminate the new Italian fortifications erected on the border between the two countries. The order proper went to Skoda in Pilzen, who already had made a name for themselves, producing many excellent artillery pieces. (Pilsen is now a part of the Czech Republic: many of the men who designed and built the gun were also czechs, including of course the man behind the Skoda Works, Dr Karel Skoda.) http://www.landships.freeservers.com/305mm_morser_m11.htm |